AFib just diagnosed at age 74 female

Is your afib paroxysmal meaning did you have one short-lived episode?

A great many of us here have AF. Have you done any reading, watched videos (YouTube is a great resource. Check out the NinjaNerd channel where a doctor explains heart arrhytymias, or the MedNerd channel, although the gentleman has an east-Indian accent (very good explanations, though...well worth fighting to understand).

It's a progressive disorder of the heart. It can be controlled, either with medication or with a day-surgery called 'catheter ablation' where they actually make burns around the area where the unwanted extra signals are making the left atrium beat. If successful, a catheter ablation means you only will need an anti-coagulant to minimize the risk of stroke, and there's more which might mean stopping even the anti-coagulants...which you'll learn about in time.

It's a progressive disorder, but its' not a lethal disorder...you won't die from AF. Many live with it for decades. Just do make sure to minimize the changes it imposes on the heart by keeping in normal sinus rhythm as much as possible, and for now that is probably going to be metoprolol or diltiazem (keeps the rate down if you are in AF) and possibly an anti-arrhythmic like propafenone, Flecainide, maybe Sotolol...you'll be told what is recommended for you.

Do keep in touch with a cardiologist, let that person know asap when things change, and ideally at some point you'll be referred to an electrophysiologist (cardiac arrhythmia specialist) who might offer to ablate you. I have had two ablations, and they're no big deal (my personal experience and opinion) except that they give you your life back and peace of mind. Good luck!

@glaoming and I tend to present different sides of the issue because our experiences are very different, and my case is so far paroxysmal. That said, my afib has not progressed in 10 years. I have dramatic episodes once a year on average, with heart rate around 200, and land in the hospital.

So far I have declined meds and some doctors have come to agree with me. I take magnesium, potassium via low sodium V-8, and do tai chi for stress. I have identified triggers and don't eat after 6, don't recline after eating, don't lie on my right side etc. Alcohol, caffeine and stress are triggers for many and risk factors are weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, age, and in the CHADS score, female gender is one point against.

I do not consider myself immune from progression and when I do I will do a search here for all of @gloaming posts as well as @harveywj.

Do you know your CHADS2DS2-VASc score? I recommend the book "The Afib Cure" by Day and Bunch although I think the title is unfortunate. It does cover ways to mitigate afib but also meds and ablations.

@windyshores I like your perspective. I tried the same approach you are successfully doing but eventually progressed to where I need to take DOACs regularly and then eventually 2 Afib ablations. But that doesn't mean you or anyone else are guaranteed to have the same medical experience as me. Too many people seem to think that just because they had a certain medical experience then the person next to them is going to have the same experience. There are some who willingly push their experience as "gospel" when they really are misleading other people with incorrect information. I used a PIP for DOACs for a couple of years before I had to do it regularly because my Afib was happening more often. At 6?-10? months after my 1st ablation I went back on PIP with DOACs and that lasted 4 years until I started to having Afib events every 3-6 weeks. Even then I decided to take DOACs regularly as my doc did not push this on me. I have a clotting factor call Factor V Leiden that increases my risk of clotting. So I am now just a mere 4 months post 2nd ablation. I have had a couple of brief episodes of AFib in the first couple of months. It is too soon for me to get off DOACs . But I, like you have a method to my madness :).
BTW during this time I have avoided taking virtually any heart medications (sans DOACs) that are given as the usual and customary drugs to people with intermittent Fib.

Really appreciate the involvement of those with real experiences and most post factual information with little drama. The heart thing is frightening enough without us embellishing and moaning. I look for reality positions but also seek/enjoy positive emotional and lifestyle comments as well. Thank you all for your participation!

I have appreciated reading everyone's various experiences. Like Sandwalk, I was diagnosed with AFIB at 74. My cardiologist said I had the trifecta (Female, Over 65, History of High Blood Pressure). He did not seem too alarmed, although I was. He put me on Amiodarone. Unfortunately, while it stopped the AFIB, it was extremely toxic to my lungs and caused my heart rate to go into the 30's. Amiodarone stays in your cells for months. After passing out because my heart stopped, I received a pacemaker at 75. Over a year later I went back into AFIB (not realizing that could happen on a pacemaker - but it did). I was put on Sotalol, and I converted. Over a year later I went back into AFIB. I was put on Flecainide, which did not work for me; I had a cardioversion. Six month later, I am back in AFIB. My EP is not advising ablation for me (obviously, everyone is different), but we are in the process of trying to determine a medication. He suggested Amiodarone - which I refuse to take.

I apologize for the long history, but I wanted to let Sandwalk know that one can manage with AFIB, even recurrent AFIB. As Gloaming said, some have it for decades. I have accepted that I will be on a DOAC probably always, since I have paroxysmal AFIB. Fortunately, my Pacemaker monitor and my Apple Watch alert me. As you can see from all the above individuals, AFIB is very individual - certain meds work for some, but not for others. Cardioversion worked for me (for 6 months), and it does not work for others. Some have to have multiple ablations. I think I have learned from my experience and extensive research that once a heart goes into AFIB, in many cases, it goes into AFIB over and over. All I can say is - Good Luck with everything! As 4aces4me said, "The heart thing is frightening". It does help to see how others have managed.

I was very interested to read about your pacemaker. In my last holtar test lasting a week, my heart paused at least 3 times at night for about 2. 7 seconds each time. I am on Eliquis and beta blocker. My cardiologist thinks I need a pace maker for fear of having a heart pause and perhaps falling and sustaining a serious injury. I have been reluctant. I would appreciate comments

Hi
I was diagnosed at 70. Female.
But it was the stroke that put me in hospital EMBOLIC type.
I was diagnosed with RAPID and PERSISTENT AF.
4th day a carotid artery scan showed a shadow on my Thyroid.
So reading up. It was the Thyroid cancer which caused the AF (clot) which caused the stroke.
So I say have a scan of your thyroid please.
AF in athletes can cause AF too. And they have low H/R. BP. It seems they overdo their heart's capacity.
Tests. Thyroid TSH, T3, T4
Thyroglubin antibodies
B12. At your age you should be higher than 500.
Hidden diagnosis happened in my case. My carotid arteries were clear.
5 years plus I am now on the best med for me. Diltiazen 120mg CD AM. For rapid Heart control.
I have a severely dilated Left Atrium so no procedures as I have a structurally abnormal heart.
I'n glad that I don't need to be decisions on ablation which scars your heart for life. High radiation for the patient and the Dr/surgeon. Research will better serve patients. If a AF surgeon refuse an ablation what does that say?

Read research and worry not. Eat healthy, sleep well and exercise wisely. Question to get the best medical support.

Be under a understanding, supporting cardiologist.

Take care.

cheri JOY. (Tuckie)

Hi

Check it out now.
Metoprolol even 23.75 caused pauses at night. I was changed to Bisoprolol. Better for AFers.
Stopped breathless on exertion, 186 bpm Day brought down to 156 but still not controlled.
Fatigued less and sleeping less.
I wished to not have Metoprolol from my Stroke when offered. I had problems with it back in 2008 when the 49,75 was doubled. But still given it.

You probably dont need a pacemaker. Get off the neta nlocker.

My normal bpm at Night is 47 avge.

Day is different. now under 100. The private H/specialist introduced CCB Calcium Channel Blocker.

Now I stopped Bisoprolol December completely from reducing 2.5 to 1.25 and then every other day for a week.

But Diliazem 120 CD mg acts as reducing dramatically the rapid H/R and a little BP so it is classed as a safe anti-arrhymic med. BUT if ventricle problems, or very leaking valves it is not suitable.

My heart paused 2 secomds each time the heart monitor reported.

Take care. Please get your beta blocker changed first. Changing stopped the breathlessness, the high fatigue. 186bpm brought down and couldn't exert. No more pauses.

cheriJOY. (Tuckie)