[lionne]

Yesterday at an annual check-up I was tested by EKG and found to have A. fib. I'd been dizzy for a week or more and assumed it was a second bout of BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), the first a few years ago. My doctor said the dizziness was due to the A. fib. I'm actually not convinced yet that both couldn't be going on but that remains to be seen. I'll be seeing an ENT in a week or so and can pursue that possibility further. I was prescribed 25 mg Atenolol and 5 mg Coumadin per day. I took the first dose of each yesterday with trepidation since instructions of both say they can cause dizziness More dizziness? At any rate, having spent my first night of much wakeful worrying about whether I could stroke at any time, I seem to be about the same this morning, possibly slightly less dizzy. From what I can gather of all the information that was dumped on me at once, the goal is to correct my blood levels to a range where I might be considered a candidate for cardioversion. I have an appointment on 3/25 to see a cardiologist just after having an echocardiogram. Perhaps that will be decided then.

My questions are: (1) What do you feel prompted your atrial fibrillation when it first happened? I had never had heart problems in my life, but I'd been prescribed a powerful antibiotic called Avelox and had a severe allergic reaction to it just prior to my onset of A. fib. I truly feel this may have kicked it off but there's no way the doctor will ever admit to it. (2) Was it your impression that cardioversion MUST be tried in all cases of A. fib? If not, what are the other options? It sounds scary. (3) Is it your impression that once you have A. fib diagnosed the first time you're stuck with being in and out of it the rest of your life and being on medications as well (if not cardioverted)? And finally, (4) Why are there so few posts and posters here?

[randytburg]

Hope your appointment went well. I would go with the cardioversion..at least it will correct the problem while a more long-term solution is sought. And it is very safe, although it does sound scary( I recall how scared I was before my first one). Many arrythymias are idiopathic(no known origin)...they are sometimes difficult to treat....ablation therapy may be your best bet in the future if the A-fib persists. Hope it goes well!

[lionne]

It's my understanding that cardioversion is very likely a temporary cause of return to sinus rhythm, that they don't do it more than 3 times, and that once it doesn't work you're stuck with medication.

[randytburg]

Yes, it is most likely temporary...but if it doesn't work, it doesn't mean you are stuck with meds. Depending on the exact type of disrhythmia you have, you will probably be given the option of catheter ablation which for many people is a permanent fix, although it is not foolproof nor a guaranteed cure. But then again, what is?

[lionne]

Thanks for posting again, Randy. I'd be interested to hear your story with a fib.
Andrea

[randytburg]

It's 13 years long...how much time do you have? I've been cardioverted numerous times both electrically and chemically...tried numerous drugs...had 2 catheter ablation procedures...and still dealing with it. It started when I was about 35 years old...and I'm now 49...and in good health otherwise. I'm now getting some help from Cleveland Clinic, but have also come to realize that I have to take more control of the situation through ongoing lifestyle changes and improvements.

[lionne]

What kind of lifestyle changes do you mean? When you first had your echocardiogram what did they tell you about your heart health in general? I was told yesterday that mine is good except for the a fib. Which I kind of guessed because I've never had any heart issues in my life before now.

[randytburg]

I have found that regular exercise and a good diet to be very helpful in keeping the symptoms tolerable. My echos have always been normal, although I do know that prolonged, unabated a-fib can enlarge the atrium and also put one at risk for the development of blood clots, especially if one is not taking an anticoagulant. I am convinced that there are ways of controlling the symptoms more naturally, although I am still experimenting with the right combination of exercise, diet, and supplements. In the meantime, I continue on the meds I have been prescribed, the most recent of which is Toprol which lowers the heart rate and seems to have been helpful for me. Hope this helps!

[lionne]

You bet it's helpful. I just wish there were more people in this forum we could compare notes with. About exercise, one thing that kind of scares me is whether too much exertion can cause trouble. I notice for one thing that when I do more, I tend to get faster pulse and higher BP. Now back in the day before all this happened, I would have totally agreed that exercise was great for my heart. Now it scares me.

[randytburg]

Are you still in a-fib? Check with your doc, but I rather doubt he or she would NOT recommend exercise. I understand the fear though....however exercise is perhaps one of the most beneficial things you can do. What are your BP and pulse readings since the a-fib?