I have appreciated reading everyone's various experiences. Like Sandwalk, I was diagnosed with AFIB at 74. My cardiologist said I had the trifecta (Female, Over 65, History of High Blood Pressure). He did not seem too alarmed, although I was. He put me on Amiodarone. Unfortunately, while it stopped the AFIB, it was extremely toxic to my lungs and caused my heart rate to go into the 30's. Amiodarone stays in your cells for months. After passing out because my heart stopped, I received a pacemaker at 75. Over a year later I went back into AFIB (not realizing that could happen on a pacemaker - but it did). I was put on Sotalol, and I converted. Over a year later I went back into AFIB. I was put on Flecainide, which did not work for me; I had a cardioversion. Six month later, I am back in AFIB. My EP is not advising ablation for me (obviously, everyone is different), but we are in the process of trying to determine a medication. He suggested Amiodarone - which I refuse to take.

I apologize for the long history, but I wanted to let Sandwalk know that one can manage with AFIB, even recurrent AFIB. As Gloaming said, some have it for decades. I have accepted that I will be on a DOAC probably always, since I have paroxysmal AFIB. Fortunately, my Pacemaker monitor and my Apple Watch alert me. As you can see from all the above individuals, AFIB is very individual - certain meds work for some, but not for others. Cardioversion worked for me (for 6 months), and it does not work for others. Some have to have multiple ablations. I think I have learned from my experience and extensive research that once a heart goes into AFIB, in many cases, it goes into AFIB over and over. All I can say is - Good Luck with everything! As 4aces4me said, "The heart thing is frightening". It does help to see how others have managed.