Posted by Anne Rowthorn on October 02, 2003 at 11:01:19:
In Reply to: Still on coumadin 6 months post maze & mitral valve repair posted by Elizabeth on October 01, 2003 at 15:54:32:
Elizabeth, I had a maze/mitral valve repair. After the surgery I had some a-fib and was cardioverted, very much like your father. I went off Coumadin after 3 months and have stayed off it. However, a year after the maze I went again into a-fib. I take l50 mgs. of Norpace,an antiarrhythmic, twice a day. Unlike beta-blockers which made me feel half asleep, Norpace does not cause drowsiness. I don't know how your father feels about this but my goal is to be off all drugs. If it really were not possible I would have to accept it, but for now that remains my goal because all heart drugs have side effects and over time they loose their effectiveness and more and stronger doses are required to keep the heart in NSR. I have a consultation with Dr. Natale at the Cleveland Clinic in two weeks and with luck I will have a touch up ablation in February, or earlier if he can fit me in.
Regarding Coumadin, there are some cardiologists who feel one should stay on it just as long as there is even a slight possibility of a-fib in order to prevent a possible stroke. Your father may be on it because of that or because of his elevated heart rate. He should check with his cardiologist.
It sounds as if his MVR is working well and that's good news. He's lucky to have a caring daughter like you!