Posted by Carl Plaskett on October 03, 2001 at 22:35:21:
In Reply to: Update Jim Roff Day 6 posted by Jim Roff on October 03, 2001 at 21:36:08:
Jim: I wouldn't be concerned about coumadin post maze, as long as you have your INR or ProTime (PT) testing done every month to make certain that your clotting time is within proper limits (probably around 2.75-3.0). You don't want wide variations in your PT, if you have them, it is probably because of something you have ingested. Sudden large amounts of Vitamin K or E, and other things can cause sudden PT changes.
My EP was conservative, and kept me on coumadin for 6 months post maze. (Well, actually, I slowly cut down at 4 months, then started taking 1/2 adult asprin/day, and my PT levels stayed acceptable enough for the doctor). I still take the asprin.
You may find that the Rythmol makes you sluggish, and even contributes to arrhythmias, but you don't want to cut this severely without your doctor's knowledge. I took 225mg dosage for just a day in the CC because of a few hours of AFib during the fourth night, was released on 150/mg/3x/day, and reduced to 75mg by my EP
5 days later, which I took for another 3 weeks. I felt much better as soon as the dose went to 75mg, and even better when I was off it altogether. If you get home and feel badly, tell your EP and perhaps he will go along with a dosage reduction as long as you stay in NSR. Remember, as Ed said, your heart has been SEVERELY cut up, had the atrial appendages amputated, and frozen in specific areas. There is a LOT of scar tissue to heal, and a number of people have a few weeks of PACs, PVC's, AFlutter, and some AFib. Give your heart a chance to heal. Most of us have completely lost AFib over a period of a few months. Some of us have been luckier.
- Re: Update Jim Roff Day 6 Jim Roff 06:32:20 10/04/2001 (0)