Please do read the AFIB Cure.
Regards,
Sagan

My personal belief is that you need to fix the problem and not work to control the results of the problem. I like to use the analogy of putting buckets on the floor to catch water that is leaking through the roof when it rains. The floor is kept dry and all you need to do is keep emptying the buckets until it stops raining. But then it starts raining again and you are back to the buckets. Maybe it is time for a new roof or at a minimum a patch over the leaks.

As this relates to AFIB, you can take Eliquis and metoprolol or some other drugs to alleviate the impact of AFIB or you can do as other (and me in the very near future) and go the ablation route (actually the Pulse Field Ablation route) which should eliminate the majority of the issues that trigger AFIB.

It is all in how you personally want to deal with AFIB.

I lived with A-fib for a number of years (about 5), pretty well controlled by meds until it wasn't. My cardiologist recommended meds and we adjusted them based on how well my A-fib was controlled. His recommendation is to go with the meds if they did the job and didn't have any bad side effects as some people's A-fib can be controlled that way for life. I never noticed any adverse side effects from the drugs I was taking.
When meds no longer controlled my A-fib adequately, I had a cryoablation, which took care of it until my mitral valve decided (yes, anthropomorphize-ing my mitral valve) to be leaky enough to bring back my A-fib. So, mitral valve repair about a year ago and no longer in A-fib although still on diltiazem and eliquis.
I trusted my cardiologist, electrophysiologist, & cardio-thoracic surgeon, and followed their suggestions. My final recommendation, make sure you can trust your doctors (mine were the best in the region), and don't let A-fib cause bigger problems down the road, which will likely occur if left untreated.
All the best to you.

I will summarize short and sweet my experience. I was able to stop 99% afib naturally by eliminating all caffeine from my diet and drinking more water as I was drinking very little. I had it severe when young. Now 76. No drugs or treatments for me. The Bible says that for every curse there is a cause. I believe in getting rid of the cause.

4 years ago I went to my Internist for a 2-year check-up (82 yrs. old), a Physician Assistant saw me. At the end of the appt. she sent me to "imaging" for an EKG ... diagnosed - A-Fib. The P.A. immediately put me on Warfarin, & told me to come back in a couple of days to "talk-about A-Fib". The Practice kept calling-cancelling & re-scheduling the appts., ... finally I called a local Cardiologist for an appointment to learn more about A-Fib, & see if I could get Warfarin changed, by then I was having TERRIBLE Side Effects! 3+ months had passed since the initial diagnosis. The Cardiologist advised me she couldn't change a prescription another Dr. (Phys. Asst.) ordered! I called the Dr. of Internal Medicine & told them I NEEDED an appt. A.S.A.P., they asked "Why", then said 'No appt.s available for 3 months, go to an ER"... So I got in my car, went into their office & asked for my files. I told them I would find a New Dr. if they wouldn't see me about a prescription one of their P.A.'s had ordered.
When I saw the Cardiologist I asked her to refer me to a New Internist, & we got that Prescript. changed.
Over the next 2-1/2 YEARS I was referred to 5 more Dr.'s or Phys. Asst.'s, each would change what a previous Health Professional had prescribed ... all together 7 Dr.'s or P.A.'s, 7 Diagnosis', & 7 different Prescript.'s - ALL of the Med.'s resulted in Severe Side Effects: 4 blood thinners, 2 Prescript.'s for high blood pressure & a Very Bad reaction to Iosvue 370 Dye injected for a 3-D CTA. At that point I HAD HAD ENOUGH!
Not only did I stop taking Prescripts., I've stopped going to Doctors! It Frustrates me that when I was diagnosed 4 years ago I had NO awareness (NO symptoms) of A-Fib ... 3 years of being referred by one Medical Professional to another, 2-1/2 years of dealing with TERRIBLE Side Effects to Every Medication prescribed, I'm Very Much Aware I Have A-Fib, but I Feel The Medical Profession has "bounced me around like a Tennis Ball", put me thru A Lot of Pain, Confusion, & Misery with all the TOXIC Med.'s ... My Body & I NEED to De-Tox. (find a "New Normal"?) & start all over.
When I feel I Need Help, I'm Leaving Town & going to a Major City Heart Clinic such as Rochester - MAYO CLINIC, ST. LUKES in St. Louis, or CLEVELAND CLINIC.

Hi @ruthbruns, getting a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation can be scary. To help you connect with other members who are living well with afib, I moved your question about treatments and alternatives to this existing discussion:
- Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/can-you-live-with-atrial-fibrillation/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect with members like @saganjames @kfox21 @yeb @lindy9 @jomack25 @gbear1953 @brian34 @predictable and many others who like you have afib and are living well.

The goals of atrial fibrillation treatment are to reset and control the heartbeat and prevent blood clots. Treatment will depend on several factors like how long you've had it, your particular symptoms and cause. Everyone is different.

I know it's scary and there's a lot to learn. Fellow patients are here to walk alongside of you.

Ruth, is this a recent diagnosis for you? What treatment or lifestyle approaches did you cardiologist discuss with you?