I havent started any meds yet, but was told I would have an EKG one week after starting the med then follow up as needed.
How are you doing on the flecianide that is what they want me to start on but i am very nervous about it, any words of advice.
mek3

Flecainide has not gotten rid of Afib for me but definitely has decreased the symtoms. The only other rhythm medicine I was ever on was Rhythmol after my second ablation and it did not control Afib either. I asked to try Flecainide again because it is much cheaper than Rhythmol. I am self employed as an appraiser and do not have a prescription plan with my health insurance. Rhythmol was $350 a month and Flecainide is $75.00 a month :) I tolerate the Flecainide well but still have symtoms on it, especially if I push myself with a brisk walk or do yard work or housework. I hope Flecainide works well for you. I have seen many posts on here of people that have good results with it. Good luck to you :)

I on sotolol not flecainide but until I had my cryoabltion in October, none of the medicines stopped the AF. When I told the doctor that I did not think any of the medicines did any good, he said that without it my heart rate would also be much higher and I probably would be in permanent AF. We'll never know because I did not test his theory.

I see my cardiologist more frequently if I am having problems but about 4 months between visits when I am not having changes.

My EP saw me 2 weeks after the ablation and I will not see him until January (3 months). I do not see him regularly unless it has something to do with the ablation (or any other procedure I might need).

Both will return calls. If I am started a new med, I will have more EKGs and wear a 24 hr monitor.

I always take it as a good sign when I am not going to them often.

Take care.

Hi, I have to see my cardiologist every 2 weeks, which seems pretty often to me. I don't have to see the EP again that did my ablation...which is a good thing because I wouldn't anyway...but I have decided I'm seeing no doctors in December. I called and cancelled my appt. for this week. They either don't see you enough or they see you too much. The only thing my cardiologist does is take another EKG..I mean how many do you need in a month to be honest? I think about my insurance and that they are the ones that are paying, and I think this is way too much now that my lung has healed and I'm doing OK. I think that seriously we have to be our own best advocates for medical care. You must be doing well if they only see you every 6 mo., but to me that doesn't seem enough either.

Hello tomorrow- I left his office in Afib after reviewing a 30 day monitor that showed that my afib is nearly chronic after my second ablation and he said "see you in 6 months and start the Flecainide again". I have always liked this doctor but I think I would feel better if he wanted to see me more often until things seem to settle down. I am still having some short bouts of high rates over 160 on Flecainide and think we need to change up some meds. :) I tried to call there yesterday and got an answering machine saying they are assiting other patients and will call back. I left a message yesterday morning and havent received a call yet today. Thanks to all for your input :) I just want to make sure I am not acting like a baby wanting to see him before my 6 month appointment. :)

My EP seems to be doing 5 month intervals. Of course, I haven't had an ablation. Just rate control. Flecainide is a rhythm control medicine as you know and therefore, is not a rate control drug. So if it isn't controlling the afib, you would get high heart rates (except in certain cases).

Not sure what you mean by almost chronic. See below:

Types of Atrial Fibrillation: An Overview
There are several different types of atrial fibrillation. These include:

Primary atrial fibrillation
Chronic atrial fibrillation
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Persistent atrial fibrillation
Permanent atrial fibrillation.

Primary Atrial Fibrillation
One type of atrial fibrillation is called primary, or lone, atrial fibrillation. It's referred to this way because the cause of primary atrial fibrillation can't be identified. It is usually seen in people who are between the ages of 30 and 50.

Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
More frequently, atrial fibrillation is associated with an existing heart problem and becomes an ongoing problem. This is called chronic atrial fibrillation. It's usually seen in older adults, and often doesn't go away, even with treatment.

Atrial fibrillation types can be classified even further, according to how long the episodes of fibrillation last and how often they happen. You may hear your doctor use the words "paroxysmal," "persistent," or "permanent" to describe the type of atrial fibrillation that you have.

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
In cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the irregular rhythm occurs periodically. The human heart returns to the normal sinus rhythm on its own -- in a few minutes, hours, or days. People who have this type of atrial fibrillation may have episodes only a few times a year or every day. When these episodes begin and end is usually unpredictable, which can be very unsettling. About 1 in 4 people with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation eventually develop the permanent form of the condition

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Persistent atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregular rhythm that lasts for longer than 48 hours. This type of atrial fibrillation will not return to a normal sinus rhythm on its own, but will in response to certain types of treatment.

Permanent Atrial Fibrillation
Permanent atrial fibrillation occurs when the irregular rhythm continues indefinitely and can no longer be corrected with treatment.

I think everyone should seek a second opinion. Since I'm in Maryland, I decided (and called) Johns Hopkins (Dr Hugh Calkins)that I will get their take on my persistent afib. I am faxing my medical reports and history. I am not saying I will do something different... just want to get a second opinion.

Hello Petey: My EP is the one who used the term nearly chronic. :) I am a persistent afibber. I used to convert on my own in the beginning (over a year ago), however, after my 2nd ablation, did not convert at all until I started flecainide and digoxin again at the 3 month mark. (post ablation I was on Rhythmol and metrolprolol and remained in AF). Not taking the digoxin now since Cardio felt it would make junctional rhythm worse. I am having afib episodes on the Flecainide and think I need rate control again. Actually, I would prefer to find a rate control drug that agrees with me and stop Flec since it isnt really cutting it anyway. Not worth the risk of taking medication that isnt working :) Thanks for your post and the info :)

How often yoru MD (and each specific MD) sees you is variable, based on your medical needs and their theories. My EP and cardiologist are from same hospital. I don't regularly see my EP after my ablation, but he does send a monitor every few months. He told me he rarely sees pts again after the ablation, unless there are complications. The cardiologist sees me very 6 mos of so, mostly for hypertension meds. I don't take any other cardiomeds since the ablation (2 yrs +) is holding up. I get EKG everytime I go. I see my PCP for other medication problems and he may check my heart, even EKG but does not follow me for heart issues.

This is all helpful information! Thank you all! :) I appreciate it as it helps me figure out what I should be doing and when I should be doing it :)

I see my cardiologist about every 4 -6 months. When she was trying to get my meds staightend out, it was more often. I only saw the EP priior to my ablations. I have seen his nurse practitioner for post-ablation follow up. My EP is very hard to get an appointment with in a timely manner. He is really too busy. If he wasn't so good, I would have gotten rid of him awhile ago. When I do see him, he is great. He will spend all of the time I need to answer my questions. If you think you need to see your cardiologist more frequently, do not be afraid to tell him. He is working for you. Remeber you are your own best advocate!

I was able to see my cardiologist today regarding my increase of episodes while on Flecainide. He increased my Flecainide to 100mg/twice a day (up from 75mg/twice a day) and sent me home with this really groovy new monitor. It is a Zio patch 14 day monitor. I have never had one of these before. It is almost like a gel bandaid :)