Comments on: When Medication is No Longer Effective for Atrial Fibrillation

By: diane

diane — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:55:11 +0000

I have been in afib for about 6 months and was feeling ok with meds ,diltiazem and imdur ,now it seems I have more shortness of breath and seems to be getting worse when Igo walking and have to go up hills ,I do not have copd.

By: john

john — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:10:17 +0000

Once ablated what are the chances of having A-Fib return. I have read of hidden pathways and such. I was recently diagnosed with A-Fib, and am currently on medication to control. Not sure if the meds are working and just wanting to check all my options.

By: Peter Terry

Peter Terry — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:35:43 +0000

I am a 71 year old male. I feel really fortunate. I went in for a routine physical a couple of weeks ago. My blood pressure was normal and my pulse was 68. Five minues later I was in and out of A-Fib and my pulse rate had jumped to 154. I got an EKG in the office and it showed Atrial Flutter. I was given a Beta Blocker to get the rate down. It didn’t work and I was still in A-Fib when I saw the Cardiologist a couple of days later. I was then admitted to the hospital and had a conversion. Two days later I had an Ablation therapy and I was told that it is 95% preventative for my problem. The one complication I experienced was from the Beta Blocker. It drove my pulse down to the low forties and also caused irregular heartbeats. While trying to get offf of it, it also drove up my blood pressure 50-60 points. I also have asthma and it made that worse too. I also started to feel angina. I don’t have a history of high blood pressure. I don’t understand why Beta Blockers are not banned. My experience and belief is that they cause far more harm than good. It could be that whenever anyone has a heart attack the drug is not blamed and therefore not part of the statistics. What is your opinion of Beta Blockers? Have you thought that one out?

By: susanashephard

susanashephard — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:59:28 +0000

In reply to Kathy. Hello, Kathy. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a second opinion or recommendations for your mother's specific condition. One surgical alternative is cardiac ablation which can correct heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:02:31 +0000

My mother was diagnosed with Arterial Fibrillation and they want to give her Coumaden. Could you tell me if there is a safer blood thinner or safer alternative such as surgery to correct Arterial Fibrillation?

By: mayoclinic

mayoclinic — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:59:41 +0000

In reply to Peter Freshwater.

Peter, we have received your post. Unfortunately, , we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. The numbers can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.org/ under “request an appointment.”

By: Peter Freshwater

Peter Freshwater — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:53:14 +0000

I was first diagnosed with AF when I was 18 in 1976 while attending Navy bootcamp. I am nearly 54.5 years now. Is there any hope for me with this many years in being in AF? Approaching 37 years now. I have been asking my HMO about an ablation or conversion. I was briefly in normal sinus rhythm when I was cardioverted then at 18. I reverted back after a few days. I am asymptomatic and when I undergo strenuous activity my heart appears to beat in normal rhythm and AF returns upon slower rate. The Navy doctors who performed the procedure concluded “etiology unknown”. Btw, they fouled up the cardiocath by losing the tip of the cather near one of my valves. They had to run 2 more cathers up both my arm veins to retrieve it and then cut it out of my left axilla.

By: mayoclinic

mayoclinic — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:10:15 +0000

In reply to val Bowen.

Val, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. The numbers can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.org/ under “request an appointment.”

By: val Bowen

val Bowen — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:19:59 +0000

I have had afib for for a while but the past 8 months its been every day, trouble functioning, breathing or sleeping…I am on asprin and klonopin for anxiety but no relief, please help me get my life back.

By: mayoclinic

mayoclinic — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:06:34 +0000

In reply to Annabelle Malone.

Annabelle, we are sorry to hear about your medical problems. Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. The numbers can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.org/ under “request an appointment.”