Well, went back to the doc and....

Well, I went back to the EP for my next checkup to see about going of Sotalol all together and swapping to a 25 mg dose of toporol XL.

I got some good news and some not bad, but not good news. I had no Vtach episodes, but apparently I had a couple of very short (1-2 sec) relatively slow afib episodes.

So, my EP wants me to stay on 80 mg/day of Sotalol and just take an aspirin everyday. He said they are so infrequent that he isn't worried, but it's not exactly what I wanted to hear. I was hoping to eventually not need an ICD anymore, but not sure what the prospects are at the moment. I guess time will tell.

So, for now the "don't look, don't touch" ICD policy will just have to work. My current EP did agree that sub-pectoral should have been the only option in my case, considering the lack of body fat and my condition. If/when I do get another ICD, he will do a sub-pectoral implant.

On another note, for all those people who know, I did get my Mini Cooper S last Friday and I love it.

4 Comments

Atrial Fib

by maryanne - 2008-07-04 06:07:05

Well that's great news about the NO Vtach...but the AFib kinda stinks...question for you....is there a reason they have chosen Sotalol over Digoxin? And it good to hear that when it is time for replacement for you that they will consider a different spot....I know you hate the look of your ICD...but hey who knows maybe by the time you need it changed they will have come up with something better....best of luck Turbo...see you in chat sometime soon....oh and Congratulations on the Mini Cooper those look like such fun cars!!!

Cheers - Mary Anne

Oh..

by turboz24 - 2008-07-04 09:07:08

Well, 80 mg/day of the sotalol isn't bad, it really doens't affect me. I just find it odd that I had a couple of afibs, nothing bad or anything, but who knows, maybe I've had them for a long time, and since they only happen like 2 times a month, it would be really hard to catch them. They could even be more rare than that, to. I guess the next checkup will let me know.

I would hope that if I need another ICD, the sub-pectoral location would not only look better, but it would be also more out of the way and be less physically painful long term.

Drug comment/Subpectoral implant

by fireryan - 2008-07-05 03:07:48

As far as Mary Anne's Digoxin comment versus Sotalol:
Digoxin is used as a A fib medicine. Sotalol is a combination of an antiarrythmic and a beta blocker. Turbo has a history of V tach and Digoxin would not be prescribed in this situation. I myslef have gone through Toporol XL, Lopressor, Sotalol, and now I'm on Indural with Flecanide which is working just fine....besides the vision probelms and some ringing in the ears at times.

I have a sub-pectoral implant. It was a painful preocedure, however the versed and fentanyl wasn't used properly. I remember only the time when the Doc was stuffing the implant under my pec. It was quite painful immediately after the procedure, however I wasn't given the proper pain pain medicine. I took Percocet for a few days and that was it.

You cannot see the device unless I roll my shoulders back.

Hope this helps. God Bless

Ryan

not sure on the pain..

by turboz24 - 2008-07-05 08:07:05

I'm not to sure that moving the implant would solve the long term pain issues I occassionally have with the ICD. My EP did mention that if it hurts under the skin, it will probably still hurt under the pec muscle. My aches due to the implant also probably stem from heavy weight lifting, when the implant probably irritates the tissues. Mine has actually been more painful post op than when it was initially implanted.

As for issues with being "awake", I'm out cold when I get my EP work done, so I would also be out cold for another implant if needed. I will not have the procedure done except under general.

You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!