EP

[souljacs4]

I know this is random but I wonder what treatment EP's would choose if they had AF would love to see the results on that.

[Loo53]

I should imagine my EP would choose his own approach. I discovered that a couple of Nurses in the same hospital had also had AF and my EP fixed them up too so that speaks volumes for his method. But one will never know the answer to this question

[souljacs4 in reply to Loo53]

Good to hear you are feeling better it must be good to know that you are in safe hands with your EP and to met those nurses ( proof of the pudding ) as they say wishing you a speedy recovery

[BobD Volunteer]

That is a like asking a Ford employee what car he would buy. Ablation obviously!

Bob

[souljacs4 in reply to BobD]

Maybe Bob with ask my hubby as he works for Fords Know what you mean Ablation is the way to go.

[fallingtopieces in reply to BobD]

Is that a Ford Ablation?

New model perhaps ; )

[Hidden in reply to fallingtopieces]

Can't stop laughing...

[Hidden]

I think if an EP had AF, he'd come onto this forum and ask for advice.

Koll

[souljacs4]

Well said.

[Loo53]

What I've always wondered how often do you hear of a sick doctor? I've only got to get public transport and I'm ill !

[Hidden]

The cardiologist at the Surrey support meeting said if he had AF he would go to Bordeaux!

[beardy_chris]

I read somewhere that the most effective question to ask is not "What do you recommend?" but "If your husband/wife/child had this condition, what would you recommend?" - that was even better than "If you had this condition, what would you do?". I'm not sure why - or where I read it - but it sounds interesting to me.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Well, there is a popular EP, Dr. John M. who blogs about AF and is also a cyclist and a fellow AF patient. I love his insights, especially his Less Is More approach to treatment and his belief that we can improve this ourselves without intervention. His thoughts about AF were summed up in one of his blogs this year and I think if you haven't read it, it provides an interesting read. drjohnm.org/2014/02/13-thin...

[lizzily in reply to SRMGrandma]

Love his blogs and his approach, hope you continue to stay well x

[Loo53]

Don't think I could have improved myself with little intervention tried that for 10 years and it never worked. As for serious complications with ablation I have written information from my EP that says its around 1-2%.

While I'm not dismissing this man's expertise and experience I have read similar things about curing cancer holistcally. Working in a cancer hospital articles such as self help stuff in my view are dangerous and encourage people to avoid proper treatment. There was the recent case of a lady who refused to accept the severity of her disease refusing conventional treatment and adamantly in favour of taking vitamins and diet. Whilst the treatment can be difficult I doubt vitamins and "special diets" are going to be the magic bullet. Yes it might help but give me medical intervention any day.

Maybe I missed the point of this blog but I found it weird that he was more or less plugging non- intervention for AF

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to Loo53]

While I think we are extraordinarily lucky to live in a time where medical intervention can do amazing things I do believe that the magic bullet is prevention. My point is this: Good health habits for eating and sleeping and exercise and stress management need to start early and there is amazing science that supports that what you eat can determine your health status. The mind body connection is very real in cause and prevention of disease. And I think that the point of the blog of experts like Dr. John M is that if one can avoid AF in the first place, it is far better than trying to fix it later, not just avoiding intervention all costs because sometimes it is absolutely essentially necessary. I am really grateful that my EP started at my very first visit a decade ago to make sure that I understood that finding a way to better manage my stress would result in fewer episodes of AF. His continued guidance and teaching has absolutely improved my AF over the years and precluded the need for risky medical interventions up to this point. Who knows what tomorrow may bring, and if I need interventions for serious disease I'm all for it, but I'm putting my money on continuing my journey toward perfect health in a holistic way.

[Mrspat]

On the subject of what treatment doctors might have themselves, not specifically AF:

My heart surgeon suggested that I have a replacement tissue valve rather than a mechanical one. He said he was 6 years younger than me and would have a tissue valve himself.

My GP asked me if I fancied taking statins and when I said no, she said "I don't blame you".

Followed their advice both times as it coincided with my own thoughts. What ever path we choose, it's a personal decision. Beware of plugging one treatment path versus others, whether it be ablation, medication or holistic. Just because something did or didn't work for you doesn't mean it will work the same way for everybody else. Keep an open mind and never say never.

Currently following treatment by medication.