keep pumping,

you WANT to be in permanent a fib? I dont' understand that. You mean you are able to do more when you have more a fib?

I was on Pradaxa and it caused me stomach problems and nausea. So, I had to add Pepcid to the mix.

Xarelto is the new one out there which requires once a day dosing. I don't know if anyone has had experience with that one.

Good luck!

For me, going in and out of afib is a lot worse than being in afib all the time. Seems like my body gets use to it after a few hours. All the drugs gave me side effects and I don't want to take any chances with ablation right now.

keepumping: I get what you are talking about about being asymptomatic and permanent (longstanding persistent). But does the below mean?

"I think, even though stress test and echo indicate I have no structural problems, heart disease or maybe a heart attack cause my afib, and the heart just adapted (remodeled)."

Why do you think you had a heart attack? Did the doctor find something?

petey

Hi Keepumping, I am so sorry you are having all this afib difficulty! I know you are opposed to Ablation at your age, and I know the effects of meds can be awful.

2 of my TaiChi classmates are in persistent afib. One says he has had afib for 30 yrs. He has had recent heart problems...I don't know what. He had recently been selected for a Research at Mayo Clinic, but he said not for afib. I'll have so sit down with him and question him about his afib.

The other said he has had constant afib for 6 yrs. He takes Pradaxa. He and the other fellow both still like their Wine.

Most of the people I know who have afib, have had ablations. The local EP likes to do them for everyone as soon as they are diagnosed. 3 yrs is the longest I know of, I think that is as long as he has been here. All are still in NSR. I know others who have been ablated by other EPs and 2 are back in afib after 2 yrs. for one and 5 for another.

I agree Dr.s don't know everything. I have clashed on opinions with 3. But, I do have one that I like. I hope you do too!!!!!

I'm taking Pradaxa, and am fine with it. I think the stroke risk deterrent is the thing you want to get right.

We all do the best we know to do~ May your choice be the Best for You!!!!!!

Hi pete: Dr. said everyting looked fine but then was asking if I had any past chest pain. I'm not sure if it's possible to detect all heart damage at a cellular level. I have had some really bad chest pain experiences in the past. One time I went to the ER as the pain would not go away for several hours. Dr. said not a heart attack must be skeletal or musuclar and sent me home. Then I decided to do one of those cheap mobile heath fare exames and it was found I have left hemi block as well. It's also called left anteria fasicular block. I know I mispelled it but I'm drinking a beer right now and don't feel like googling it.

Thank you Yogacat for your response. when the symptoms get worse and hopefully FIRM or something better comes a long, I'll do some kind of medical procedure. I know I am relatively young but have had a great life. I really feel blessed.

I had a few minutes at TaiChi this morning to talk to the man who has had afib for 30 yrs. He has taken Coumadin for 13 yrs. Feels fine as long as he walks 3-4 miles every day. Doesn't ever think about afib!!!!

He was recently diagnosed with heart failure. It had Nothing to do with afib. He is taking a diuretic to help that.

Sorry to hear you're struggling with this.

My Afib started for me in my late 30s so I know what it's like to be dealing with this at such a young age. Fortunately today treatments are far better than two decades ago but not everyone responds to or can tolerate drug treatment, as you well know. I think I know what you mean about the feeling worse at the beginning of an episode as opposed to being in Afib for a period of time. Your age likely helps with the tolerance plus an episode starts after a period of normal rhythm so the comparison is "fresh", so to speak. I grew tolerant of Afib over time, I would push through even the worst episodes. Feeling lousy became the new normal and it became me against the beast and I wasn't going to let it take over my life. Unknowingly I HAD let Afib take over, simply by accepting the condition. Episodes increased in number and frequency and I began to get pushed harder and harder to accept the new normal which was becoming increasingly more physically and mentally challenging. It took suffering a TIA to realize that I had essentially made friends with an enemy that meant me harm. I sincerely hope that you will proceed with caution as you navigate treatment options. You're taking one of the most important steps right now in starting anticoagulation. Hopefully you'll find one that you tolerate well (I take Pradaxa). I believe breakthroughs are coming with ablation that will offer more safety and increased success rates and more and more physicians are immersed in the field now and gaining experience. Given your diagnosis of left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) I went looking for info since this is new to me. I came across this article that might be of interest. It seems to be a condition that's caught the attention of some doctors in relation to Afib and other cardiac problems. They mention a particular pacemaker that is used to help patients. I'm not suggesting that for you since you seem to be doing very well but it's good to know that there are options.

http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/04/105041/routine-ekg-finding-could-signal-serious-heart-problem

Steve,
Thanks for the referral to the UCSF article.
LAFB rang a bell. I looked up my July 2010 ER record. I was diagnosed with AF and LAFB.
It turns out I have an appointment with my cardiologist tomorrow morning. I'll ask him about it.
I have asymptomatic bradycardia. A pacemaker has been suggested if I become symptomatic. The pacemaker described may just be what I'll need.

May be a false alarm in regard to going permanent. I've been battling a bad molar for months now, had a root canal and crown put on but ended up getting an infection several times and had the tooth removed last week. Funny thing however, unlike others here, antibiotics extend my period of NSr. In fact, the two times I ingested Amoxicillian and one time Kelflex, I stayed in NSr until I ran out. Anybody have any ideas of why?

Antibiotics doesn't do anything for my afib. When I was on them they just made my blood thinner. Do you really want permanent afib??? I wouldn't want bit because I have RVR with it. Plus atach and an ocassional flutter. I've met a few people that had 1 ablation and it pretty much cured them. For me personally 2 ablations, 3 attempted cardioversions and 4 medications later I still have afib, atach episodes. Grant I am a week from 3 month mark of my latest ablation. Has your doctor put you on a event monitor for a month? Just this year alone I have been on 3 one month monitors. Information u get from those are valuable. I found out after my ablation I was having about 40 afib episodes a day that lasted 3.5 hrs in a 24hr period. I also had atach at 180bpm. Scary and fascinating at the same time.

Hi, I only had to do the monitor for a couple days to figure out I was in afib. Not sure I can get any more valuable information. It is what it is.

Don't u want to know how long your in it and how many episodes you have? What your heart rate is when you're in episodes. Whether or not you're having s flutter or pvc's or pac's with it? One thing I have learned knowledge is power. Knowing your body and this condition is very important. I personally refuse to believe I am going to spend the rest of my life with afib and atach ruling it. I have hopes of being free from it. What are you hoping to happen with your afib? Do you not hope that it can be controlled and you have less episodes? I am currently on coumadin and have no issues except having to go have my levels check every 2 weeks. This condition really does affect u mentally. My life had to change drastically because of it. I wish you luck and NSR!

Thanks for the info DeTalente, I know when I'm in and when I'm out and when I'm having PACs and so on. Knowing all that changes nothing. It's pretty basic, ablation, rate control or rhythm control. Oh yeah, I guess there is Maze and more evasive procedures as well. Like I said before, after being in Afib for several hours, the symptoms seem to simmer down. I dont' like the anxiety I get right before and at the start of of afib. The anxiety is having more of a drastic effect on my life than the actual physical symptoms. For instance, I have gotten in trouble at work for not controlling my emotions and my relationship with my wife as suffered as well. That's why I'd like to be either in NSR or out. What I'm hoping is not to have a stroke until something better than ablation or a better technique comes along. I totally understand people who are more symptomatic and older taking more drastic measures. I wish you the best.

I forgot to mention, I have 5 more years until I can retire from a stressfull job, (law enforcement)