Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences?

Thank You for adding your comments.
I've Walked in your Moccasins ... It took me 15 months to "De-Tox." from all the toxic Prescript. Meds. they "threw at me" (At your Same Age) ... finally I was thinking clearly again. I decided to drive 100 miles from my home to a Larger City where there was a Hospital well-known for Excellence in heart care. The Cardiologist I saw looked over all my test scores & records, asked a Lot of questions, then finally advised ... "Meds aren't always the answer for All A-Fib patients. As long as you Aren't having discomfort (or pain), as long as you're able to live a Normal Life without drugs or procedures, my advice - what you're doing now is FINE. Get plenty of sleep, go for frequent walks or some other sort of exercise, keep your weight in check (I'm just a few #'s over Normal, but active), continue your healthy diet, & check in with us about every 6 months. We'll do a simple EKG, if everything looks good, you'll be on your way. IF (or When) things change, seek medical help. Potentially you could live a very long & active life with A-fib not needing Meds OR any of the other devices available to help hearts when they slow down.
When I came home a family member & 2 friends commented, "What Did He DO? You Look So Much Better than before you went!"
My response: 'He Simply Re-assured me, my Intuition was my Best Medical advice. IF (or When) I Need Help, they're there to help me.' That Re-assurance & Peace-of-mind is Far Better Medicine than all the Pharmaceuticals I wasted $$$$ on over the past 4 years!
Ruth, Best Of Luck to You & May you find a Medical Professional who will give you that same Reassurance & Peace of Mind.

I'm 87 now & have had afib for many, many years. It finally reach the permanent & persistant stage but I am now well controlled with the blood thinner dibagrantin (pradaxa), & the usual blood pressure & colestral meds. Did have to go on water pills as too much sodium in the diet can cause problems. I am also on my second pace maker to control my heart beat. I would not consider any ablation at my age & all my cardios & internst at kaiser agree. I am still in my own home . The persistant stage of afib can be annoying as i also have tenistis howling in my head, getting sidetracked helps alot. I am so sorry some of you have lots of problems with this. It helps to read up on everything you can find on afib so you have a better understanding of it & what the options are. The last cardiolist told me to come back in a year unless i noticed a problem. My last echocardiogram was very good.
Now if someone has any ideas for dealing with this arthritus chewing on my old bones i would love to hear about it about it. Take care out there. Afib doesnt have to be the end of the world.

He knows he is in AFib all the time. They have tried the gamut of medications and none have worked. He was on Flecainide for quite a number of years which seemed successful however, after about eight years, he had some side effects so they took him off of that. He was on different medication’s, including amiodarone which did not keep him in rhythm. I hate to say this, but after the Covid shot is when his Afib got out of control.

Margaret - Your story and other similar ones are exactly why I do not run to the doctors for checkups or treatments for what I may or may not have. The only difference in my story is, after one bad experience, I did not continue, but read the handwriting on the wall and read, read, and read all the info I could find.

For me and irregular heartbeat, I quit coffee, colas, and anything containing caffeine. And increased my drinking of water. I rarely feel any irregularity and lasts maybe 5 seconds. I do not need to have a test to tell me I am okay. I do get a blood test about one time a year from a lab and examine it as you don't need to be Einstein to figure it out. To me, getting tests when I feel well at age 76, is like taking your car to a mechanic because it hiccups once in a while. They do their dance with a calculator and dollar signs in their eyeballs. My late husband who was an honest mechanic told me that people have their engines often replaced when the solution is to tighten a gas cap and clear the blinking warnings. Being dumb is not a virtue. One customer insisted that the air be removed from her tires and filled up with fresh air once a year because her late husband did it his whole life. Let that sink in.

Your story reminded me of a co-worker when I was in my 20's. I listened to her complain of UTI's and horrible treatments she had every 2 or 3 months. After a few years, I asked her if she ever ate any fruit. She said No. And never any veggies either. I had watched or heard what she ate at lunch every day and was just junk food.

One Friday, I went and bought her some time released Vitamin C and some fruit. On Monday morning she ran to my desk and told me that I had helped her in 3 days more than doctors had helped for years.

Take my stories to heart or leave them. Life is made up of choices. Unlike doctors and drug makers, I do not earn a dime for relating my experiences.

I’ve always found most doctors especially those who are surgeons or specialists will say very little about meds and procedures unless you ask questions. To ask questions you have to be well informed. You could read all day on afib and arthritis and meds and still not read everything. So many new meds and procedures coming out almost daily. Research everything including your doctors

Thank you, just went to the doctor and got all the 'bad news' feel just fine and not attached to living forever - am 84 and have had a busy life. BUT "they" are insistent that i 'need' this procedure for my Afib. I feel I am caught between "a rock and a hard place" thanks for listening!!