I have been on sotolol for about a year and a half. I don't see a difference. Sotolol is the third med I have been prescribed since I was dx almost 4 years ago. I have mentioned to the doctor that I didn't think the pills were helping, but he said that it does keep the rate down, and I can see that when I am on the treadmill at the fitness center.

Sotolol has not bothered my stomach as other pills have, but they do make me tired.

I did have an ablation in March, but I think the AF is back. Rather than go on to stronger pills, I personally would opt for another ablation or a pace maker. I do not want to keep putting these powerful pills in my body.

Take care and remember, you have to do what is right and comfortable for you. Joan

I saw the cardiologist today and said NO ato another cardioversion. I want to find a good EP to do ablation, because I don't want to have to continue taking sotalol or any of the toxic heart drugs the rest of my life. If I don't find a great EP here, then I'm willing to travel to my Sister's in NYC to find on. I'm not going to continue on these crazy meds that make me too tired to do anything...that is just no way to live.

I live in Northern California and am fortunate enough to have an EP doc that is up to date on ablations. He recently had an article written about the newest procedure he is trained on, cryo-ablation using a freezing procedure instead of heat. The success rate is type of ablation is higher. I believe the catherization method is dependent on hitting all the "spots" where freezing inserts a balloon and will hit all the areas needed. I did have ablation in March and AF is coming back. I have an appointment with him shortly and rather than taking stronger meds, will ask him about the possibility of a cryo-ablation. He has already told me that if I had to have another ablation, he would do a cryo-ablation.

I have been on 4 different medicines since I was dx almost 4 years ago (beta blockers, antiarhythms (SP) and as far as I am concerned, nothing has stopped the episodes.

I wrote a discussion on 8/12 - topic Cryo-Ablation copying the articles right from a health newsletter I received. Hope this helps. Take care.

Believe it or not being diagnosed with sleep -apnea may be a good thing. That is one of the causes of AFIB. So you might find your problem has gone away after you have made effective use of a C-PAP machine. Good luck.

Once you have atrial fib, it isn't going away with C-Pap. I'm still going to need intervention. I'm also had a sleep study last night...mind you I've been on C-pap before, and the setting this time made me feel like I was suffocating. If they don't change it when I call on Mon. I won't be able to tolerate it. I went from a setting of 15 to a setting of 10...doesn't work for me. I'm also going to see another EP about ablation, and then I'm going to see my cardiac surgeon who did my open heart surgery 11 years ago to see what he thinks about the MAZE. One way or another this A-Fib is going to be gone. I completely trust him to do the surgery...I might think about traveling to see my Sis in NYC or my daughter in Nashville to see better EP specialist for ablation. When they tell me it may take 3 ablations...I've lost all faith in them...and the bigger cities are where the newest treatments are. Cardioversion-I have to keep taking the sotalol, and that just isn't going to happen:)

I completely agree with your strategy. This AF should be curable. When you look into an ablation, ask about the cryo-ablation. It's success rate and safety is supposed to be so much better.

I will be seeing my EP this week, and although I had an ablation in March, my AF seems to be returning. :( He did tell be that if I had to have another, he would do a cryo-ablation. I need to see how soon it can be done. The Sotolol is not helping, even though I have been on it for 2 years, it makes me tired, I have gained weight, and sometimes it seems to make me achey all over.

I think we will all cheer when there is a viable cure for this.

Take care and let me know what your plans are.

Joan

Hi, I've made a decision based on how bad I am feeling with the sotalol. I also have gained weight and I don't like it, I have headaches and nausea, and if I have another cardioversion it doesn't get me off the med, so it's not an option I want right now. The EP told me honestly it would take more then one ablation to cure me...maybe as many as 3....so that isn't looking promising. I have a call into my Dr. to find out how to get off the the Sotalol permanently, and perhaps back on my small dose of Lopressor, and I think if no ablation is in the future I'm going to try and just live with this. Because I don't feel the fast hearrate doesn't mean I'm not fatigued and dizzy, but I feel a lot worse then I did before I started the sotalol. I guess right now, that's right where I am:)

Well, I will be off the sotalol by Sat. I'm going on one tablet till then. I couldn't be happier that I'm going off it. There was no assurance another cardioversion would work, certainly no promises that an ablation would even help, so it's coumadin and I for the rest of my life, and probably back on a small dose of lopressor. The last few mo. have been hectic, and I didn't gain a thing. I'm just going to try and adjust to living with the a-fib and not taking strong meds. Wish me luck. I'm fed up with a-ffb:)