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The afib has diminished somewhat, but it has a much bigger presence in my life, even with the metoprolol, than I want. At 66, and perhaps now in the last decade of my life, I don't want to focus most of my waking hours on my heart. I have other things to do.

I have an appointment with a cardiologist for Thursday, Jan. 6. Perhaps after that meeting, I will have enough information that I will -- after more research probably -- be able to set a goal and make a plan for achieving it. I hope to hire a friend, who is also an RN, to help me search for information and thus make a more informed decision both about my goal and my plan for achieving it.

Sorry to hear about your Atrial Fibrillation. Hope things go well with for you Thursday. Take care we need you here.

Don't forget to get the Dr Stephen Sinatra book Metabolic Cardiology and also Dr Roger's book "Is Your Cardiologist Killing You". Both of these gave me lots of information on heart troubles and how to deal with my AF anneh

The afib has diminished somewhat, but it has a much bigger presence in my life, even with the metoprolol, than I want. At 66, and perhaps now in the last decade of my life, I don't want to focus most of my waking hours on my heart. I have other things to do.

Burgess, hope you will keep us informed, and wishing the best for you. Also at age 66 you are much too young to be thinking in terms of having "already lived a full life", etc.

I have found a "non-interventionist" cardiologist I like working with. His general approach is to do only what is necessary given the facts of my condition. He does not take an "aggressive" approach. I am very glad I found him.

In my first visit to the clinic, he took and examined an EKG. He prescribed:
- One 81 mg aspirin per day (dinner, for me); anticoagulant.
- One 50 mg Metoprolol, time release, at breakfast; heart rate suppressor.
- One 0.125 mg Digoxin (which he suggested after seeing it in my typed list of questions -- I had taken it from Dr. McDougall's article on afib and Coumadin), swallowed 75 minutes after breakfast, to avoid high fiber (which is all my meals!); this is a "cardiac glycoside," which means in part that it regulates heart rate.

In the office, in midafternoon, my blood pressure was 120/80, but my heart rate was about 105. (Normal was about 60, before this episode began.) Too high. That is why he increased the dose from 12.5 mg Metoprolol 2x daily to 50 mg once daily with time release. Apparently the reason for taking it at breakfast is to make sure I get the lowest amount at the end of sleep (about 24 hours later), which is when the heart rate is naturally low anyway.

He explained that the risk of death or stroke from atrial fibrillation, with my CHADS ranking (0 on a 0 to 6 scale), is very low. We talked about the fallacy of relative advantage/disadvantage, a concept Dr. McDougall's writings introduced me to.

The best news is that the doctor called me at home the same evening (he was still in his office). He said he had reviewed that day's EKG and the hospital's Dec. 24 echocardiagram and had decided that what I have is atrial (?) flutter not atrial fibrillation. The flutter, unlike the fibrillation, is (possibly) curable with medication taken at home. He said the pills are expensive and he will try to get sales samples for me to try. So, I won't need to wear (a very expensive) home, mobile heart monitor.

I am also scheduled for a routine in-office stress test, in a few weeks, just to see if there are any other abnormalities.

P. S. -- I was in his waiting room, off and on, for two hours. I was the only thin person there. In that two hour period, two of his patients had to be taken downstairs to the hospital emergency room because he had diagnosed their conditions as being too dangerous for them to walk.

(I pay in cash, for a cash discount. His financial office was very glad to meet me and do business with me -- no headaches of dealing with Medicare or government-regulated insurance companies.)

Sounds like some good news. Thanks for keeping us informed. Take care because we care.

sounds like a good cardiologist. I didn't realize you were still having the problem,usually one just has "episodes" and then back to normal. In your case, yes you probably do have to take something to get the heart back to normal but hopefully it will convert to normal sinus rhythm and all will be well anneh

I learned that there are three levels of afib: episodic (one-time event); chronic (on-going, like mine, if it's afib); and acute (on-going and immediately dangerous for stroke or death). Mine was "chronic." The usual recommendation, the doctor said (confirming Dr. McDougall's discussion), is live with it while taking something to lower the heart rate.

For anyone interested in such things, I can now report this:

Until January 31 (the day I will take a "stress test" on a treadmill), I will be taking ...
- Metoprolol, 50 mg, once daily, time release, at start of breakfast. Apparently this drug suppresses heart rate.
- Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate), 150 mg, at end of breakfast (to provide some separation between drugs in the gut). Apparently this drug is an anticoagulant replacing warfarin for some patients. However it apparently is a drug that my doctor thinks might help eliminate atrial flutter (formerly diagnosed as fibrillation). He will decide whether to continue it, when he sees the results of the Jan. 31 stress test. If he says continue it, I will be taking it up to six months (at $230/month -- worth it if it works).
- Digoxin, 0.125 mg, mid-lunch with no bran fiber (I eat no grains). This is a beta-blocker sometimes used to support proper rhythm of the heart beat.
- Pradaxa, mid-dinner (12 hours from last Pradaxa dose).

I am no longer taking aspirin. I am functioning normally in most ways: appetite, bowel movements, sleep, walking (2 hrs/day). I so far have had no reaction to the drugs listed above.

I am glad that you found such a compatible cardiologist, Burgess, and that you are on a med routine that is working for you. You are much too young to consider this your "last decade of life". With your healthy eating and this med support, hopefully you will see 90! All the best to you.

I have started an informal log of my unfolding experiences with afib, here: http://anti-itisdiet.blogspot.com/2011/ ... nture.html

Best of Luck on Monday, Burgess!

- Nicole

I have had AFib for over 25 years. Mine is chronic and I have been on Aspirin without any negative events. Recently by reducing the other risk factors, with exercise and plant based diet, it seems to be less evident. By having access to these forums, we all have a chance to figure out what is best for each of us. I depend on myself not any doctor to figure out the best program for me. I got rid of my need for Crestor, by my behavior modifications. No doctor suggested it. Doctors are not paid to teach you prevention, and they normally do not. Just finished reading Spark by Ratay. Found it hard to read, but it ties aerobic exercise into the brain. Glad I read it. Read the reviews on Amazon. I have not felt better mentally and physically in my life, since I accepted responsibility of my own health

Flabingo, congratulations on controlling your chronic afib.

Now, after all these years, what is your heart rate range?

Mine, even with Metoprolol, varies from about 60 beats per minute in the morning to about 130 beats under stress. At least it is no longer maxing at around 170 bpm or "sticking" at 130 bpm.

Burgess,
In answer to your question, My blood pressure is now averaging 130/65 and my pulse is 47 in the morning. I take my digoxin at night and my BP in the morning. Last year my BP was 140/90 according to the doctor, who toid me that drinking six ounces of alcohol; a day was not a problem. I cut that in half. I do the treadmill every day for one hour and my heart monitor is not showing my AFIB recently. I have a polar monitor, and my numbers are speed 4.2 MPH and elevation of 4.5. I burn 500 calories each day. My range on the machine averages 140 to90. My weight is 163 from 183 last year,and I am 76 years old. I don't know if I am controlling it, but I know I have reduced the other risk factors, by my behavior.