Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences?

I sympathize with your situation and think you’re right to get to Mayo or Cleveland Clinic, something that I myself plan to do if and when the battery in my pacemaker gives out before I do. I’m 89 and finding the cardio options here in Buffalo dismal.

I sympathize with your situation and think you’re right to get to Mayo or Cleveland Clinic, something that I myself plan to do if and when the battery in my pacemaker gives out before I do. I’m 89 and finding the cardio options here in Buffalo dismal.

Thank You for adding your comments.
I've Walked in your Moccasins ... It took me 15 months to "De-Tox." from all the toxic Prescript. Meds. they "threw at me" (At your Same Age) ... finally I was thinking clearly again. I decided to drive 100 miles from my home to a Larger City where there was a Hospital well-known for Excellence in heart care. The Cardiologist I saw looked over all my test scores & records, asked a Lot of questions, then finally advised ... "Meds aren't always the answer for All A-Fib patients. As long as you Aren't having discomfort (or pain), as long as you're able to live a Normal Life without drugs or procedures, my advice - what you're doing now is FINE. Get plenty of sleep, go for frequent walks or some other sort of exercise, keep your weight in check (I'm just a few #'s over Normal, but active), continue your healthy diet, & check in with us about every 6 months. We'll do a simple EKG, if everything looks good, you'll be on your way. IF (or When) things change, seek medical help. Potentially you could live a very long & active life with A-fib not needing Meds OR any of the other devices available to help hearts when they slow down.
When I came home a family member & 2 friends commented, "What Did He DO? You Look So Much Better than before you went!"
My response: 'He Simply Re-assured me, my Intuition was my Best Medical advice. IF (or When) I Need Help, they're there to help me.' That Re-assurance & Peace-of-mind is Far Better Medicine than all the Pharmaceuticals I wasted $$$$ on over the past 4 years!
Ruth, Best Of Luck to You & May you find a Medical Professional who will give you that same Reassurance & Peace of Mind.

Thank you, just went to the doctor and got all the 'bad news' feel just fine and not attached to living forever - am 84 and have had a busy life. BUT "they" are insistent that i 'need' this procedure for my Afib. I feel I am caught between "a rock and a hard place" thanks for listening!!

4 years ago I went to my Internist for a 2-year check-up (82 yrs. old), a Physician Assistant saw me. At the end of the appt. she sent me to "imaging" for an EKG ... diagnosed - A-Fib. The P.A. immediately put me on Warfarin, & told me to come back in a couple of days to "talk-about A-Fib". The Practice kept calling-cancelling & re-scheduling the appts., ... finally I called a local Cardiologist for an appointment to learn more about A-Fib, & see if I could get Warfarin changed, by then I was having TERRIBLE Side Effects! 3+ months had passed since the initial diagnosis. The Cardiologist advised me she couldn't change a prescription another Dr. (Phys. Asst.) ordered! I called the Dr. of Internal Medicine & told them I NEEDED an appt. A.S.A.P., they asked "Why", then said 'No appt.s available for 3 months, go to an ER"... So I got in my car, went into their office & asked for my files. I told them I would find a New Dr. if they wouldn't see me about a prescription one of their P.A.'s had ordered.
When I saw the Cardiologist I asked her to refer me to a New Internist, & we got that Prescript. changed.
Over the next 2-1/2 YEARS I was referred to 5 more Dr.'s or Phys. Asst.'s, each would change what a previous Health Professional had prescribed ... all together 7 Dr.'s or P.A.'s, 7 Diagnosis', & 7 different Prescript.'s - ALL of the Med.'s resulted in Severe Side Effects: 4 blood thinners, 2 Prescript.'s for high blood pressure & a Very Bad reaction to Iosvue 370 Dye injected for a 3-D CTA. At that point I HAD HAD ENOUGH!
Not only did I stop taking Prescripts., I've stopped going to Doctors! It Frustrates me that when I was diagnosed 4 years ago I had NO awareness (NO symptoms) of A-Fib ... 3 years of being referred by one Medical Professional to another, 2-1/2 years of dealing with TERRIBLE Side Effects to Every Medication prescribed, I'm Very Much Aware I Have A-Fib, but I Feel The Medical Profession has "bounced me around like a Tennis Ball", put me thru A Lot of Pain, Confusion, & Misery with all the TOXIC Med.'s ... My Body & I NEED to De-Tox. (find a "New Normal"?) & start all over.
When I feel I Need Help, I'm Leaving Town & going to a Major City Heart Clinic such as Rochester - MAYO CLINIC, ST. LUKES in St. Louis, or CLEVELAND CLINIC.

I agree 1000 percent JOmack. I learned what you are saying many years ago. The only thing I would edit is, you said for the doc to discuss the side effects. Most doctors do not want to be questioned, and they take the drug salesmen's recommendations. You can ask him to tell you, but YOU need to CONFIRM it YOURSEF. Very simple. Google - What are the side effects of bla bla med. Don't waste your time or money until you do. And many people like me, who rarely take meds (none for me) can have severe reactions. A doctor gave me a prescription for a tiny pill, and I asked him if it would cause a problem, and he said NO, it is tiny. Well, I tool ONE HALF of the TINY pill and felt like was in a space ship going to the moon. Scared me. THEN a cx-worker told me the same happened to him, but didn't tell me as did not want to scare me.

I have a friend whose doc told her to lose weight and then gave her a med that made it impossible. Another doc told her the med makes you gain weight. She had been eating celery and lettuce etc and could not lose.

One doctor gave me a med and told me it was natural. After feeling weird, I googled and it was nothing but chemicals. He lied.

That is just a small percentage of my doctor stories. I could write a book. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their diet, their health habits, do not believe all you are told. Listen to your body's reactions to anything.

My diagnosis occurred 4 years ago ... the next 2-1/2 years I was referred from one Dr. or Physician Assistant to another, each would either suggest a change of medication or some sort of test: ekg, cta, etc. One would talk with the urgency of my condition being Eminent - Life Threatening, the next like I had little more than a "wort on my toe"! 16 months ago "I'd Had It!" - I stopped going to Cardiologists all together, sorted thru of what I'd been told to do that seemed like 'the right thing', & got rid of All the Drugs.
Now 4 years from the Initial Diagnosis, I'm ready to 'start All Over'. I'd had 2-1/2 years of being batted around like a Ping-Pong Ball. Ready to try again, I called a Hospital/Clinic in a larger city 100+ miles away & booked an appointment with one of their Cardiologists whose specialty is treating my Specific Issue - A-Fib. Before the appointment I sent a copies of my large files with the tests (& results), Medications, etc. that had been prescribed + the serious side effects that resulted ... as much info. as I felt they would or Should be given.
When the appointment took place, he pulled all the 'loose ends' together, said all the medical people I'd seen went "Above & Beyond" what they needed to do, & gave me Good, Sound, Practical advice for the future. He made a few suggestions, re-assured me that where I am Now I'm not doing anything wrong, basically I was "Just Fine. Keep up Just what you're Doing.". Finally he asked if I'd Like to come back in 6 months just so we can 'stay on top of it'.
My take-away: Follow Your Own Best Judgment. Don't let Physician Assistants &/or Dr.'s rush you into doing something your 'gut feelings' or 'instincts' tell you 'Just Doesn't Feel Right', & If Necessary - Keep Looking for a Medical Professional who will look at you like a "Snowflake" (no 2 are alike). Be Aware, there Are Dr.'s out there who look at Patients as: "Another Deep Pocket Walking Thru Their Door." (I call them: "Ka-Ching, Ka-Ching Dr.'s = always looking out for ways to 'Hit Their Good-Ole' Cash Register'!)

I’m just a few years younger 73 . Life is short . Have a cup of coffee and a glass of Chardonnay or two Just make sure you take your meds if needed and exercise daily Now go brew a cup or pull the cork .