May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Heart Disease Ongoing Post-CABG Inflammation and Arrhythmia
Ongoing Post-CABG Inflammation and Arrhythmia |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: It's going on three years since my CABG x3 and 1 stent. Ever since, I get inflammation every 4 - 6 weeks in my chest, manifesting itself mainly as chest pain (hurts to breathe), a couple of times as pericarditis, and one time as a pleural effusion. My only course of treatment is ibuprofen and when that fails, a 10 day course of prednisone. I use prednisone more often than not. My cardiologists prescribed me colchicine, but after three weeks of it, my stomach became painfully sensitive to it. My doctors have basically given up. Oh by the way, I also have arrhythmia problems (a-fib and SVT). These arrhythmia problems occur only when I have inflammation. I'm seeing an electrophysiologist for the arrhythmia problems. Right now, he's not as certain as I am about the inflammation causing the arrhythmia. After I became tolerant of several heart medicines, he did an ablation. The arrhythmia (along with inflammation) came back. Right now I am on sotalol; however, my heart is now in brachycardia. The electrophysiologist is now contemplating a pacemaker. I'm saying to myself whoa horsey. Am I wrong to think the inflammation is the culprit? Whom should I turn to about this chronic inflammation? I once was referred to a rheumatologist. She said I had the wrong doctor. Dear Dan: Being on prednisone most of the time could be the underlying cause for both inflammation and arrhythmias or bradycardia.You need to discuss with your doctor about tapered withdrawal of the drug and if you could go for any other medication in its place for your symptoms. Prednisone makes you more susceptible to illnesses, especially if you take it for an extended period of time. It may cause an elevation in blood pressure and increase salt and water retention, so you may need to restrict the use of salt and other necessary precautions while on this medication.
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 April 2011 ) |
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