Posted by Shearin Johnson on January 08, 2004 at 12:18:50:
In Reply to: Again posted by Glenn Camp on January 07, 2004 at 12:43:02:
Glenn - I read your postings and memories come back of what life was like when my husband was in just about exactly your situation. In his case, the only medicine that would allow him any kind of relief was Sotalol - and he had to take 120 mg every 8 hours. However, as others have said, that was very dangerous for his heart rate so he was forced to get a pacemaker to keep his heart rate up and allow him to take that much Sotalol. After he had his Maze Surgery in 2000 (after first having an unsuccessful ablation in 1999), he was able to have the pacemaker removed. I totally feel for all that you and your wife are going thru. As to your concerns about going off your medicines, in my husband's case, he had to go off all his medication 1 week prior to the ablation and he ended up having to stay in the hospital up until the day of the ablation because of course, the afib started fiercely about 3 days after he stopped the Sotalol (his ablation was in Gainesville, FL). However, he was allowed to keep taking his Sotalol and all other medicine except for vitamins, pain medications, and coumidin before his Maze operation (which was at CCF). I really know all the frustrations that you and your wife are going thru and I wish you the best of luck in finding a solution as soon as possible. Please feel free to correspond with me directly if it would help in any way.
Sincerely, Shearin Johnson