Posted by Carl Plaskett on May 03, 2001 at 14:45:16:
I was interested in reading about Steve's persistant atrial flutter which appears to have ocurred long after the maze.
How long did this "flutter" last before you had it ablated, Steve?
I have had NO fib or flutter problems since my release from the CC on 1/25/01, UNTIL this week. After returning from a trip to Seattle (2 stops each way) late Monday, my minor cold remnants became an ugly sinus infection, which is not unusual for me with the multiple changes in pressure and lots of new germs. I started on Zithromax, an antibiotic, Tues. PM, and within 2-3 hours, my HR was up to 120, where it has remained since.
My EP had me get an EKG and it shows no A Fib, and an almost imperceptable possible flutter. He put me on atenolol (50mg) and Rythmol 75mg 3x/day. The only change is that my resting HR is now 125-26, which is probably the result of the Rythmol. I even took 100mg of atenolol this AM, which did nothing for me.
Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, did you eventually return to SR without cardioversion?
I might add, I am able to drop my HR to about 117 with a couple of minutes on a stair climber or w/rapid walking on a treadmill. My HR does not increase during exercise, but I tire more rapidly than normal.