You need an electrophysiologist. can't you just go on your own?

Hello Hegel: I take Atenolol daily for Afib. I have paroxsysmal Afib. I have Afib episodes each day but do have short periods of NSR. I have never been told whether my Afib is vagal or not. The Atenolol lowers my rate but I usually stay in Afib. I agree with Petey...you do need to be evaluated by an electrophysiologist or at a minimum, a cardiologist. Good luck to you :) Carrie

Thanks guys. With Kaiser, you need to have your G.P. refer you to a specialist. I'm just going to try to storm the gates. I'd like a holter test.

I use Aenolol (have paroxsysmal afib), but mine is NOT vagal, so it's a helpful pill. But yes, I've read several places that say it beta blockers are not the right PIP for vagal afib.

what's a electrophysiogist going to tell him? "you need an ablation."
Think about it. What are they going to do? You all know.

My thought was that there are various pill in the pocket drugs. An electrophysiologist would be more up on the options. There is a diffrence between adregenic and vagal afib (or you could have a combination). My EP and other EP opinions did nor recommend ablation for me.


"triggered by exercise, stress, stimulants, exertion, etc., then you may have "Adrenergically-Mediated" A-Fib. People with structural heart disease seem more prone to Adrenergic A-Fib. But if your A-Fib occurs at night, after a meal, when resting after exercising, or when you have digestive problems, then you may have "Vagally-Mediated" A-Fib. People with Lone A-Fib seem more prone to Vagal A-Fib. (Many people have a mix of both Adrenergic and Vagal A-Fib.) (Perhaps A-Fib begins as a nervous system problem, then becomes a heart problem after the arrhythmia is established.)
It's important to determine if you have one or the other so that you can better identify what triggers your A-Fib, and because the treatments are often different for each. For example, beta-blockers usually don't work well with Vagal A-Fib. (Though it's difficult to generalize about A-Fib treatments, because each person reacts so individually.) Current research hasn't indicated yet whether Pulmonary Vein Ablation is more or less effective or appropriate for Adrenergic than for Vagal A-Fib. However, it seems that both Adrenergic and Vagal A-Fib are focal in origin (come from specific points or spots in the heart), and can presumably be cured by current Pulmonary Vein Ablation (Isolation) procedures."


petey

That's great information. Just saying most gp's can go do the experimenting with drugs. And that's what it is because everyone is different. In the end, Hegel will have to decide whether to live with it, take drugs or have an ablation. I guess I have over simplified it for me. Furthermore, I'm not sure any triggers have been scientifically proven.

My history suggest Vagal afib--no known underlying heart conditions, has come on at night, once after three days of strenuous exercise. I've exercised 3 or more days a week--5, typically--for many years. I have a slightly enlarged left ventricle, probably from exercise. However, I also, I drank three glasses of wine 3-4 hours before sleep in both of my ocurences. So it's cloudy.

My G.P. wants to put me full time on Atenolol. I emailed him back and said that I wanted to see a cardiologist, and he obliged.
I've read in a number or reputable places that Atenolol can actually turn infrequent afib of the Vagal type into permanent afib, so I'm really concerned about this. At the same time, I don't want to be one of these guys who thinks they know better than a Dr. because they've read something on the internet.

I'm going to take it slow and walk through this one step at a time.

But it looks like there may not be clear cut answers for each individual, perhaps especially early on.

Thanks everyone for this forum and your information.