PAF worry
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi all, I have been given beta blockers Stolol, Apaximal and Simvastatin to help with Atrial Fibrillation diagnosed last October. The trouble is I keep going into AF, in fact I'm in AF right now. Is this common and if so, what do you do when this happens? Should I take my next 80mg of sotolol to try and slow things down a bit? I realise you aren't doctors but I was wondering what you usually do. I have been in hospital five times since october and quite frankly I am getting fed up with it.
0 likes, 7 replies
robynfromOz Ronnie_B.
Posted
marco Ronnie_B.
Posted
simon56380 Ronnie_B.
Posted
My cardiologist then put me on Amioderone in addition to carvedilol, and I had to wait 3 weeks for the Amioderone levels to build up before being cardioverted for the second time on Feb 17/15, but am still currently in rhythm!
As I understand it, Amioderone is an unusual drug that is in a class of its own. It is regarded as a strong antiarrythmia, and does have some potentially nasty side effects.
My Google research says that two thirds of people who are on Amioderone are still in rhythm 12 months after being cardioverted.
It is also my understanding Afib begets Afib, and the reverse is also true, the more/longer you are in rhythm, the more likely you are to stay in rhythm. My cardiologist wants me to remain on my blood thinners for the time being so if I go back into Afib, I Can be cardioverted straight away.
Longer term, my cardiologist wants to get me off Amioderone (or on a very low dose)because of it's nasty potential side effects, but right now it's working for me.
I also addressed my sleep apnea, which is also a potential cause of Afib. My wife had been telling me for the last decade that I often stopped breathing for long periods when I was asleep. I did a sleep study and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and now have a CPAP machine. After a couple of days on the CPAP machine, I felt like a different person! I won't sleep without it now.
I currently think that the Amioderone and the CPAP machine have been the two main things that have helped me stay in rhythm for the last 6 weeks, and am keeping my fingers crossed that it keeps working.
Obliviously I am off caffeine and alcohol at the moment as well, just to safe.
Hope this is of some help to you.
I wish you luck with it all.
marion12117 Ronnie_B.
Posted
At first when I was diagnosed my medications actually controlled af pretty well. One of my drugs is also Sotalol. Then over time af became more persistent so I was constantly going into Emergency and of course there was always a different doctor on duty and each time I was prescribed different medication to no avail unfortunately. I have had 3 cardioconversions which for awhile helped. The end result now is right or wrong I do not race down to Emergency I actually just sit it out. and eventually I convert to NSR. I think I have tried every medication that is at hand and it is Sotalol that helps me somewhat. Maybe a visit to your doctor to discuss a change in medication.
Ronnie_B.
Posted
It is frustrating not seeing the same people when I have had to go back into hospital my questions seem to have different answers which has confused me somewhat but I guess it is the nature of this condition, it seems slightly different for each individual patient. In October when I was diagnosed I was given an appointment at the hospital's cardio clinic for July this year, it seems a long way away now, let alone back then when this was all new and rather frightening. I am hoping the cardiologist can shed some light on my condition and what it may mean for me in the future. Thankyou once again, you have helped.
Ron.
Ronnie_B.
Posted
It is frustrating not seeing the same people when I have had to go back into hospital my questions seem to have different answers which has confused me somewhat but I guess it is the nature of this condition, it seems slightly different for each individual patient. In October when I was diagnosed I was given an appointment at the hospital's cardio clinic for July this year, it seems a long way away now, let alone back then when this was all new and rather frightening. I am hoping the cardiologist can shed some light on my condition and what it may mean for me in the future. Thankyou once again, you have helped.
Ron.
GotAbitBetter Ronnie_B.
Posted
Hope you're feeling better today.
PS: I have been advised not to have any alcohol or caffeine but would welcome views from other followers as to how sound this advice is.