Afib Questions: Is it too late to have an Ablation?

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

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

Thank you for sharing your story. I was sent to a cardiologist 2.5 years ago. She said I had SVT and an enlarged atrial. She must be related to Salesman Sam because she insisted (pen in hand practically) that I have a loop recorder inserted, and put me on Diltiazem. That was over two years ago and I've never received a summary or update to the info they collect and analyze each week. When I call to ask, I am told, "no news is good news". I am seeing a new cardiologist on Monday to find out exactly what is going on with my heart and whether I need to keep this device in my body - does it serve a purpose. Anyone have a loop recorder, and if so, do you get any reports or information from it?

Thank you for sharing your story. I was sent to a cardiologist 2.5 years ago. She said I had SVT and an enlarged atrial. She must be related to Salesman Sam because she insisted (pen in hand practically) that I have a loop recorder inserted, and put me on Diltiazem. That was over two years ago and I've never received a summary or update to the info they collect and analyze each week. When I call to ask, I am told, "no news is good news". I am seeing a new cardiologist on Monday to find out exactly what is going on with my heart and whether I need to keep this device in my body - does it serve a purpose. Anyone have a loop recorder, and if so, do you get any reports or information from it?

@kelton... 2nd try..... I had a loop recorder put in after my TIA in January to make sure I don't have afib. Every time I talked to my cardiologist, he would tell me he did not see anything malignant about my heart rate. When I go for my walks, my HR would up very high, sonetimes over 160 for a few minutes and it would go back to normal. I do not feel it. The cardiologist told me its a matter of conditioning. I also talked to the person from Metronics (?) who made the loop recorder. He too told me that if the loop recorder shows any HR irregularities, my doctor would call me. As for how long I should keep that in, that's my question too. CA. You let us know what your new cardiologist say? There's another question I hope I can get an answer, I'm due for mammogram, and I'm concerned that the loop recorder may be damaged. Nobody seems to know anything about this issue.

Ablations are close to the top procedures re 💲🤑💰for doctors and hospitals. As always "follow the money." If I had to have one I would find the absolute BEST hospitals that have done thousands of the procedures. Re Salesman Sam, He gave me no information re his experience, track record, or ANYTHING. Just "sign here."

I asked the same thing when I went in for my mammogram. After careful consideration by my docs it was determined that the loop recorder would not be damaged. I am very lean and my loop recorder sticks out, but I was able to complete my mammogram with the "normal" discomfort and the recorder was not damaged. Be sure to tell them you have it so they can move it around a bit when you're having your mammogram. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing your story. I was sent to a cardiologist 2.5 years ago. She said I had SVT and an enlarged atrial. She must be related to Salesman Sam because she insisted (pen in hand practically) that I have a loop recorder inserted, and put me on Diltiazem. That was over two years ago and I've never received a summary or update to the info they collect and analyze each week. When I call to ask, I am told, "no news is good news". I am seeing a new cardiologist on Monday to find out exactly what is going on with my heart and whether I need to keep this device in my body - does it serve a purpose. Anyone have a loop recorder, and if so, do you get any reports or information from it?