Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences?

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.

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

Thanks for sharing. Is he on any medications that help the AFib? I feel palpitations much of the time. While it’s not painful, it can be uncomfortable and distracting.

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.

Hello
I have Afib and did have the conversion which did work-for a while!
It got me into a normal rythm but only lasted 4 months.
My heart racing was the reason I found out I had Afib. My family doctor sent me to the ER but first prescribed a beta blocker. In the ER my pulse had come down but was 168 beats per minute
I saw the cardio doctor and was put on warferen but eventually it was changed to Eliquis 20mg
What is important is yearly echocardiogram's It's been around 12 years and each yearly echo returns with little change which is good.
Afib can effect the heart so it is very important to do the checking.
So now I am on Eliquis and a beta blocker for my BP and racing heart. Metoperlol is the name of the beta blocker.
Yes you and I can live a long life as long as we take the medication plus try and be healthy.
I use a machine in the gym. I am 71
I still can have ablation but at my age and the fact that my symptoms are well controlled, I choose not to.
if it gets worse I will think about it.
BTW each person is different and Afib might also have degree's of "Bad and good"

Glen