Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences?

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes on my post. New computer and I must not hit the keys hard enough.

Yeb,
You say you have chronic Afib. Is that how the doctor described it? There are actually three types of Afib: Paroxysmal which occurs off and on, Persistent which lasts longer than seven days, and Permanent which needs to last longer than a year. So, if you are newly diagnosed you should be able to get help managing it. I, too, was in persistent Afib when diagnosed. Afib with RVR was my diagnosis. My heart rate was high. Since I see a cardiologist in the HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) Clinic at the Mayo Clinic, I contacted him and he wanted me to see an EP at their heart rhythm clinic. Of course that took a while to get in. So to make a long story short, I spent last summer on sever rate control drugs which didn't work. Saw the EP in July and we decided to try medication befor ablation. So, in September I spent three days in hospital to load with antiarrhythmic drug Dofetilide (Tikosyn). Neede a cardioversion to regain sinus rhythm. It has now been almost a year and except for one short breakthrough I have been Afib free. I am 80 years old and very active and feel great on this drug. If it fails, I will then probably have an ablation. There is definitely treatment if you haven't been in Afib for years. Find a good electric physiologist and travel if you need to. It is important to treat it as soon as possible. I can't say enough good about Mayo, but if you are closer to another large center, get a second opion there. Good luck and keep us posted.

HI,
Thanks for sharing your story. Everyone is different so work with your cardiologist to find what works for you. I got AFib, cardioverted once, asymtomatic since on Metoprolol and Eliquis. I am lucky and hope it holds out. Best wishes to you.

I would have a problem even with decaf. There is some caffeine in it. Chocolate? Sweets and processed foods?

He knows he is in AFib all the time. They have tried the gamut of medications and none have worked. He was on Flecainide for quite a number of years which seemed successful however, after about eight years, he had some side effects so they took him off of that. He was on different medication’s, including amiodarone which did not keep him in rhythm. I hate to say this, but after the Covid shot is when his Afib got out of control.

I drink one cup of decaf coffee every morning. That’s it.

Thanks for sharing your story. It’s very helpful to me. Because I have chronic AFib I have no energy most of the time. My quality of life has gone downhill. I am considering cardio version but my doctor wants me to have a CT scan first.

Love coffee but I got afib in a time when I drank very little coffee.
My Afib is well controlled and i work out almost daily. BP is good as is my heart rate.
I just skip beats.
I have an echo scheduled next week. I get one every year and they have been pretty much the same each year.
If certain parameters change, we might discuss ablation but for now why rock the boat.
Heart goes: bump bump bump-butty-bump bump bump! I can live with that.
When I first got it wow! 168 beats and primary sent me right to the ER ( he also did EKG in the office)

Are you consuming ANYTHING with caffeine even in small amounts??

I was diagnosed with A-fib in 2008. Had a ablation in 2009 it only lasted 8 months. Tried a lot of different medications most didn't work. Had another ablation in 2017 it only lasted 8 months. They cardioverted me and it put me back in rhythm. They put me on flecainide and it did the job for 7 years. Had a episode last may when I thought I was going to pass at that point they cardioverted me went back into A-fib the next day. They put me on amiodarone 800 mg for two weeks and cut me back to 200 mg a day. I was scheduled for another ablation but have had no problems since I also take Eliquis 5mg twice a day. Amiodarone is a bad medication because it can effect the liver and thyroid have to have blood tested every six months to make sure I'm doing ok. I have a friend that has chronic A-fib but he doesn't experience any side effects. He is just on a blood thinner he just retired from the mayo clinic. I wish I had his problem when I go into A-fib I lose 60% of my energy. If you don't have that problem I would just keep taking the blood thinner.