Guest guest Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 > > > I experienced an episode of a-fib two weeks ago, this was not my > first episode of a fib. I was in the hospital for 5 days. However, > i now am on toprol xl 50mg 1 every day. coumadin every day. > arrthymia 3 times a day and diazide once a day. I am not happy > having to take all this medication. My energy level has dropped > considerably. I am in a pissy mood because i can't seem to accomplish > what I need to get done and i don't have the energy to even do what i > would like to do. I hate having to go for the blood draws every > week. (not to mention the lab is so unorganized they can find their > way out of a paper bag) I spoke with my cardio becase of this his > comment was I will need to continue the meds for the for the rest > of my life. This has become VERY frustrating for me. I ask about > ablation and his statement was " it only works about 50-60 % of the > time. From what I am reading on this site ablation works better than > 50-60 % of the time but is not an absolute guarantee. Or am I wrong > on that one. I understand your frustration. Research shows that coumadin therapy is *very* important for some of us afibbers. I have not experienced side effects from it, but you're right - the weekly trips to get stuck are a drag. There are some coumadin alternatives coming on the market this year that may not require the weekly testing at all. You might want to ask your doctor about that. I also have less energy from the meds I take, including Toprol. I would say I feel about 15% less energy. When I was in chronic afib I experienced even more energy loss, so it's a tradeoff for me. As to ablations, I have seen some 80-85% figures claimed, but personally I'm a bit suspicious of that high a success rate. There really are no long-term studies to validate that. Most of what I've read (a lot: too much free time..!) talks about your 50-60% sucess rate (for afib. Aflutter does appear to have a higher sucess rate). The good news is that ablation procedures are improving. I'm hoping that in a few years they will really have it (almost) perfected... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Ginswes.. why so many drugs? The toprol may be what's making you tired, and if that's the first drug they've put you on then ask for another one.. there are dozens out there that do basically the same thing, and it's sometimes just a matter of finding the one you tolerate the best! I'm recently on Tikosyn and Atenelol, and other than some mild stomach " issues " in the beginning, I feel great! My heart rate is low, my BP is low... no lack of energy...oh.. my bp is so low that after years of running " hot " I am finally normal (if not COLD) all the time.. now I know what my husband has been bitching about when I turned the heat down to 60 at night!!!! It also sounds like your current doctor isn't very sympathetic and if I were you I'd also look elsewhere for another doctor.. to tell your doctor you feel crappy and tired and have them say that that's the way it's going to be forever is not good.. also, the negativity about ablation is not very progressive as well... I only have periodic afib, but if I was chronic, or even close to it, and the meds made me feel crappy, I would definitely be on someones waiting list by now! The coumadin is a must if you're in and out of afib frequently, and the blood tests are just a pain... if you switch doctors you may actually get one that has a machine right in the office that they can use. My weekly protime tests take all of about 5 minutes and I get the results right then and there... not terribly inconvenient and no needles! But seriously... look for a more sympathic and progressive doctor (an electrophysiologist specialiazing in arrythmias if you can find one), suggest trying some new medications due to your current lack of energy, and keep listening here... there is a wealth of information dolled out on a daily basis from people all over the world who are in the same boat as you! Best of luck, Stef wrote: > > > I experienced an episode of a-fib two weeks ago, this was not my > first episode of a fib. I was in the hospital for 5 days. However, > i now am on toprol xl 50mg 1 every day. coumadin every day. > arrthymia 3 times a day and diazide once a day. I am not happy > having to take all this medication. My energy level has dropped > considerably. I am in a pissy mood because i can't seem to accomplish > what I need to get done and i don't have the energy to even do what i > would like to do. I hate having to go for the blood draws every > week. (not to mention the lab is so unorganized they can find their > way out of a paper bag) I spoke with my cardio becase of this his > comment was I will need to continue the meds for the for the rest > of my life. This has become VERY frustrating for me. I ask about > ablation and his statement was " it only works about 50-60 % of the > time. From what I am reading on this site ablation works better than > 50-60 % of the time but is not an absolute guarantee. Or am I wrong > on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Ginswes.. why so many drugs? The toprol may be what's making you tired, and if that's the first drug they've put you on then ask for another one.. there are dozens out there that do basically the same thing, and it's sometimes just a matter of finding the one you tolerate the best! I'm recently on Tikosyn and Atenelol, and other than some mild stomach " issues " in the beginning, I feel great! My heart rate is low, my BP is low... no lack of energy...oh.. my bp is so low that after years of running " hot " I am finally normal (if not COLD) all the time.. now I know what my husband has been bitching about when I turned the heat down to 60 at night!!!! It also sounds like your current doctor isn't very sympathetic and if I were you I'd also look elsewhere for another doctor.. to tell your doctor you feel crappy and tired and have them say that that's the way it's going to be forever is not good.. also, the negativity about ablation is not very progressive as well... I only have periodic afib, but if I was chronic, or even close to it, and the meds made me feel crappy, I would definitely be on someones waiting list by now! The coumadin is a must if you're in and out of afib frequently, and the blood tests are just a pain... if you switch doctors you may actually get one that has a machine right in the office that they can use. My weekly protime tests take all of about 5 minutes and I get the results right then and there... not terribly inconvenient and no needles! But seriously... look for a more sympathic and progressive doctor (an electrophysiologist specialiazing in arrythmias if you can find one), suggest trying some new medications due to your current lack of energy, and keep listening here... there is a wealth of information dolled out on a daily basis from people all over the world who are in the same boat as you! Best of luck, Stef wrote: > > > I experienced an episode of a-fib two weeks ago, this was not my > first episode of a fib. I was in the hospital for 5 days. However, > i now am on toprol xl 50mg 1 every day. coumadin every day. > arrthymia 3 times a day and diazide once a day. I am not happy > having to take all this medication. My energy level has dropped > considerably. I am in a pissy mood because i can't seem to accomplish > what I need to get done and i don't have the energy to even do what i > would like to do. I hate having to go for the blood draws every > week. (not to mention the lab is so unorganized they can find their > way out of a paper bag) I spoke with my cardio becase of this his > comment was I will need to continue the meds for the for the rest > of my life. This has become VERY frustrating for me. I ask about > ablation and his statement was " it only works about 50-60 % of the > time. From what I am reading on this site ablation works better than > 50-60 % of the time but is not an absolute guarantee. Or am I wrong > on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Hi ginsews I have some comments for you > I experienced an episode of a-fib two weeks ago, this was not my > first episode of a fib. I was in the hospital for 5 days. why were you in for so long. Prob I guess beacuase you wer not on coumidin. Did they electro convert you? > i now am on toprol xl 50mg 1 every day. coumadin every day. > arrthymia 3 times a day and diazide once a day. I am not happy > having to take all this medication. My energy level has dropped > considerably. I am in a pissy mood because i can't seem to accomplish Give it time. I've been there. You need to find a drug that works consistently for you so that you don't have so many medications. After a while they may scale back considerably except for the coumidin. Unless you can demonstrate that you can stay off of afib for 6 months or more. Learn your triggers and try to stay in sinus. hate having to go for the blood draws every > week. (not to mention the lab is so unorganized they can find their > way out of a paper bag) Oh I hear you. Ihear you!!! Blood sticking is the thing I hated most when thi whole mess started up for me last april. It tapers off to every month. keep track of your inr and how much you take. Over timeyou can get better at regulating yourself and don't keep having to go back to the 1 week schedule when the numbers are off.. Ed b in sinus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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