Cardiologist said the diagnosis is…………..

After I was diagnosed with A-Fib I too was prescribed Metoprolol. My Cardiologist said it was to lower my High Blood Pressure even though I told her I have "White Coat Syndrome" & brought her a small calendar I'd filled in each day with my blood pressure scores, almost ALWAYS Normal. Her response: "Those Home Blood Pressure cuffs aren't accurate, you need to go to a Drug Store or Clinic to have blood pressure taken. At my next appt. I brought in a list of Side Effects that were the result of Metoprolol, & told her now my blood pressure cuff was registering Very Low numbers, asked her "What Do I Have To Do To Get Off THIS Pharma.-Poison?" She changed the Prescription to Diltiazin(?), & Oh Guess What, once Again - Mulit. side effects. Next Appt., Once Again she changed the Prescription to A New Drug. A Week later I saw my GP, & told him about my problem with all the (?) Blood Pressure Prescriptions. My Dr. asked, "Are You Married To That Cardiologist?" ... "NO" .... "You May want to consider finding a New Cardiologist." He suggested a couple of names. I followed his suggestion & find a new one who is So Much More Understanding. Now all I take is Low Dose Aspirin.

Not ego........it's fear of lawsuits perhaps.

I can affirm the observations about the "business" of medical care. Often solutions offered to patients are prompted by monetary gain. A complete knee replacement fix offers greater compensation than periodical injections. Too many patients are ushered into surgery too soon.
A patient reports symptoms, doctor prescribes med but harsh side-effects could detract from quality of life. Perhaps even cause another medical issue which would demand an additional prescription.
We have rich resources (like this blog) at our keyboards to do our "homework" about conditions and treatments. Thanks to all who sponsor such sites and all those who participate through sharing.

UM!
Daily aspirin is not right for a person who is 60 & over. Risk bruising and internal bleeding. Can form blood clots.
Just read about it as a friend 65 after hip replacement says she is taking it.
cheri JOY
I discontinued 2.5 Bisoprolol because of low BP, dizziness and weird vision when I closed my eyes after a walk etc.
Also my Pro-BNP went from 198 to 103 to 89 as I reduced it. That blood test is to show how stressed the heart is producing a protein-peptide. And at 198 heading for Heart Block.
cheri JOY

Thank You So Much for sharing.

As I keep reminding myself, We're Each like Snowflakes (no 2 alike). I've found that 1 Dr. has told me 1 thing, then a year or so later another Dr. tells me something Else totally contradicting the 1st Dr.

As we get Older Managing Our Health is like "Dancing Thru A Mine Field in "Point-Dance Shoes"! (Don't Stumble or you might be In Trouble.)

A Certain amount of what Dr.'s Prescribe or Urge s to do pretty much boils down to "Trial & Error", If You're Lucky it'll Work the Majority of the time.

We don't have doctors any more. Businessmen with a medical degree.

I (73M) was diagnosed with AFib in 2016. It continued to get worse over time with episodes lasting longer and becoming more frequent. I went from several events a year, lasting minutes, to 59 episodes in 2024 lasting 20+ hours each. I finally had a PF ablation at Mayo Rochester on February 20, 2025. My advice is DO NOT PUT OFF AN ABLATION. I also think that PF is the way to go (certainly for me with the proximity of my esophagus to my heart and risk of damage from burning or freezing). I had mine last February and have been free of AFib since (with a few "transient" shorter episodes in the first few weeks as expected by the doctors).

PF?