My Beating Heart - by Mark

We met with Dr. Zemsky yesterday and found out that my heart is most likely in atrial-fibrillation instead of atrial-flutter although it is hard to tell for sure. (A-fib is in the left atrium whereas A-flutter is in the right.) The treatment plan is:

1.       Stay on Metoprolol until the heart gets back into sinus rhythm.

2.       Start to thin the blood tonight with Coumadin (Warfarin) and monitor carefully to get it to just the right level over the next 3-4 weeks in preparation for a cardioversion.

3.       Do a stress test this Friday to determine the right kind of medication to put me on to try to medicate the heart back into rhythm.

4.       Start the rhythm correction medication right after the stress test results.

5.       Do the cardioversion on March 6th unless the heart has gone back into sinus rhythm with the meds or on its own (not likely).

6.       If the heart stays in rhythm then off the Coumadin nine weeks after the cardioversion.

7.       If the heart stays in rhythm until September, see if it will stick without the rhythm medication.

8.      If the heart does NOT stay in rhythm after the cardioversion it is possible to have a catheter ablation on the left side of the heart. This procedure has more risk than the one for A-flutter and may not work as well, but is certainly an option.  

So...here we go!! This is all fairly routine so there are no big concerns. We do appreciate your care and concern.

Warmly,

Mark