Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences?

I lived with A-fib for a number of years (about 5), pretty well controlled by meds until it wasn't. My cardiologist recommended meds and we adjusted them based on how well my A-fib was controlled. His recommendation is to go with the meds if they did the job and didn't have any bad side effects as some people's A-fib can be controlled that way for life. I never noticed any adverse side effects from the drugs I was taking.
When meds no longer controlled my A-fib adequately, I had a cryoablation, which took care of it until my mitral valve decided (yes, anthropomorphize-ing my mitral valve) to be leaky enough to bring back my A-fib. So, mitral valve repair about a year ago and no longer in A-fib although still on diltiazem and eliquis.
I trusted my cardiologist, electrophysiologist, & cardio-thoracic surgeon, and followed their suggestions. My final recommendation, make sure you can trust your doctors (mine were the best in the region), and don't let A-fib cause bigger problems down the road, which will likely occur if left untreated.
All the best to you.

I will summarize short and sweet my experience. I was able to stop 99% afib naturally by eliminating all caffeine from my diet and drinking more water as I was drinking very little. I had it severe when young. Now 76. No drugs or treatments for me. The Bible says that for every curse there is a cause. I believe in getting rid of the cause.

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.

Hi @ruthbruns, getting a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation can be scary. To help you connect with other members who are living well with afib, I moved your question about treatments and alternatives to this existing discussion:
- Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/can-you-live-with-atrial-fibrillation/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect with members like @saganjames @kfox21 @yeb @lindy9 @jomack25 @gbear1953 @brian34 @predictable and many others who like you have afib and are living well.

The goals of atrial fibrillation treatment are to reset and control the heartbeat and prevent blood clots. Treatment will depend on several factors like how long you've had it, your particular symptoms and cause. Everyone is different.

I know it's scary and there's a lot to learn. Fellow patients are here to walk alongside of you.

Ruth, is this a recent diagnosis for you? What treatment or lifestyle approaches did you cardiologist discuss with you?

Thank you for reaching out! I have had Afib for some 10 years and have managed, to my mind, quite well. I use homeopathic remedies that keep me in a place where I have no symptoms that I experience it is only when I go to the cardiologist and he listens to my heart and does a ekg that it shows up. I have over the years had all the stress tests and do fine. There is the scare of a stroke, I have had one (completely unrelated to the Afib) but this all puts me at a higher risk. My homeopathic physician is thinking the blood thinner is the best choice as I am not keen on having the implant. I actually am fine with leaving all as it is, I am almost 85, feel fine but a stroke would be a life changing event that I of course do not want. I do exercise, walk and am raising a child, now a teen. So I am active. Thanks again for reaching out. Warmly Ruth Bruns

My story: I am 78 and, after having 2 ablations in 3 years, took my cardiologist's advice and had a pacemaker put in. It has changed my life for the better in innumerable ways. The trepidation of never knowing when an afib episode would occur is gone so my daily activities can proceed without unexpected interruption is perhaps the biggest relief. I feel "normal" again. I wish you much luck with whatever you decide to do.