An electrophysiologist is a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythms. My EP doesn't recommend ablations that much. Only after drugs fail and only if rhythm control is pursued. I was surprised an EP said cardiologists know more about medicine.

I guess you know that Cardizem lowers your heart rate.

petey

When I first started taking metoprolol I was taking the minimum dose of 50 mg. My heart rate went to 37 and my ankles swelled. Guess that was too much for me. After that I cut the pill in half for a 25 mg dose. I was on metoprolol for 4-5 years. Stopped it after my ablation, 5 weeks ago. Now I feel so much better.

I am so sorry to hear you are having a bad time! I would suggest getting a second opinion from both a cardiologist and an EP. Hang in there!

Marilyn, I am so sorry that this is happening to you. I so hope you are doing better now!!!!!!!

When I was first diagnosed, I was given 50 mg. Metoprolol. My rate was 41. I often go into the low 50's now.

My EP is only about Ablations. When I first went to him, he did not hear me that I wanted help with managing my afib. He "listened" and then went into his talk about Ablation.

I get my most help from my Cardiologist. If fact I will be seeing him soon about my decision to have ablation.

When this is happening to me, I really try to concentrate on my Breathing...Slow down and concentrate on your breath...In...Out...In...Out. Then start to count..123 as you breath IN ....1234 as you Exhale. Make your exhale a smidge longer than inhale. If you do this for just a minute or two every so often, I think it will help.

May you know you are going to be OK soon!!!!

Prior to my ablation I was taking cardizem since being diagnosed with paroxysmal afib.

My hr when not in afib would usually be in the 40's and sometimes 30's. Based on a 7 day holter my hr even in afib would range from 39 to 145. My docs told me not to worry about these readings.

I also would wake up in the morning or middle of the night sweating. In fact I could often lose almost 3 lbs from a night of sleeping while in afib

Over time the cardizem became less effective for me I opted for an ablation which as worked out very well so far.
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I go to a cardiologist who is also my pcp and an ep for afib. I think going to an ep for a second opinion is important. The comment your ep made is somewhat unusual. I would probably seek out another ep. You can find a list of ep's at http://www.hrsonline.org/Find-a-Specialist#axzz31o0ogemj

opsyn

I have asymptotic bradycardia. My HR when not in AF is in the 40's-50's. Occasionally in the high 30's. In AF my HR is between 65-95. Other than Warfarin I'm not on any other medications.
In my first and only visit to ER for AF the medication they gave me made my HR go to low, sending off the bells and whistles.
Fortunately I self converted and have self converted with no meds for almost the past 4 yrs. My episodes have gotten less symptomatic though lasting longer. I lose 1 1/2 -2 1/2 # from a night of sleeping with AF and many trip to urinate through the night. At 80, with mild symptoms, AF doesn't control or interfere with my daily routine, ushering and other activities. I do pay attention to what I perceive as triggers e.g alcohol, but not on special occasions. Episode are 2-3x/mo. Time in between episodes seem to be my most significant trigger.

Once diagnosed I haven't experienced much anxiety or fear. My mother also had AF and dealt with it stoically.

I see a cardiologist. If I need an EP Natale is also at CPMC.
May - I hope your Dr.'s visit allays your anxiety. You've come to the right group for info and support.
Annette

Marilyn, so sorry this is happening to you!! I hope everything has calmed down a bit now and you are in a stable NSR.

I cant help you with low heart rate I dont think I have ever seen mine go below 61 it usually hovers around 70 80 when Im doing nothing and when I start walking around it goes up about 10 15 notches. After walking the dog it hangs around 100 105 for a good 2 hours before going down again.

I have a PCP (primary care physician) who referred me to a cardiologist when he heard a heart murmur. After I started asking my PCP about ablations (he hadnt mention anything about ablations because a-fib is basically a non-disease for him, only an inconvenience and not life threatening) he referred me to an EP who is now checking into the possibility of ablating. So, you can see I get most of my help from my PCP who sends me to the right people at the right time!

I hope you are back to yourself again and can finish your shopping spree!

Take care!!

Marylyn,
So sorry to hear of your frightening experience and do hope you are feeling better now and staying in NSR. When I first started with a-fib I was on Cardizem (Diltiazem) and it made my h.r. very slow, even 38 one time. I got used to it and it stayed around 50. Eventually it failed to work for me (after 6 months) now I am on Sotalol and for the first 3 months or so my heart rate was in low 40's, now it stays anywhere from mid fifties to 61, occasionally high 40's. I am so tired today, even though I slept pretty good last night and had a dizzy spell this a.m. followed by a Headache, not really bad, but now that I have a-Fib it scares me. We are in the middlle of moving, so is quite stressful.. Hope no A-Fib. I get a few skipped/beats and have for years. I also have mild MVP, but the Drs. say it is of no importance.

Please take care of yourself and let us know how you are doing. I have never been to an E.P. mostly my PCP and period checks with the cardiologist - not that I am moving have to start all over again as they don't have my Insurance Company - Kaiser Permanente in Fl. We have signed up with Wellcare Essential HMO, so hope it goes o.k.

Are you wanting to have an ablation, I like the sound of Petey's E.P. not pushing you for ablation unless everthing else fails.

Love and hugs,

Christine

Thank you for the response... weird thing is it goes from 37
to 148 up and down.
Cardiologist wants to keep me in AFIB... he said there is a great
risk of stroke for me during an ablation because I have been
in AFIB for 8 years and the longer you are in it (he says) the
less chance for success PLUS I have flutter and lst degree AV
block and *(he says) it works best on lone atrial fib...... ????

Everyone in afib has wild swings in heart rate... it goes like the below and it depends when your machine takes a snapshot of your heart rate... usually average over a few seconds:

45, 100, 56, 129, 155, 50, 37, 90, 110, 170, 80...

Once again .. I have to say how validating it is to hear things
like you are saying Petey.
NO ONE has told me things like I have learned here on the
this site.
NO ONE told me about the high/low swings. I thought the
afib was just the horrible fast beat and fluttering like a birds
wings in your chest.
I think I will sleep better tonight knowing that the low HR
is a part of afib.
Not sure I can stand this monitor the full 48. My skin is
red and bleeding already from the tape. Ughh.
Thank you for your input .. means more than you know.
Marilyn Night Night Physically and mentally dreained. :(

Ditto on the second or third opinions. Esp. from a good EP. Good luck and hang in there. ;)

We are all here to support each other, isn't it awesome? I hope you are having a better day today!

Sorry to hear you are having issues. The cardilogist I had wasn't taken my afib seriously. So that's why I went to an EP. Glad I did because my afib became worst. I just deal with my Ep now. After my 2nd ablation I seen him every othrr week fir aboit 6 weeks. Then after things calm down I see him every 4 months now.

Thank you .. for your input.
Last night was hell on earth... I am afraid to go to sleep tonight
for fear it will happen again.
I am dehooked from the holter and Wednesday I find out what
is what.
Last night I felt something squeezing me in my chest .. not sure
if it was a dream but woke up with big time afib.
Always something isn't it. I wonder if I can get thru this week
without going to ER where I am known on a first name basis.
embarassing ... and they keep tell me "keep coming back'
Ughhhhhhhhh