Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): How can I manage it?

Posted by fred66 @fred66, Jun 13, 2018

I have a fib.. all the time. No blocked arteries. Can't see a dr for 3 months..

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

Hello Fred. I have a-fib. Last year I had an electro cardioversion (they tried two times) but it did not work for me, did not stop the afib which often goes away on its own. (I am now age 69). I have been taking metoprolol and xarelto since diagnosis four years ago. Tried flecanide and many other drugs but they made me nauseas and generally sick. Cardiologist is now suggesting a pacemaker which I am declining for now. I do understand that electro cardio version is often successful. Good luck!

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I was cardioverted six times and still couldn't get my rhythm right so they stopped...looked like I had a sunburn.

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@fred66

Back again! In 2 weeks gping to have cardio version (electric paddles) shock for my A Fib.. Anyone go through something like this? Also dealing with E-D with the Metropolo drugs..
Anyone have ideas .. Thanks everyone

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Hi Fred. I’ve had 3 cardio versions. The first one lasted for 9 months! The other two just a month or two. Now I’m on metoprolol and Cardizem to keep the Afib rate low. Good luck with the cardio version. I thought it was a piece of cake except for the burns. A little hand cream and all was good.

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@fred66

Back again! In 2 weeks gping to have cardio version (electric paddles) shock for my A Fib.. Anyone go through something like this? Also dealing with E-D with the Metropolo drugs..
Anyone have ideas .. Thanks everyone

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@bjanderson I'm glad you can take Cardiazam before my by pass surgery the Dr put me on it I had weird nightmare every time I closed my eyes

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@ca426

I was cardioverted six times and still couldn't get my rhythm right so they stopped...looked like I had a sunburn.

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@ca424. When this happens try coughing as hard as you can see if it puts your heart back in rhythm for me this did just my experiences.

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@fred66

Back again! In 2 weeks gping to have cardio version (electric paddles) shock for my A Fib.. Anyone go through something like this? Also dealing with E-D with the Metropolo drugs..
Anyone have ideas .. Thanks everyone

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So far so good!

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On June 15th my (almost 69) husband went to the doctor because of chest congestion, swollen legs/feet, and a lot of weakness. He wouldn't let me go along with him and I later learned his heart rate was 191 when he first arrived. They got him stabilized and sent him home several hours later with some meds and a recheck on the 18th. On the 19th he had a really low PB and 145 heart rate so I took him to the ER. He was in the hospital until the 22nd. Since then he has been stable and is waiting to hear when he can meet a cardiologists. After this happened I signed him up to view his doctor records online (my health evet) and I see that on June 15th his NT-proBNP was 3690. June 18th is was 2010 and last Friday it was 245. I don't know what the numbers were when he was in the hospital since that was not through the VA. What does a 3690 BNP mean? Is it only a better read now due to all the meds he's on?
He has had a lot of foot pain since last Friday, thinking it's his achilles tendon. Today it was real painful, but I see his legs and feet are also very swollen again. Has this happened to any of you?

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@sistertwo

On June 15th my (almost 69) husband went to the doctor because of chest congestion, swollen legs/feet, and a lot of weakness. He wouldn't let me go along with him and I later learned his heart rate was 191 when he first arrived. They got him stabilized and sent him home several hours later with some meds and a recheck on the 18th. On the 19th he had a really low PB and 145 heart rate so I took him to the ER. He was in the hospital until the 22nd. Since then he has been stable and is waiting to hear when he can meet a cardiologists. After this happened I signed him up to view his doctor records online (my health evet) and I see that on June 15th his NT-proBNP was 3690. June 18th is was 2010 and last Friday it was 245. I don't know what the numbers were when he was in the hospital since that was not through the VA. What does a 3690 BNP mean? Is it only a better read now due to all the meds he's on?
He has had a lot of foot pain since last Friday, thinking it's his achilles tendon. Today it was real painful, but I see his legs and feet are also very swollen again. Has this happened to any of you?

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Hi @sistertwo,
I moved your message to an existing discussion about atrial fibrillation (AFib) so you can meet even more people as well as @fred66 and @racerjon.

Additionally, I moved this discussion to the Heart Rhythm Conditions group here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/heart-rhythm-conditions/
I invite you to click the link and browse the various discussions about AFib, ask questions and offer support to others as your navigate the ups and downs of this condition.

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I am an 84 year old male with better than average Health, I have high blood pressure and have been treated with medication for probably 20 years, recently having a huge loss of energy and just not feeling well I was diagnosed with A FIB, after a nuclear stress test, and a sonagram(MS), both were normal, I was given a cardio version, and was told I obtained normal Heart Rhythm on the first attempt, however two weeks later I was back in A FIB, after discussion with Cardiologist, I was given two options, do nothing stay on XARLTO, or take a rhythm drug AMIODAROBE for three weeks, then try Cardio Version again Dr was fairly optimistic that I could retain a normal Heart Rhythm, I am at this time short of energy, sleep more than usual but able to function somewhat normal albeit at a reduced level, no more 18 holes of golf but only 9 etc, I wold certainly like to hear from folks with similar symtons and any advice that will help me make a decision on witch path to try all comments are welcome. Harold Rayborn

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@raybornh

I am an 84 year old male with better than average Health, I have high blood pressure and have been treated with medication for probably 20 years, recently having a huge loss of energy and just not feeling well I was diagnosed with A FIB, after a nuclear stress test, and a sonagram(MS), both were normal, I was given a cardio version, and was told I obtained normal Heart Rhythm on the first attempt, however two weeks later I was back in A FIB, after discussion with Cardiologist, I was given two options, do nothing stay on XARLTO, or take a rhythm drug AMIODAROBE for three weeks, then try Cardio Version again Dr was fairly optimistic that I could retain a normal Heart Rhythm, I am at this time short of energy, sleep more than usual but able to function somewhat normal albeit at a reduced level, no more 18 holes of golf but only 9 etc, I wold certainly like to hear from folks with similar symtons and any advice that will help me make a decision on witch path to try all comments are welcome. Harold Rayborn

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Welcome to Connect, @raybornh
I moved your message to this existing discussion about AFib so you can meet other members like @fred66 @predictable @racerjon @grandmar @jigglejaws94 @frande @tresjur and more. I'm hoping that they may have experiences that are similar to yours and can share their thoughts with respect to AFib and loss of energy despite getting more sleep than usual and generally not feeling very well.

While we wait for others to join in, you may be interested in these discussions on Connect:
- Atrial fibrillation and medication side effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/side-efects/
- Xarelto https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/xarelto/
- AFib questions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/good-morning-im-almost-66-years-old-with-infrequent-afib-and-on/
– Amiodarone for HCM https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ameodrion-for-hcm/

Harold, between the 2 medication choices recommended, Xarelto and Amiodarone, did your cardiologist outline pros and cons of each in your case?

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