Going to see an EP for the first time on Oct. 16th.

Good for you! Take your APRN DIL and she will help you, but you can also be more informed by going to YouTube and listening to some helpful videos from some of the leading experts in some of the leading hospitals that are doing research and treatments for A-fib. You will find all kinds of information that will help you ask the right questions and help you understand the disorder. I have it too and I am a nurse that has learned a great deal about A-fib from these sites. Beware of the ones who claim they can "cure" it. There are definitely lifestyle changes that will help you deal with it, suppress it perhaps, but I have done all those suggested things and I still have outbreaks. There are things that "trigger" A-fib for some people and then there are those of us who can't figure out what sets it off! I tell my doc that he owes me the full 20 minutes that I am alloted to listen to my experiences and help me make the right decisions for ME--not just the standard recommended protocol. You know yourself better than anyone; what can you tolerate, what are you willing to take for meds, what side effects are you willing to tolerate if any, what stage is your A-fib and will an ablation help. An EP is a great start but be sure to look up his qualifications, his record, his "success" rate, and his overall experience. My EP came up on the top 10 electrophysiologists in my state. Not everyone is the same; one size does not fit all. Good luck to you and let us know how you make out. I am 54 days from an ablation and I can hardly wait! No fear; I don't want to live on this roller coaster any longer!

@lindabuza
5 years and first visit to EP?
I would have asked to be referred to EP years ago. To me seeing a specific specialist is important. First your EP will probably schedule some test to look at the electrical functions of your heart. This is what mine did so not coming from me as a medical expert on this.

I am going to pass on the questions I asked. EP can you advise and give my your feedback on the medications I am taking? What supplements might help me? Do I need a holter monitor test and asked to go over what they are and used for.

Asked them to explain the main worry for AFIB. It is stroke threat (comes from my Mayo EP). A holter monitor check will look at electrical function of your heart. Look for sources of AFIB and VFIB, PVCs, etc.

I doubt (from my experience with my EP) he will do something without a holter monitor check. Have you been tested for heart failure. What is your ejection faction? You did not mentioned your age. How much stress and anxiety are you having? Why do I asked? My EP said stress and anxiety will cause AFIB and VFIB, PACs, PVCs, so talk to him about that.

How is your weight? My EP said has a direct contributing factor to AFIB and VFIB, PVCs, PACs. So ton of things EP will need to look at. I have been seeing a EP since 2006.
Good luck!! And please see my post information is from my direct experience with this subject and the information that came back from my EP not something I researched or saw on a seminar.

I would advise you to read up on AF as much as you can over the next week and from that you will know what questions to ask your EP. Seriously, google and read, and if you don't mind watching some/all of several informative videos, go to YouTube and search for 'AFib Education Center' videos. Tons of them.

You could ask your EP if he/she intends only to initially perform only a PVI (Pulmonary Vein Isolation) or if he/she intends to do a thorough mapping while he/she is in there and poking around so that ALL places that have rogue signalling can be identified and ablated.

You could ask if he/she would consider installing a Watchman device in the LAA (left atrial appendage) while he/she has you present and out cold. Please google 'Watchman device' and read about it. If your ablation is successful (only about 75% of all index ablations are successful, while subsequent attempts run higher, about 85%), and if your Watchman proves to be free of leakage at the 6-month mark post ablation, you might not have to take a direct-acting oral anticoagulant like Eliquis or Xarelto for the rest of your life. Definitely worth an ask.

You can ask how many ablations he/she has done over the years, and if he/she knows approximately what his/her rate of success is. Might be interesting to see how he/she handles that question. You want a highly experienced EP who performs 6-8 ablations each week, and who forthrightly claims to have about a 75-80% success rate for index (first) ablations. He/she may claim a higher rate, and that may mean they're really that good!

@jc76

I didn’t even know what an EP was. My PCP referred me to my cardiologist when sleep apnea was suspected.

@lindabuza
I am lucky to be treated at Mayo Jacksonville.
My heart failure doctor referred me to a sleep specialist who did sleep study. He reported his finding to my heart failure doctor with did not recommend C-cap.

I first came to Mayo back in 2006 to get a second opinion for a EP (electrophysiologist) when my regular cardiologist at a city I was living in wanted me to see a local EP. The EP I saw set me up with a lot of tests. He also referred me to a Mayo heart failure specialist. When I decided to change to Mayo for my care both worked together as a team.

EP did surgery to implant ICD/Pacemaker and heart failure totally changed my medications.

I had been driving 4 hours one way up and 4 hours back. But the care was outstanding. In 2015 I decided to move to Jacksonville area as like the area and found a Del Webb with indoor heated lap pool that I found outstanding amenity. Thus, my drive went from 4 hours up, 4 hours back, to 20 minutes to Mayo and 20 minutes back.

I cannot tell you how much Mayo Jack has expanded and grown in the 20 years I have been going there. When I went there, they did not even have a hospital built.

One area I would ask is the EP's experience with Heart Rythm's. I did not have Afib I had VTAC but I'm saying this as I navigated the area of Heart Rhythm problems. Besides the regular Cardiologist the Electrical areas are covered by EP (Eltro Philologist) Cardiology is also divided into parts of the Heart. Typically, AFIB is in the upper chambers of the Heart and my case was the Ventriculus or the lower part of the heart. The EP's actually specialize more in one area than another so I would ask if they handled mostly AFIB or were they more into the lower heart problems. I actually saw an AFIB Doctor once who did routine things as he was closer to me but I also had a specialist in my particular area of VTAC. There is a very large difference in treatment strategies depending on part of the Heart. And for me I met another specialist in the Heart area when I got a Transplant. Cardiologists who specialize with that field. Medical Science has sure developed into a lot of specialized fields.

I can't really help as to what else to talk about but like me they may talk about Ablations, Pacemakers and of course Medications. My best doctors knew when and how to best use medications along with procedures and even Pacemakers are really complex depending on the root problem. So as others have said testing will probably be a first step to get a good idea what your problem is and some strategies to best address them. I've had a pacemaker and have had multiple Ablations which are procedures to find electrical signals that cause your heart not to beat right. Its a way to try and stop those erratic signals from putting you into Afib. I had a few of those for my problem of VTAC.

So if I can help with any questions please ask. Some things are similar. Also you're in the right place with Mayo I had regular doctors and met Mayo here in Phoenix when I got to the point of needing a transplant. But now that I have, I cant say enough great things they have done for me. Great Organation

@danab
Dana, you seem to be 1 of very few on this site that has had a true Ventricular Tachycardia diagnosis, and not SVTach. My full diagnosis is Idiopathic Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia. I read many of the comments on Heart Rhythm and Pacemaker/ICD support groups, but the majority pertain to AFib and I am not sure how applicable they are to my condition. I am a 67yr male and had received an ICD 12 weeks ago. I do not have any serious underlying heart condition, so the cause is unknown. I am on Flecainide and have not had any VTach episodes since the implant. I have been ramping up physical activity (yard work, gym, hiking, trail maintenance) and almost back to previous level. However, I still get anxious about more strenuous activities, both about the physical ICD and leads, and concern that I will trigger the VTach. I have been looking for more members with similar conditions to mine to compare notes and concerns. Any advice?

I found this, which suggests that the patient's VT and the intended degree of intensity/strenuousness do matter. The degree of control, or management matters, as does the heart's overall health:
https://www.cardiovasculardiseasehub.com/archives/10730

I have sleep apnea, but long story short, have no problems with 2 pillows slanting me up at night. No snoring either. Told I sounded like a freight train.

Google side effects of meds you are taking or that are prescribed. Eliminate all foods and drinks containing caffeine. Clean up your diet. Might be challenging, but much better than the road to meds and treatments and doc and hospital visits.

@ejstolte Nice to meet you and Yes our type problem is not the Normal. But I can say after 10 years dealing with the episodes that I still did every physical activity I wanted or needed to. When I was first diagnosed i was about 50. I was still working a job I loved as a communication Tech visiting mountain repeater stations and sub stations where my communication equipment was located. So I remember when I got my first pacemaker I was so nervous being around High Power transmission lines and we even went into the generator areas of the Dams like Hoover, and others. So my work actually allowed me to get a gauss meter to see how high the magnetic waves got. Luckly my pacemaker could handle 1 Gauss which is a pretty high value, Of all the readings they were below 1/2 a Gauss so I was safe. Plus my doctor said that after visiting some of those really big ones he was able to check and see if my pacemaker showed any problems and there was none. So long story short I was able to work another 10 years and get closer to retirement before I had to retire due to the Heart transplant i ended up getting in 2018. Even now I still love hiking, long walks and play Golf all activities I enjoy. With the pacemaker I also did all those things and even went up to 10,000 foot mountains. So my advice is to not worry and keep up with the exercise.

Ill be here anytime you want to share stories.