Hi -- I'm 81. Have had AFib for at least 10 yrs. I take metoprolol succinate ER 25 mg. in a.m. and p.m. Various cardiologists and hospitals have prescribed diltiazem, ameridione, digoxin, furosemide ... I only took ameridione for a couple of weeks. I read up on it and what I read scared me so I stopped it. I don't know much about the others -- just figured I don't want to take several meds. Plus furosemide is a diuretic and I have never had fluid retention. IMHO furosemide should not have been prescribed for me. As we all know we have to educate ourselves about any meds or procedures. The first cardiologist I did kind of trust and I liked him. HOWEVER, at one visit he PUSHED me to see another cardiologist in the office. I didn't know anything about the types of cardiologists. The one I was pushed onto apparently is/was one who does cardiac ablations - which I knew nothing about. He didn't explain ANYTHING. Being in his small office felt like being in a Closing Room at a car dealer. He was practically holding the pen as he pushed a paper in front of me. I admit -- I was a sheeple -- and signed the paper (consent form). and agreed to letting him do it just b/4 christmas 2 yrs. ago. He set a time. Luckily I came to my senses after I went home.... cancelled the proposed surgery, asked lots of questions, and cc'd the questions to the cardiologist who i'd been seeing and who referred me to the so-called dr for cardiac ablation. I asked lots of questions, the Ablation-Happy dr tried to give me simplified non-answers. And finally, he gave up... knowing that in salesman's parlance I was a lousy prospect. Ultimately my regular doctor gave me the of a concierge cardiologist (aka CC) -- who is really great, knowledgeable, doesn't push anything on me. Turned out the concierge cardiologist had previously been a member of the group practice where Salesman Sam belonged. I told the CC about Salesman Sam. The CC knew exactly who that "dr" is/was. He laughed in a nice way and asked me if he could tell his Office Mgr. my experiences. (She had been the Mgr. in Salesman Sam's group.) She laughed and said how much she liked and respected the cardiologist in the group that I'd been seeing for a while. I made them both laugh, even more, when I recanted the details of my being in Salesman Sam's Closing Room.

Anyway, the CC is expensive but to me, it's worth it to keep my heart pumping. Also, CC is available 24 hrs. a day, answers his emails right away, gave me his cell number. Recently my regular dr said I should be taking a statin. Which I know is advisable for many patients. So I called CC, told him my HDL and LDL were good numbers -- he advised that I don't need a statin. Sorry to be so long-winded but I wanted to share. I also take rivaroxaban 20 mg. daily. Judy