(Asymptomatic)means none of these:

The most common symptom in people with intermittent atrial fibrillation is palpitations, a sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat. This may make some people very anxious. Many people also describe an irregular fluttering sensation in their chests. This irregular fluttering sensation is due to the irregular rapid ventricular response (rvr) of the ventricles to the rapid irregular atrial electrical activity.
Some people become light-headed or faint.
Other symptoms include weakness, lack of energy or shortness of breath with effort, and chest pain or angina.
There are a few patients that have potentially life-threating A fib symptoms that need immediate attention and intervention with electric cardioversion. The symptoms and signs are as follows:

Decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF); shortness of breath
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Uncontrolled chest pain (angina/ischemia)


I don't consider medication side effects like tiredness a symptom of afib.

petey

Thank you for clarifying what you meant by symptoms. Yes, I had all of those, ugh. I am one of those who can feel every irregular heartbeat. I would be light-headed but unlike my dad, I never actually fainted. I definitely had the weakness and lack of energy and shortness of breath.

Although I did not have heart failure or low blood pressure, I would have chest pain, especially when going into afib or atrial flutter which felt much worse in my estimation.

For me the worst symptoms was a dulling of my perception, and what I felt to be a slowing in cognition. I just feel much sharper in normal rhythm.

Anyway, who knows, I may have a reoccurrence and have to live with it someday, but so far so good.

Best of luck in your quest to find out what to do. I wish you well in your decisions. All I could do was tell my story and give my doctor's names in hopes it helps someone.

Catinsb You have been afib free closed to 4 years? That is great and makes me fee better about my wife having an ablation the 27th of this month. My sister dropped dead at work due to CHF caused by afib at the age of 44. That is one of the reasons my wife decided to have an ablation. She also could not tolorate sotalol which dropped her heart rate into the upper 30's. Tykosyn has worked well but EP says now is time to do an ablation. The more I read on this forum the better I feel that we are making the right decision.

Best of luck to you and your wife! The worst thing for me with my dad was not so much that it got him in the end, rather how compromised he was, bit by bit, more and more.

I do hope you got a super experienced surgeon with a great track record. That is the key.

I'm sorry for the loss of your sister. 44 is way too young. It is always a little disturbing to me when people minimize afib. I think they used to do that because they just didn't have anything much to offer and they wanted to make people feel better.

My doctors said they are getting better and better at the technology. My operating room looked like a very space age lab with the doctor across the room peering into the machine like he was playing video games! lol I was under general anesthetic for about 4 1/2 hrs. so I think they took their time!

Again, best of luck.

Oh, and weld, according to my doctor, my result of no afib occurs in most of his cases, especially if one is willing to do a follow-up. I think it was something like 80-95%, I can't quite remember, but it was very good.

Catinsb, the EP did say that he might have to do a touch up ablation later. We are getting to the age that we would like to travel and take some more cruses but with her Afib I am afraid to take a cruse. I will be glad whenever it is over. My wife seems to be doing well with the ablation decision. I am the one taking Xanax. I did check out the hospital it is ranked in the top 100 in the nation so I am ok with that. Dr. said he does at least 2 ablations a week so that sounds good to me.

It all sounds good and I will be sending good thoughts and wishes your way. I know what you mean, I couldn't do much of anything while in afib, it just changed everything. My husband has been so happy since it has been over. For a while, I was so afraid it wouldn't stick, it took a while to realize it was gone.

Please do let us know how it goes. I have not been on this site very much but hope to hear that it is all a great success.

Cardioversion is a first choice, as are drugs. I know nothing about Rhythmol though. I would never let an EP who has only done 80 ablations perform one on me.

I agree ,I would never let anyone with only 80 ablations under his belt do an ablation on me. I have had 6 cardioversions and 2 ablations. Cardioversions are a piece of cake compared to ablations. I get the best sleep and wake up in sinus rythym. It's standard to be on an anirythmic drug afterwards to "hold" the rythym.

Cardio version seems to me like sort of a temporary 'fix' while the ablation - if it works - is more of a permanent thing.......which is why I've chosed to have the ablation.

My EP does 4 ablations a week. Those guys are hard to find. As of next month, my EP will be the only one in my state that can do them. The other one is moving out west due to family problems. I agree with some of the others - I would want someone with a little more experience under his belt.

If I didn't have a lot of bad symtoms, I doubt I would consider either one of them. Good luck in whatever you decide. We will all be pulling for you no matter what!

Ray, I never replied directly to your OP. My doctor had done 800 at the time of my first. Maybe you should shop around for a more experienced doctor. Please don't be afraid to travel, it is better. It is a very delicate surgery. Also I have heard negative things about Rhythmol, for what that is worth.