Update

[Guest guest]

Are you in the UK Dawn ?.

Update

Hi,

I went the my cardiologist yesterday and of course he was so much

in a rush(not reading my history or any other information in my file)

he immediately said that I had two options. Med treatment or

ablation. I asked him how he knows that ablation is a good choice

for me. They only did an echocardiogram. He said that an echo is the

only test that they can do and that mine was fine so my atrial fib

is ideopathic. No known cause. And that is supposed to make me feel

comfortable with having a fairly risky surgical procedure done to my

heart? I asked him what I should do in the meantime if I have an

attack. He said that I should take 50mg of Toprol right when my next

episode starts and it should slow my heart down. I wonder how long

that will take? Does anyone do this?

I meet with the doctor who performs the ablations on Nov 15th. I

hope that I have more confidence in this procedure after I talk with

him, than I did with the cardiologist. I'm not in a " oh, let's try

this and see if it works " frame of mind right now.

dawn

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[Guest guest]

>

> ><SNIP> I asked him what I should do in the meantime if I have an

> attack. He said that I should take 50mg of Toprol right when my

next

> episode starts and it should slow my heart down. I wonder how long

> that will take? Does anyone do this?

> > dawn

Dawn,

I have had a-fib for almost 4 years now. When I was first diagnosed

I had a real hard time finding a drug that would adequately control

it. I took Toprol XL as part of my regular meds for a while and it

did a fairly good job of controlling my heart rate. When I had an

episode I had regular Toprol to take to slow it down back below 100

bpm. It worked quite well for me. It usually took about half and

hour for me to feel a difference. You do need to make sure you have

the regular fast acting Toprol and not the Toprol XL. The XL will

work but it takes quite a bit longer to feel any change.

Also, remember a doctor is employed by you (particularly in the US)

and you have the right to ask him to slow down and pay attention to

your specific issues and history. Sometimes you have to be a bit

upfront and persistent to get their attention.

Hang in there until you are comfortable with the course of treatment

a doctor recommends.

Beverly

[Guest guest]

(*SNIPPET) In AFIBsupport , " dawn west " <pixel7@c...>

wrote:

He said that I should take 50mg of Toprol right when my next

> episode starts and it should slow my heart down. I wonder how long

> that will take? Does anyone do this?

> I meet with the doctor who performs the ablations on Nov 15th. >

****************************************************************

Dear Dawn,

First of all, if I can be blunt...you need a new cardiologist. Am

glad you are going to see the Electrophysiologist--but question if

ablation should be first line therapy.

About the Toprol...I'm not sure if it can be started and stopped for

a-fib use...maybe someone else can help. Most beta blockers, if you

stop them have to be tapered as far as I am aware. I would

definitely discuss this with the EP.

What is your rate when you are in afib?

Here is a link on Toprol that will help:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/metopxl.htm

I've had problems with doctors (was misdiagnosed for about a year)so

uninterested doctors really get my dander up.

Good luck to you......if rate is really fast you can always go to ER

and they will slow it down for you.

Take care.......Lee