Going to see an EP for the first time on Oct. 16th.

Good for you! Take your APRN DIL and she will help you, but you can also be more informed by going to YouTube and listening to some helpful videos from some of the leading experts in some of the leading hospitals that are doing research and treatments for A-fib. You will find all kinds of information that will help you ask the right questions and help you understand the disorder. I have it too and I am a nurse that has learned a great deal about A-fib from these sites. Beware of the ones who claim they can "cure" it. There are definitely lifestyle changes that will help you deal with it, suppress it perhaps, but I have done all those suggested things and I still have outbreaks. There are things that "trigger" A-fib for some people and then there are those of us who can't figure out what sets it off! I tell my doc that he owes me the full 20 minutes that I am alloted to listen to my experiences and help me make the right decisions for ME--not just the standard recommended protocol. You know yourself better than anyone; what can you tolerate, what are you willing to take for meds, what side effects are you willing to tolerate if any, what stage is your A-fib and will an ablation help. An EP is a great start but be sure to look up his qualifications, his record, his "success" rate, and his overall experience. My EP came up on the top 10 electrophysiologists in my state. Not everyone is the same; one size does not fit all. Good luck to you and let us know how you make out. I am 54 days from an ablation and I can hardly wait! No fear; I don't want to live on this roller coaster any longer!

@lindabuza
5 years and first visit to EP?
I would have asked to be referred to EP years ago. To me seeing a specific specialist is important. First your EP will probably schedule some test to look at the electrical functions of your heart. This is what mine did so not coming from me as a medical expert on this.

I am going to pass on the questions I asked. EP can you advise and give my your feedback on the medications I am taking? What supplements might help me? Do I need a holter monitor test and asked to go over what they are and used for.

Asked them to explain the main worry for AFIB. It is stroke threat (comes from my Mayo EP). A holter monitor check will look at electrical function of your heart. Look for sources of AFIB and VFIB, PVCs, etc.

I doubt (from my experience with my EP) he will do something without a holter monitor check. Have you been tested for heart failure. What is your ejection faction? You did not mentioned your age. How much stress and anxiety are you having? Why do I asked? My EP said stress and anxiety will cause AFIB and VFIB, PACs, PVCs, so talk to him about that.

How is your weight? My EP said has a direct contributing factor to AFIB and VFIB, PVCs, PACs. So ton of things EP will need to look at. I have been seeing a EP since 2006.
Good luck!! And please see my post information is from my direct experience with this subject and the information that came back from my EP not something I researched or saw on a seminar.

I would advise you to read up on AF as much as you can over the next week and from that you will know what questions to ask your EP. Seriously, google and read, and if you don't mind watching some/all of several informative videos, go to YouTube and search for 'AFib Education Center' videos. Tons of them.

You could ask your EP if he/she intends only to initially perform only a PVI (Pulmonary Vein Isolation) or if he/she intends to do a thorough mapping while he/she is in there and poking around so that ALL places that have rogue signalling can be identified and ablated.

You could ask if he/she would consider installing a Watchman device in the LAA (left atrial appendage) while he/she has you present and out cold. Please google 'Watchman device' and read about it. If your ablation is successful (only about 75% of all index ablations are successful, while subsequent attempts run higher, about 85%), and if your Watchman proves to be free of leakage at the 6-month mark post ablation, you might not have to take a direct-acting oral anticoagulant like Eliquis or Xarelto for the rest of your life. Definitely worth an ask.

You can ask how many ablations he/she has done over the years, and if he/she knows approximately what his/her rate of success is. Might be interesting to see how he/she handles that question. You want a highly experienced EP who performs 6-8 ablations each week, and who forthrightly claims to have about a 75-80% success rate for index (first) ablations. He/she may claim a higher rate, and that may mean they're really that good!

@jc76

I didn’t even know what an EP was. My PCP referred me to my cardiologist when sleep apnea was suspected.

@lindabuza
I am lucky to be treated at Mayo Jacksonville.
My heart failure doctor referred me to a sleep specialist who did sleep study. He reported his finding to my heart failure doctor with did not recommend C-cap.

I first came to Mayo back in 2006 to get a second opinion for a EP (electrophysiologist) when my regular cardiologist at a city I was living in wanted me to see a local EP. The EP I saw set me up with a lot of tests. He also referred me to a Mayo heart failure specialist. When I decided to change to Mayo for my care both worked together as a team.

EP did surgery to implant ICD/Pacemaker and heart failure totally changed my medications.

I had been driving 4 hours one way up and 4 hours back. But the care was outstanding. In 2015 I decided to move to Jacksonville area as like the area and found a Del Webb with indoor heated lap pool that I found outstanding amenity. Thus, my drive went from 4 hours up, 4 hours back, to 20 minutes to Mayo and 20 minutes back.

I cannot tell you how much Mayo Jack has expanded and grown in the 20 years I have been going there. When I went there, they did not even have a hospital built.