Afib - do I just live with it?

I am impressed. I will give some thought about traveling to meet this doctor.

Yes you explained your problem very well. You are right in that my cardiologist doesn't have an explanation. What he has been doing is an EKG every month for 3 months. We are now doing an EKG on my 6th month which is coming up shortly. I do have other issues the most damaging one is a slow thyroid. My understanding is that this problem impacts AFIB very much. My thyroid problem is very minor and there is nothing to do about it. I also have sleep apnea which is what I am going to investigate next. I feel I grasp for breath many times when I go into AFIB. I also am considering going to a better cardiologist for a second opinion. None of these things will hurt me but it is a lot of time and money with no guarantee result for AFIB. AFIB has really impacted my life.I have had to cancel so many activities because I just can't function normally. I find this forum very helpful because it helps me understand how I feel. If I could control this condition I would be very happy and am willing to do a lot for that result. I am just not sure I can get rid of it.

I also have had thyroid problems. I have a goiter which has small growths within that they keep checking to make sure they are not growing. When they get to a certain size I have to have them biopsied. I've only had to get biopsies twice and that was the year of diagnosis and the following year. I've had no more growing for the past four years. It gives me no problem but the only medicine to take for it is Methimazole and one of the possible side effects of Methimazole is atrial fibrillation so taking that is a risk. For a while my thyroid doctor had me on 2-1/2 mgs. of Methimazole and I didn't have any problems with it but I stopped taking it on my own after three years of no more thyroid problems. I have an ultrasound every year to check it. If the growths begin to grow again, I'll go back on the 2-1/2 mgs. of Methimazole. My husband thought I might have sleep apnea because I stopped breathing a couple of times one night when he was reading and I was asleep. Ever since then, I started sleeping on my side which I read somewhere helps. When I wake up I'm still on my side and my husband never noticed anything like that again. It also stopped my snoring.

Had the cardioversion on Friday. Heart back in rhythm. All meds gone & Amiodarone cut back to 200 mg a day. Still be taking Eliquis. I feel great!!

Good for you. Wish I were that way. I have persistent CPVT, as part of RYR2, FKTN, GSN, Diabetes, with almost everything "---megaly", including my skull. My blood pressure is dropping, and my tachie is going up, sometimes over 150. Now I have started the shakes again. A few years ago i had them almost every day, but they went away. Now they are back. Some days I have the body shakes and terrible hunger pains which last for days at a time. I even tried Marijuana meds for a brief time, and all I did was wreck the car in our driveway because I could not find the brake pedal. And pain everywhere, with purpura all over my face and toes. I wear a warm stocking cap most of the time, even in 80 degree weather because my heart does not pump enough blood to keep my scalp warm, especially at night.

Not to upset you but I hope you have a BIG BANK ACCT Or VERY VERY GOOD DRUG INSURANCE. MynDr also gave me a STARTER PACK AND A RX FOR ELOQUIS . I about STROKED OUT @ THE PHARMACY WHEN I FILLED THE SCRIPT ... $800 for 30 days 25mg twice a day .. Absolute INSANITY !!!!!! PART D INSURANCE DON'T want to pay for anything that costs more than an ASPIRIN !!! BIG PHARMA is nothing but a MAFIA ORG> in disguise ...JUNQDAWG

I have a great cardiologist who's had good results with the Watchman. I sent a friend to her who's had a few AFIB episodes and she's monitoring his care for now and, if they continue, might recommend the Watchman as she has patients doing very well with it. I'll be interested in reading what you think as time passes and you've lived with it awhile.

I am now (Apr 28) at the one year mark with my Watchman. I have had NO problems with the device at all. I still get some very minor AFIB episodes now and then but nothing like I had before. I did not get a stent put in as my doctor said the issue she saw in the lower part of my heart was not that bad and we decided to do a wait and see. I am very happy with my Watchman and my medical team.

Thank you for posting! I have been in permanent AFIB for 1 1/2 yrs. It is comforting to know that you have been feeling well for so long in permanent AFIB. I have been on the same meds as you are on also.

Thanks for the update. As I noted, a friend may be getting a Watchman in the future and hearing of your positive xperience is good news.