Atrial Fibrillation

[livingwith]

I want to share my experience with others suffering AFib and ask if this experience is similar to anyone else. In October 2006 I first experienced AFib. After Coumadin and Lovenox for almost 2 months I had a cardioversion. I kept up with the drugs for 6 months, during which time I went in and out of AFib 2 other times.
My insurance ran out and I stopped the drugs and simply took a multivitamin and an aspirin a day. Five months later when I ran out of my multivitamins and neglected to get more, ...Read the full article

[Geoff]

I'm 47 and I've had paroxysmal afib for 8 years. I'm symptomatic when I have an afib episode (short of breath, very aware of irregular beat, lightheaded, no strength, etc.) and I average about two episodes a month that last between 6 and 18 hours.
I've tried Betapace, Atenolol, Tikosyn, Tambacor and one other anti-arrythmia drug over the years and I've been on Coumadin the whole time. Never been cardioverted. No heart attack, no blockage, no stents, one incidence of syncope during afib. I've had 2 ablations, a year apart, the last one in Octber 2007.
I'm now exploring other options, such as thyroid disorders (no apparent symptoms, TSH on the low side but withint limits), pulmonary function (test in 2 weeks), endocrine system, stress management (taking Zoloft 100mg for GAD/OCD), etc..
I discarded previous notions of multivitamins but I am aware that magnesium and calcium are related to electrical conductivity in the heart. At this point I'm willing to try a magnesium supplement but I'm also cautious about its effects on the digestive system (e.g., diarrhea).

[psteach]

Hey. I have afib also and just wanted to know if you tried the multivitamin with magnesium? Did it help you or cause you any problems? I had cardioversions about 10 years ago, which didn't help, finally had the ablation and that stopped the afib for a long time. Last December 2007, I had to have a pacemaker implanted. After the implant, I was still having problems with shortness of breath, fatique, and other symptoms. The doctor diagnosed me with heart failure and after many tests, recommended a three lead pacemaker which was implanted on March 13, 2008. Since the 3 lead pacemaker, I have been in and out of afib. The doctor said it was all about the quality of life. He suggested trying different medications, but since they didn't work ten years ago, he said he wasn't sure they would work this time. He mentioned ablation again and said it was a different procedure from the one I had 10 years ago. This one would take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours, however, there is only a 70% success rate. I just don't know if I want to go through this procedure again. I would love to know which medications you have tried and which has the least side effects. I am 58 years old and a school teacher. I have to work to have insurance...I was out the second semester of this last year due to the pacemakers and heart failure. Now, I'm in afib. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you about the success you have had with medications or multiviatmins.
Thanks!
Pat