Welcome to the group. There are lots of supportive people here. Because you asked, I am going to answer your questions very honestly.
I am a nurse and I see patients with a fib every day. Many people live for many years with a fib. However, over those years many of them develop congestive heart failure. Can it damage your heart?...yes, it can. Will it reduce the quality of your life?..definitely. You heart is slightly enlarged, so whether it was from construction work or a fib it sounds like you may have the start of some damage now. You say you can live "fairly" comfortably. But that sounds like it is affecting the quality of your life.
People with diabetes, and other chronic diseases have to change eating habits. If you choose to stay the course with your present treatment I think it is very important that you make lifestyle changes to keep your heart as healthy as possible. Avoid your trigger foods, avoid alcohol, avoid large meals, lose weight if you are overweight, eat heart healthy foods ( reduce animal fats, more fruits, veggies, fish), exercise moderately. You say you want to "enjoy" your cruise...I'm not clear if you mean eating large buffet meals and drinking...or feeling good without the a fib being more troublesome. You will have to choose one or the other. I have seen patients with diabetes die way too young waiting for the miracle and refusing to make changes to their lifestyle.
Reconsider ablation. It may not be for you, but you do have a better chance of some improvement than no improvement. And have the sleep study. There is a definite connection between sleep apnea and a fib. It could help improve the quality of your life.
I am sorry if you think I am being harsh...but everything I have advised are things I am doing to try to manage my a fib and stay as healthy as I can. Best wishes, I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Thanks for the reply Marikay. I meant enjoy the cruise by not being in afib. I have to watch my diet very closely as my blood glucose is borderline diabetic. I am more concerned about the leaky mitral valve that could be causing the Afib, rather than getting an ablation and masking the underlying problem? In my opinion, my afib has gone on too long for a first and possibly even a second ablation ot work. Are you a cardio. nurse? How can they determine the correlation between sleep apnea and afib? I don't get the connection? thanks again for your advice.

Hi,

I'm your age. If you haven't already give up the caffeine. I was a caffeine junky before the afib showed up. Lose some weight, I know its hard to do.

What you need to know about message boards is those who have been healed rarely spend much time back on the boards. (Thank you to those who do post after being healed)

My doc's told me a person with afib does chance an enlarged heart. You will need to go in for testing to make sure this isnt happening to to you.

I just had an echo and they did tell me it was slightly enlarged. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 3 weeks. I weigh about 240 and I am 6 ft tall.

I am not a cardio nurse. I work in a large family practice type medical clinic. I'm not sure that the experts know for sure exactly what the connection is between sleep apnea and a fib, but recent findings do show a connection. A sleep study isn't invasive so you have nothing to lose by doing it. If you have sleep apnea, treating it could be helpful. I agree you have an additional concern with the valve problem. I have not had an ablation at this point, although I am starting to consider it. It is a big leap of faith to have surgery on your heart. Congrats on losing 10 lbs-that is great! Keep working on that, and improving your blood sugars. If you are dead set against a sleep study getting your weight down is also helpful for sleep apnea. Enyoy your cruise,

I am one of the "healed" ones. I had an ablation two years ago and am afib free. The national average for ablation success is 74%. That includes the stats from doctors like the local guy I consulted who told me his success rate was 50%. Needless to say, I found a doctor whose success rate was higher than the national average. Be choosy about who you engage to diagnose and work on your heart.

Thanks to both of you for your replies. My Cardio. told me that the percentage of my first ablation working was 66% and a second @ 85%, and doesn't recommend getting three, so I am still taking a 15% chance of failure after two, and for as long as I have been in Afib, the odds are against me. Do I want to risk that and possibly and other damage that occurs during/after the procedure. He told me they really don't have any long term proof of the effects of these on a person after 10 years since it is a "fairly" new procedure. I am going to still kick it around though. Thanks again for your replies.

I have lone afib, having two episodes in the past 2 years. I've also had the sleep study as well, but I find a connection between digestive problems and my afib. If my IBS is acting up, I do get palpitations, fortunately not going into afib. My sleep study was fine, as were all my other tests for my heart, no abnormalities, just the short circuit. It does affect your quality of life. I've been on Rythmol for the past 15 months and haven't had any problems; however, I do want to be free of the meds completely. My lifestyle has changed, and funny you should mention a cruise, I've put that off for fear of going into afib in the middle of the ocean (or on a flight for that matter). I am not a naysayer, I do believe that you can live out a normal life with afib, you just need to find the right course of treatment. I'm seeing my doctor this week to try to reduce the pills from one a day. I started at three, reduced to twice a day for the past few weeks. I did see an electrocardiologist who said my afib wasn't that which would require an ablation, especially only having the two episodes and converting within 1-2 hours. While afib is fairly common and not dangerous per se, it is certainly a life changer. I'm here because it is so frustrating, I am so conscious of my heart rate, and I know that's not mentally healthy.

Welcome to the group...I was in denial about sleep apnea for about 10 years...result was enlarged heart from borderline high blood pressure according to three cardiologists that have treated me in three different states in the last 10 months...by the way, even with fully treated apnea, I still have had ablations and need to take meds to maintain some quality of life...the lifestyle changes are hard to make, but worth it...seeing my wife watch me in a hospital bed for nearly 20 nights in the past year convinced me that I will do anything it takes to save her from more of that. It is the least I can do. Good luck to you!

Hi welcome to the group. I'm also newish to the group (Nov 2010). I immediately tied the connection of GI problems to the Afib, despite the cardio and gastro's hesitance to agree w/me. Also my husband said I was snoring a lot...and I work up at least every hour from it. I'm "controlling" the afib with immediate and severe lifestyle changes (fear will do that). starting out with small "bursts" of cardio every few hours. A brisk walk, a quick dance in the ladies room stall, some floor exercises at home.. little bits.. till it became a part of my life, and is now a habit. Eating better is harder. Read all these posts from the past few days from Marykay.. there is some great advice in here. I'm making a connection now to the Wheat / Gluten allergy. Today after eating a Whole Wheat Eng muffin my heart started to race. I'm going to try South Beach Diet - ah yes, excess weight needs to come off.. I'm down about 9 lbs. and need 25 or more to go. It's a new way of life. As I've been told, and remarked here.. We will be better and stronger because of Afib. In spite of Afib... now I just need to get to the place where I thank God for giving me this challenge, which is making me a healthier person! not quite there yet.

heck... I woke up every hour from it.. not work up....

Hello Mr. Bike,
I had Afib episodes about 10 years ago for about 9 months. I am okay now. However, I would like to tell you that getting enough sleep is veeeeeeeery important. Even now, if I don't get enough sleep (less than 6 hours), I get some missing beats the next day. So, watch out.

For me, most of the time, after having a cup of coffee, the missing beats go away. That is very odd but that is the way it is for me. I drink only one cup of very strong coffee and 3 cups of green/black tea a day.

Also, fish oil and animal fat (if I eat them) still cause missing beats for me. Have fun on your cruise :)

I get plenty of sleep. usually about 8 hours. I am pondering a sleep study, but my snoring isn't really that bad and since i have lost 15 pounds, it has subsided somewhat. I have never been told to take fish oil and I have had episodes for the last 20 years. Although I have been told to minimize my caffine intake or eliminate it if possible. I do drink decaf coffee and soft drinks, and i stay away from chocolates. Thanks for sharing your info. and I will enjoy my trip. i need to get away from this miserable winter weather we are having.