Anyone with Atrial Fibrillation?

Hi most everyone ha s some form of Afib and heart related issues. Lots of helpful information on this site. Just a short synopsis of your issue and people are helpful as to what’s happening. I went for Ablation on June 18 for SVT and the study showed AFib also. EP had only approval for SVT but feels the AFib may have been gotten also. I’ve had only 2% showing AFib per my “Whoop” since procedure. Feeling good. Just stressed because I’m now taking Eliquis and that scared me about bleeding and effecting organs. Oh.. I’m 79 1/2. See Dr July 10th for my first checkup. Hope all this info gets you going.

AF is increasing common among the aged and lifelong aerobic sports athletes. It's not a lethal disorder, but it does progress usually, sometimes slowly, sometimes over months to making the host truly miserable.

Essentially, if you're still in the early stage, paroxysmal, it's the best time to seek treatment. The gold standard is 'catheter ablation', and it's day surgery.

The longer you let it go untreated or unmanaged, and the more 'burden' you experience as the months and years go by, the more your heart 'remodels' itself. Generally this is not desirable. It can lead to cardiomyopathy, enlarged left atrium and ventricle, sometimes degraded mitral valve. It just gets tougher to manage the longer you put of managing it. So, do something earlier rather than later.

You want to meet an electrophysiologist. These heart electricians specialize in treating arrhythmias. They are the ones who run the 'cath lab' at hospitals where arrhythmia patients receive the ablation procedures.

Don't be put off by all the demands of the EP. He/she will want their own diagnostics, from chest x-ray all the way up to MRI and an angiogram.....depending on your health and the EP being consulted. It's generally not a fast process and can take weeks.

Bottom line, AF won't kill you. It makes some of us truly miserable, and we wish we could die. Others don't seem to notice or to mind, and life goes on. So, your symptoms and your fastidiousness about personal care are what run the clock. If you feel awful, can't rest, worry a lot, and want this mole whacked ASAP, then you'll get in line to see an EP.

If A-fib is new to you and it is paroxysmal, it is in the "small wastebasket" category of a "fire" as represented by the cardiologists who give lectures about A-fib on YouTube. Go there and listen to learn more. While ablation is not a cure, the sooner you isolate the erratic cells that trigger the A-fib, the better off you are and the less likely it is to become a "room" fire or a chronic condition (forest fire). Ask your cardiologist for an expert EP (electrophysiologist)--not just anyone but an experienced, highly respected EP--and get yourself an appointment to discuss your options. I had to wait almost a year to get smart and I had an ablation (pulse field) in November of last year. Not one episode since then! Made all the lifestyle changes suggested before the ablation--no alcohol, no heavy meals, limited caffeine, lost weight, exercise every day, get good sleep if possible. You don't have to live in fear; watch some of the informational videos and make a decision for yourself. Some people say they can "live with" an occasional episode, but I hated it. I am off all the meds I was taking before to "control" it! Only take a small dose of Amlodipine now for blood pressure management. Get a second opinion and take charge of your condition and your treatment! Good luck.

@gloaming being in Canada. I’ve never heard of an electrophysiologist. I will ask my Dr when I follow up with him. Thanks for the info and encouragement. Much appreciated.

@sjm46 hi. I’ll be sure to look on utube. Haven’t done that yet. Just found out yesterday but Dr in ER said it was permanent and not going away. Looks like I have some learning to do.

Ive had afib for 3 years.
Im doing very well on eliquis. Im 84 yrs and exercise a lot...at the gym, walks, stretches on my bed.