Brett's Journal

Joe Tarango  Brett, congratulations on your heart surgery and being off amiodarone! I hope you continue to feel better each day. Being young, which valve type did you go with?

Rose Madura  Glad you are off the Amiodarone! And that you feel you've turned a corner in your recovery. If you notice an eyesight change, you may want to get an eye exam after the Amiodarone is out of your system. My eyesight was worsened (in my opinion) because of the drug.

Barbara Wood  Wonderful to be off the amiodorone! I felt immediate improvement once I was off it. Good to hear you're feeling well & best wishes as you continue to recover Brett!

Brett Kurtz  Hi Joe. It was a very long convo I had with the surgeon and my cardiologist. Because I live such an active lifestyle they did a 3D image of my heart. We decided to go with the Edwards Inspiris Resilia bioprosthetic. I was able to get the largest size so the plan is that I'll need a repair and then 2 TAVRS.

Susan Lynn  Congratulations on your 3- month anniversary and getting off the Rx! Both are wonderful milestones!

Joy Vera  Good that you are off the Amiodarone. I was glad to say goodbye to that one too. The plan on future procedures sounds good too - planning ahead is wise.

Joe Tarango  Brett, I've been looking into the same valve and will have a similar conversation and make a final decision when I get to CCF. I'm happy to see your valve choice is working out for you. I hope the valve lasts you many years!

Joey Hardee  Great update, Brett. I was on amiodarone for 30 days post-op. It controlled my a-fib and I have been a-fib free off the drug now for 4 weeks so I am very hopeful I am past it. You likely are over it as well. I got the same valve in the large size. I am 55 so it was quite the inner struggle to make the decision but I want to play sports, run, hike, etc, so I really didn't think blood thinners was something I wanted to do. We will decide what action needs to be taken when this one needs correction. You are doing great! Thanks for keeping us updated.

Barbara Wood  Hi Brett, I took amiodorone for 6 months after my mitral valve repair. I was started in it intravenously and took ( I think) 400 mg for a few weeks, then 200 mg/ day. I was pretty closely monitored while on it & had a few baseline tests before starting - lung function, thyroid function. I had no lasting effects from it, just saw my eye doctor & he said there were no deposits on the corneas - apparently this can happen - it can effect the eyes, as just about every organ in your body. I felt no real side effects from it, but I was highly relieved to be taken off it! Hoping you don't need to stay on it long...it did the trick though, I've had no afib for over 2 years.

Brett Kurtz  Thanks Barbara. That is what has freaked me out. That started me on it after an afib episode with no baseline tests. My aunt who is a nurse said I needed a lung function and liver test ASAP.

Barbara Wood  Your Aunt is right. It's really a scary, though effective, medication. Best wishes Brett... do ask for those tests!

Catie B  They started me on it with no baseline tests, too, and my electrophysiologist also later insisted I needed no tests. Doctors are far less scared of that drug than I was. I was on it around three months.

Mike Roskowinski  Brett I understand the concerns as well. When I read about it and found out all the cautions they had it scared me. I have been on 200mg for the 1st month out of surgery and now they have me at 100mg for the next two months. My cardiologist wants to get me off this stuff as soon as possible so doing the baby steps with him of smaller doses.

Brett Kurtz  This is why I love this site. Thank you for all the advice. Wrote a nice note to my cardiologist with some questions and asking when we can step down.

Joy Vera  I was on IV Amiodarone after an AFib episode in ICU & was discharged with 200mg three times a day. Less than a week later, my cardiologist lowered it to 2X per day, then a couple of weeks later it was at 1X per day. I'll be seeing my cardiologist on 7/1 & you can bet one of my questions will be - when can I get off of this stuff or at least take less of it. Best wishes.

Dan Baltazor  I was on the drug for a week before my surgery and I did fine, but I was very nervous about the drug as well. Since I was only on it for a week, I can't really offer you any information, but I understand your concerns.

Marie Myers  I am sorry you had to go through this at a young age. Although it sounds like everything went well, and I know you had the surgery done at a top notch place. Hope the rest of your recovery is easy for you. Did your experience this time help you with your trust -the -doctor issues?

Brett Kurtz  It really hasn't. My experience with the hospital I picked made me feel just like a dollar sign. The surgeon is great though and checked on me daily. Once I saw my cardiologist I started to feel a little better. Trust is an issue that I need to get over.

Rose Madura  I hope you can get off the amidarone soon! I'm also curious why you don't trust doctors because that's one piece of advice I give everyone is to trust your doctors - they know what they are doing.

Brett Kurtz  Rose - That was a question I've been trying to find. How long can someone take Amidarone for? I've been on it for only a month but my Doc just re-loaded me with another 30 pills.

Also my family has had a history of being treated and misdiagnosed. I wish that that didn't happen but it has caused trust issues with the medical field.

Rose Madura  I was on Amiodadrone for about 2.5 months. It affected my eyesight and I hated the way it made me feel. It is a good medicine to combat afib but I was very thankful when they took me off of it. In fact, on my 4th readmission to the hospital, the ER doctor suggested I discuss getting off of it with my cardiologist, as did my brother who is a doctor. So, I refused to take it until I spoke with the doctor. They put me on Multaq which is very expensive but I got a one month supply for free and then they took me off all afib medicine. You need to discuss options with your doctor. I understand your hesitation based on a family history of misdiagnosis but I can't stress that you need to have a doctor whom you can trust. I hope you trust your cardiologist. Hope this helps.....