Posted by Pam Brown on September 07, 2002 at 16:51:28:
Thank you Carl for your message.... I'm hoping when I see my heart doctor on the 1st of Oct. He will tel me to come off the atenolol..........And only use it as needed when I have a bad spell wih extra beats....
This last bad spell of extra heart beats lasted several weeks..BUT it had been almost 2 years since I'd had a bad spell.....So I don't want to take any medication everyday for it if I can only take it as needed.... The atenolol leaves me tired and weak feeling..And that is a feeling I lived to many years with before the MAZE........ These last 4 years have been a Blessing...... The MAZE has left me feeling 20 years younger...I was 46 when I had my MAZE....And I'd lived on and off with A-Fib for about 8 years....Spent most of those years sitting in a recliner or sleeping.... Thank God for Dr. Cox and the MAZE.....
I know the extra beats are nothing but when I have a spell with ALOT of them it feels like A-Fib and then I get a little nervious ..thinking...OH NO it's back.....
But I know i'll feel better having a heart doctor again..Specially one who knows me and my case history.........And i'm so happy to have this MAZE web site and so many people to share my joys and fears with..People that have been through it all too...... No one can understand about A-Fib unless they have had it or had a family member with it and seen how it affects a person...I'm so glad those days are over for me....
Thank you for writting.....And I'll try my best not to get to upset when I do have a spell with extra beats..... Pam