Is Afib ever cured?

Posted by elegantgem @elegantgem, Nov 23, 2020

I know this seems like an unlikely question but I wanted to ask people if you can be diagnosed with Afib and then be told you don't have it anymore? I ask because after a heart ablation I thought my afib was gone but it shows itself back up every month or so. So I was wondering if any treatment causes it to disappear.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

Colleen - Thanks for the note. I don't feel it appropriate to be giving out a prescription name. This is between the Doctor and the patient. That's just my thought.

Rich

And yes, it is Tikosyn.

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Fred @fey42, please refer back to the recent messages in this discussion, and you'll find that the member who originally avoided sharing the name of the medication explained his reason — and more important, complied twice with requests to identify it, and in fact did so again in the message you replied to just above. Reading email notifications can sometimes lead to loss of context as the discussion flows. If you read from this message onwards, you'll see where the question has been answered https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-afib-ever-cured/?pg=2#comment-466312 and since it was, it was worthy of a "like."
Martin Jensen

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A friendly reminder about the Community Guidelines (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/). Please see in particular guidelines 1 and 2 excerpted here:
1. Be careful about giving out medical advice
- Sharing your own experience is fine, but don't tell other members what they should do.

2. Remain respectful at all times.
- Exercise tolerance and respect toward other participants whose views may differ from your own. Disagreements are fine, but mutual respect is a must.
- Personal attacks against members or health care providers are not acceptable. Such posts will be removed.

Each person uses their own personal criteria when "liking" a post. Sometimes I like a post to signal that I've read it or that I respect someone's opinion even if is not my own.

Mayo Clinic Connect is a place to share experiences and can include diagnosis, treatment, medication, psychosocial issues, caregiving, mental wellbeing and more. Each individual maintains their right to share or withhold information in keeping with their own definition of privacy and anonymity.
- Mayo Clinic Connect: Your Safety and Privacy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/mayo-clinic-connect-your-safety-and-privacy/

If anyone has further questions about the guidelines, actions taken or how the site is governed, please contact me using this form: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/contact-a-community-moderator/

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@colleenyoung

A friendly reminder about the Community Guidelines (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/). Please see in particular guidelines 1 and 2 excerpted here:
1. Be careful about giving out medical advice
- Sharing your own experience is fine, but don't tell other members what they should do.

2. Remain respectful at all times.
- Exercise tolerance and respect toward other participants whose views may differ from your own. Disagreements are fine, but mutual respect is a must.
- Personal attacks against members or health care providers are not acceptable. Such posts will be removed.

Each person uses their own personal criteria when "liking" a post. Sometimes I like a post to signal that I've read it or that I respect someone's opinion even if is not my own.

Mayo Clinic Connect is a place to share experiences and can include diagnosis, treatment, medication, psychosocial issues, caregiving, mental wellbeing and more. Each individual maintains their right to share or withhold information in keeping with their own definition of privacy and anonymity.
- Mayo Clinic Connect: Your Safety and Privacy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/mayo-clinic-connect-your-safety-and-privacy/

If anyone has further questions about the guidelines, actions taken or how the site is governed, please contact me using this form: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/contact-a-community-moderator/

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Thank you, I agree.Margreet

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@elegantgem

Thanks for the info Colleen. It took me awhile to understand what afib is all about. I have been living with it for about 2 years now and don't know what causes it for me. I know at times if I am exercising or walking it can start up but hate to say that is the cause because so many articles tell you to do that to prevent it. I do have hyperthyrodism but it is very mild. I cannot say I know if the afib would have happened anyways or if walking has caused it. That is why I want to learn more. I would take medicine if I knew it would stop it but that doesn't seem to be the case for me. My episodes scare me. I have a heart rate monitor and it goes to 208 and can take 2 hours to get back to normal. I really find it difficult to deal with. Thanks again for the articles to read.

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Hi, I have Afib for last three years. It is well under control with Tikosyn (generic Dofetilede). You can ask your doctor if you can try it. It has to be given in specialized doctor’s supervision. Get admit in hospital and stay three days to take this medicine under doctor’s control. It is a risky medicine but I am okay with it. No harm in getting professional advise.

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I am on eliquis and metoprolol. I get afib every 2weeks and it lasts for about 8 hours. Dr. wants me to to take a different medication that controls rhythm. When not in afib, I feel 100% great! I am worried about side effects of new medications. I tend to react negatively to medications. Is it life-threatening to have frequent afib? What medications have you used and your reaction/side effects experienced?

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@damari

I am on eliquis and metoprolol. I get afib every 2weeks and it lasts for about 8 hours. Dr. wants me to to take a different medication that controls rhythm. When not in afib, I feel 100% great! I am worried about side effects of new medications. I tend to react negatively to medications. Is it life-threatening to have frequent afib? What medications have you used and your reaction/side effects experienced?

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I have used Multaq (not very effective, no side effects) and after several, days long breakthrough episodes, I was switched to Sotalol in February. Since February - no breakthrough episodes and no side effects. I believe the big side effect with Sotalol is another rythym issue - but they hospitalize you for a couple of days while they are first administering the medicine, to monitor your heart and ensure that you don’t have that side effect. I’ve been very pleased. I’m not a Doctor, but I believe the issue with persistent afib is that it can enlarge the heart - which can lead to heart failure.

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@damari

I am on eliquis and metoprolol. I get afib every 2weeks and it lasts for about 8 hours. Dr. wants me to to take a different medication that controls rhythm. When not in afib, I feel 100% great! I am worried about side effects of new medications. I tend to react negatively to medications. Is it life-threatening to have frequent afib? What medications have you used and your reaction/side effects experienced?

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Hi @damari, you'll see I moved your post to a discussion about Afib. I think you will be able to connect with multiple people here to get answers to your two questions, like @kancha, @margreet and @predictable

I am taking metoprolol and losartan, but haven't had any side effects. What other medications are you considering?

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@amandaa

Hi @damari, you'll see I moved your post to a discussion about Afib. I think you will be able to connect with multiple people here to get answers to your two questions, like @kancha, @margreet and @predictable

I am taking metoprolol and losartan, but haven't had any side effects. What other medications are you considering?

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I only take Metropolol and Xeralto, (blood thinner ) have not had an AFib for a long time.

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@stephdoug123

I have used Multaq (not very effective, no side effects) and after several, days long breakthrough episodes, I was switched to Sotalol in February. Since February - no breakthrough episodes and no side effects. I believe the big side effect with Sotalol is another rythym issue - but they hospitalize you for a couple of days while they are first administering the medicine, to monitor your heart and ensure that you don’t have that side effect. I’ve been very pleased. I’m not a Doctor, but I believe the issue with persistent afib is that it can enlarge the heart - which can lead to heart failure.

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Thank you for your reply. I have repeatedly asked the doctor if my frequent bouts with afib can affect my heart. He has said no. However, I am beginning to question this. I was never quite sure if taking medication would eliminate afib or if it just would prevent clots, etc. Now I am reading that even on Eliquis a person could have a stroke or heart attack. What info have you come across? My hesitation to change from metoprolol to multaq, feccainide, etc. is the affect on other organs like the kidneys, liver. Also, dizziness, stomach upset, gastro problems. Right now all my lab tests are completely normal..I am just so hesitant and really worried about this recurring afib. Is the purpose of afib treatment to eliminate it or just to protect us when it occurs? Is it expected that afib episodes will occur regularly? Thanks for listening! Any info will be appreciated!

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