Dia,

I forgot to mention something.

In 2011 I got an ablation for a flutter...never had issue with that again.
In 2016 (50 days ago), I had an ablation for afib, my palpitations have went down 90% and I have yet to see any afib

SO I do advocate ablation.

After my last procedure in Feb, I was walking around the next morning and I just happened to see a rare sight. Imagine that, my Cardio and EP in the always shooting the shit.

So as I walked by them and my EP stopped me and asked me how I felt and of course I told him "like a guy who just got an ablation" but other than that everything was fine.

Then my Cardio start talking about quality of life.....that if all is good my Q of L would be so much better.

Then I popped the question, "do you only ablate to give patients a better Q of L?" the EP said "Yes most of the time". Then I asked them why is it that some people feel it and some don't? My Cardio answered that one: "It depends how you heart is place in your chest" ...imagine that! then he said if it's a little to the left or the right....a little too close to you chest or back muscles, that will make all the difference. Well! The EP totally agree with him and added "this is why I ablate only symptomatic patients and use rate control for asymptomatic patients".

I was very surprised, but you see afib and flutters represent basically only 2 dangers: The immediate one - Strokes and the long term one - Your heart simply gets tired after years of fast beating. So for all people who don't feel afib all they need is blood thinners and rate pills.

When you think of it, its no different than people who need stomach pills, gout pills, HBP pills, Statins,,,etc. It's not that much of a big deal and often comes once we pass 50 years young.

Lets count our selves unlucky for those of us who feel it, but lets also count our selves lucky that we don't have a worst sickness.

So if you have intolerable symptoms (like I did), you don't have to live with it and suffer in fear every day on when or where you'll get the next attack. There is risk, but every day when you go in your car or get out of your house there are also always risks. So for me, to take the ablation...1, 2 even 3 times is a no brainer. But if I had no symptoms and I would only take pills.....well that would be another story all together.

Well, that was my opinion anyways.....nice puppy on you pic by the way...I love all pooches.

Scooby

Monty, I found this site. I havent had time to research everything but do recognize a few I use on there. http://www.anh-usa.org/an-update-on-our-recommended-supplement-companies/

Actually, Scooby, they're finding afib isn't as benign as originally thought. In addition to stroke risk and eventual heart failure.. there is a new study out that shows it causes premature aging and a quicker decline as you get older. I don't mean to be a "Debbie Downer".. but (not you) sometimes I read posts from people who dismiss afib as just a minor annoyance. It's a very serious condition.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/090416/irregular-heartbeat-leads-to-decline-in-physical-performance.html

Island, That is an interesting study. It makes sense that any condition that causes a slowdown in physical performance leads to a decline in health, not just AF. That age group is most likely declining in activity without AF. What is missing from that study are several questions I always have with most studies. Its impossible to know the severity of each persons AF, the med protocol, diet, pre existing conditions non related to AF, length of time with AF, number of surgeries/abaltions, each diagnosis, paroxysmal or persistent, and ultimately, cause of death. Did AF actually cause their death? Im not ready to agree that AF, as debilitating as it is at times, can kill us but do welcome more in depth studies on it.

The Deccan Chronical (India) is not where I go for medical news. The article didn't show cause and effect. I wasn't surprised that older people from age 70-82 walked a little slower and had balance problems. Betablckers alone could do that. 20 second is not much difference in the senior quarter mile.

Scooby said: "Then I popped the question, "do you only ablate to give patients a better Q of L?" the EP said "Yes most of the time". Then I asked them why is it that some people feel it and some don't? My Cardio answered that one: "It depends how you heart is place in your chest" ...imagine that! then he said if it's a little to the left or the right....a little too close to you chest or back muscles, that will make all the difference. Well! The EP totally agree with him and added "this is why I ablate only symptomatic patients and use rate control for asymptomatic patients". "I was very surprised, but you see afib and flutters represent basically only 2 dangers: The immediate one - Strokes and the long term one - Your heart simply gets tired after years of fast beating. So for all people who don't feel afib all they need is blood thinners and rate pills. When you think of it, its no different than people who need stomach pills, gout pills, HBP pills, Statins,,,etc. It's not that much of a big deal and often comes once we pass 50 years young. Lets count ourselves unlucky for those of us who feel it, but lets also count our selves lucky that we don't have a worst sickness."

That was the most interesting comment I have heard in some time (that your EP made) about position of the heart... and an honest one about who he ablates (the symptomatic). I agree with his assessment of what the asymptomatic need... anticoagulation to prevent strokes and rate control to prevent heart failure (and heart failure is not an eventuality). Finally, there is a saying about afib... "It ain't cancer."

Islandluvr... that article is so weak:

[afib] may accelerate age-related decline in basic physical activities
may accelerate age-related decline in walking speed, strength, balance and other aspects of physical performance in older adults
May, may, may
ages 70, 74, 78, and 82 in 2,753 participants (52 per cent women, 41 per cent African American) Huh? Why 41% African American? That doesnt seem random.
participants with AFib completed the 400 metre walk an average of 20 seconds slower than those without AFib. The excess decline in physical performance in people with AFib was equivalent to an extra four years of ageing
What does this mean? 20 seconds more in the quarter mile is equal to 4 years aging? If the average age is 76 and the non-afibbers are walking at a 3 mph, for 400 meters ( a quarter mile), it would take them 5 minutes to walk 400 meters. That is 300 seconds. If it is 20 seconds more for afibbers, that is 320 seconds. 6.67% slower. Really? Less than 7% difference.

If Im not mistaken, the 75 and older crowd accounts for close to half of all afibbers? I think the more important component missing from this study and others is, how did one get AF? This age group has not only been on meds for some time such as statins, but also more likely had heart surgeries and other procedures like stints, statistically putting them at a higher risk. Im sticking with the belief that AF cant kill us and more likely lack of action to treat it or adjust our lifestyles.

Agree with your assessment Hwkmn.

Saw the EP on Friday. Nice man. He put me on sotalol. I had copies of the heart activity that I printed from my alive cor device. He did mention ablation and I said last resort only and he didnt press me. Wants me on anticoagulant too xarelto. I am not a fan of that at all. I had some PE's in 2013 so he is covering himself I guess. I was on that drug for a year then the doc took me off of it. Who knows??? So for now the BP med and I am still thinking about the other one.

PS the puppy in my profile picture is Penny. She is 2 now. I have 5 rescue dogs all mutts..

The med the doc put me on, Sotalol, is making me so tired and foggy. I am miserable. Bloated and miserable. I sure hope there is more to getting help than this.

Sorry to hear that the Sotalol is making you feel bad. Im taking that too. At first it didnt help at all then the doc upped the dosage and I didnt feel good. I felt miserable, yes, bloated, no. I went back to the starting dosage (with the docs okay) and slowly, slowly upped it to where he wanted it. It hasnt stopped the a-fib but drastically cut the number and length of the episodes along with pulling my heart rate into a more tolerable zone.
I hope you and your doc can figure something out.
Carpe diem,
atp (across the pond)

This is a Process to manage our afib. Often trial and error. Getting it just right the first time is rare. We try something...usually our Dr's "go to" plan...and report back, and try again if necessary. We all Hope for a Wise Dr. who will work with us and hear our concerns. You need to keep accurate notes on exactly what is happening for him/her to help you.

Like ATP said, sometimes the dosage needs adjusting.

There are also a lot of Beta Blockers out there. Another might work better for you.

And, it might just take Time for you to adapt to this med. This is just the beginning....Keep a Diary and talk to your Dr.

Best Wishes for a Good Day :-) Keep us posted ~

He took me off the Sotalol and I am surprised. He didnt prescribe anything in its place. Wait and see what happens until May 20 when I see him again....now I am really confused. I sent him a message through the on like communication. Hope he replies with something .