Meds last chance

[CCW66]

Anyone out there taking Rhythmol? My last med trial before I say uncle and sign on for ablation.

[BobD Volunteer]

Propafanone Hydrochloride is Rhythmol, Rhytnorm, Arrhythmol etc and a few other names and I took it for years and still keep some just in case. The only side affect I found was at high dose I had a strange metallic taste in my mouth. Others report different problems. Worked while I was waiting for ablation but is no substitute.

[CCW66 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob! Follow your posts and find them very encouraging. Did you have your ablation in the U.K. Or US?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CCW66]

Had all three in London, England at Royal Brompton Hospital. Last one May 2008 and good since then. Results have improved since I started my journey in 2004 as experience and technology developed but mine was never going to be easy. Never is with me ha ha. Keep dodging the bullets though.

[CCW66]

Thx Bob. I am looking at Dr Natale in Austin Texas and Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. I am in Florida but need to travel to get to the superstars.

[Hidden in reply to CCW66]

I'm probably late to the party-meaning you may have already had the surgery but just sharing info-might help someone. I had my ablation done in Novemer 18 2016 in Atlanta Georgia at Piedmont Hospital Atlanta. My surgeon was Dr. Bruce Stamber and he is still my electrophysiologist. He gave me every chance to convert and stabilize re meds and conversions before suggesting the surgery. I like and trust him and he listens to my thoughts on things.. This is, to my mind, an important part of any Dr/patient relationship.

[Beulah87]

Call "uncle" and do the ablation

[Hidden]

I took Arythmol (propafenone) for 2-3 years and it worked perfectly, no AF at all even though mine was 24/7 and bad. But for me, it made my memory very bad so I had an ablation eventually instead, which worked. I know it affects memory in some, because I've spoken to them on here, but most seem to be OK on it. I wasn't aware of my bad memory till I said something to my bank manager (I was running a business), and he said that was the third time I'd told him 🙄. So for me, it was have an ablation or go bankrupt!!!

[Loquitir]

I was on arrythmol for about 4 years and worked well. I had to stop using as it was causing gradually worse problems trying to urinate.

[trtoothdr]

What other antiarrhithmics have you tried?

[CCW66 in reply to trtoothdr]

flecanide for two days that made me spark into afib and Multaq that worked for a year and now breakthroughs of afib. Awful. Ablation calling my name but afraid to let myself hear.

[trtoothdr in reply to CCW66]

Had a similar experience, except Multaq didn't work at all, finally had the ablation, nothing to it! I was back to work 2 days later. Find the best electrophysiologist in your area and go for it!

[CCW66 in reply to trtoothdr]

Were you terribly anxious before the procedure? How did you cope? Was your recovery as you expected? Read a lot of scary stories on other sites of terrible hammering missed beats and palpitations that are as bad as afib. Did you spend much time getting to know your ep? Here in US, one face to face and then you are put into the systems based on all your test results etc. Your next meeting is the minutes before the procedure....then boom procedure happens.

[Buffafly]

I took a small dose of Arythmol for several years and it was very effective until I had another arrhythmia. If you are very anxious to avoid an ablation at present it is worth trying but be aware it would probably be a temporary fix.

[Amcech]

I've had 2 ablations, first one was not successful and I began taking Rhythmol which helped but didn't stop the afib. 2nd ablation was successful for atrial flutter and mostly for atrial fib for 18 months but this past May began having afib episodes, paroxysmal, and doc started changing my rhythm control meds. took me off Rhythmol, put me on flecainide which was terrible for me, lots of side effects, vision problems, felt very ill all the time and it didn't stop the episodes of afib so he took me off and put me on multaq which I have no side effects but it's not stopping the episodes of afib either. He wants to start me on amiodarone but I am refusing at this time as that med is pure poison and I'm only 60 years old, don't want my organs to be destroyed in 5 years by taking amiodarone. I'm wanting a 3rd ablation but for some reason he's not on the same page with me. I'm thinking of looking for another EP for a second opinion. Anyway, the ablations were not bad. The first one I had a bleeding problem at one of the entrance sites but stopped bleeding after a few hours. I was able to function normally the day after the procedure both times.

[Hidden]

Hi CCW66. I've never taken rhythmol but it sounds like your doctor and you have tried several meds before considering an ablation. To me that's a sign of a good doctor-conservative but knows when to move forward. I did have mixed success plus difficult side effects with my pills which is what led me to the pacemaker/ablation. I've read quite a few posts from members who have had to eventually have a repeat ablation and, while none of us wants to think about repeats before even having the first one for me it shows the surgeon was erring on the side of less is more; he can always go back and ablate more cells but he can't replace the ones already out of action. From my perspective the procedure was quick and painless. I did not need any post op pain med and I am a baby about pain. But a more important question I would ask online would be how much better (or worse) do post ablation patients feel living with their a-fib and are they glad they had it done. I have been fortunate in that so far (13 months ago) I have not needed further ablation but if I did I would do it. I have felt much better and less symptomatic since having the ablation done. Often, if a repeat (or touchup) is necessary down the road it is not because the surgeon didn't do a good job the first time but rather time, getting older, general cardiac changes indicate more cells need to be ablated to maintain a good result with a safely functioning atrium(Heart). When you read about others' experiences and quality of life, I believe you'll make the right decision about surgery. Good luck. Making our health decisions is never easy! irina1975