Posted by Sharee Berry on June 11, 2002 at 23:27:42:
In Reply to: Re: Three weeks post-op and high heart rhythm/thanks posted by Woodland Anne on June 10, 2002 at 22:27:18:
Anne - I did have junctional rhythm immediately after my Maze for about six weeks. My EP explained junctional rhythm in layman's terms as the bottom of the heart (the ventricles) doing all the pumping, as it take the atrium a while to "kick in" after the surgery. I'm sure there is a much more elaborate and scientfic explanation of junctional rhythm and different forms of it, but for me this was the most simple and easy to understand. My EP was not anxious to take me off of amiodarone, but I gradually was tapered off of it after six months. It took my heart a while to adjust to this, and I did have several episodes of A fib, but my heart has now settled down, and I am doing fine. In fact, I am now 10 months post Maze and have not had any A fib for two months.
Amiodarone is the last line of defense after all first-line drugs have failed; however, since you are in junctional rhythm it is understandable that you are on this drug. Since it is such a strong medication, it does have nasty side effects effects such as liver toxicity (it is metabolized by the liver), kidney toxicity, pulmonary fibrosis, thyroid dysfunction, photosensitivity (my doctor advised me to stay out of the sun altogether as one has a tendency to sun burn very easily), blue/gray skin, blurry vision, dry eyes, alopecia to name just a few. Amiodarone's half-life (time it takes to get out of your system is 15 - 100 days (not six months). You should be monitored while on this drug by having liver function tests, and opthalmologic evaluation at regular intervals which your doctor should be aware of.
It sounds like you are progressing fairly normally compared to others I have read about on this board. Most of us agree, however, that the sooner we get off amiodarone, the better!
Good luck!
Sharee Berry
- Re: Three weeks post-op and high heart rhythm/thanks Woodland Anne 11:31:14 6/12/2002 (0)