Hi, @knowing. I liked hearing how you're handling your a-fib episodes. I don't have to handle them, because I don't feel my symptoms; but they show up on my EKGs every time. I'm on Coumadin for clot prevention and had the misfortune of having one thrown out of my heart, causing "a small stroke" 3 weeks ago.

That experience prompts me to warn you about "going to emergency" or bypassing the emergency room altogether. I didn't, and that was dumb. My posture now is a rigid commitment to "call 911" if I experience any symptoms related to my heart or my brain or my motor nerves. Moreover, my family and friends all know that I will not drive to the emergency room or ask them to. I'll only ask their help in getting a 911 call made without delay, because that can mean that I'll come under medical care a lot sooner -- maybe 15 minutes before the EMT ambulance gets to where I am rather than a longer time for making the trip to the ER without EMT care, plus complications from trying to check in. I won't take the risk again. Hope you won't either. Martin

I’ve had about 5 episodes of Afib tachycardia fast heart beats. So far they last about 5 minutes. How do u stop it with vagus nerve? What does that mean, how do u do it? I’m 72 years old still have decafinated coffee. It’s scary when it happens. About the length of duration or time. I love the way you deal with your episodes and will try doing the same. Thanks for the info. I’m on Eliquis for thinning blood. I am afraid to take it as prescribed because it causes my nose to bleed etc. I’m also on cardivilol for hypertension and Norvasc or Amlodopine , also 40 mg pravastatin for cholesterol. I’m not a strong believer in taking strong medications because of side effects and messing up other organs. But I know it’s taking a chance. I just don’t know what to do.

@carnes, I'll let @knowing respond to your concern about your tachycardia and the vagus nerve, because my A-fib is nearly without symptoms.

I am interested in your medication because it's much like mine: Coumadin instead of Eliquis as an anticoagulant; Amiloride (diuretic)instead of Amlodipine (blood vessel relaxant) to reduce blood pressure ; Atorvastatin instead of Pravastatin (anticholesterol); and like you, Carvedilol. In my mind, strong medications can be minimized by reduced dosages (although 40mg statin is "strong" for sure), but my dosages are "strong." Norvasc can have a double purpose -- slowing the heart beats and reducing blood pressure. Same with Carvedilol -- a double-purpose medication.

My medication brought my BP under control -- always below 140/90 (not bad for someone 82 years old) -- but when I get up in the morning, it reads a little above that until my morning meds take effect. We have started to scale back the BP meds, thanks to careful nutrition adjustments, loss of weight, and life style changes, including special exercises designed to repair nerves and muscles impaired by my "small stroke." When I doubted my meds a year ago, I tracked down a couple of doctors and got second and third opinions on what to do. Maybe you would benefit from the same strategy. Martin