Silent Arterial Fibrillation in a73 year old male with a normal heart rate (between 75-85 generally). Unfortunately it's permanent!
Seeking advice from others in this same boat for thoughts of what to do or what they are doing/planning on as a treatment ?
One specialist say Ablation. The next says just watch it. All are assuredly saying to stay on blood thinners. Currently taking Eliquis!
Merry Christmas
Marino
If your AF is asymptomatic and permanent there is sno point in taking on the risks of an ablation. Any and all treatment is only for quality of life so provided that you are anticoagulated and your rate is well controlled then why rock the boat.
Thanks for that Bob. My exact thoughts but had one Electrophysiologist tell me i had to get an ablation prior to one year for the best chance of it working. Decided to pass and see what happens.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
BobD always gives sage advice on this subject.
I am 76 with persistent AF for almost 2 years and thus far well controlled heart rate. Have elected at this time to forego ablation and other invasive procedures. It is good to have an echocardiogram at least every 2 years to check condition of heart.
Thanks Mav7
Do you get tired in the early afternoon? Curious if it's the A-Fib, the Eliquis or just plain being out of shape at 6'3" and 230 so not too overweight.
Ever try fasting?
Merry Christmas
Yes, do have a lack of energy which is likely a side effect of Metoprolol and/or afib. Don't think it would be Eliquis.
Have not yet tried fasting, but need to look into a diet to lose weight. Metoprolol has caused a weight gain.
A moderate exercise program like walking a short distance and limited strength training is good. New Year's Resolution for me. 🙂 A person just needs to know their limits.
JOY2THEWORLD49 brings up a good point about blood tests. Good to have those.
2 very simple moves to reduce weight and increase energy: Intermittent fasting (ie eat nothing for 14 hours eg 6pm & 8am) and a brisk walk for a mile x2 per day come rain or shine. Try it for 3 months, no side effects!
Thank you. will try (after new years) not enough will power to start now ha!
Merry Christmas
Hi
You are lucky to have normal H/R.
Persistent yes stay on anti-co.agulants. then you have a good chance of preventinga stroke.
Do have your thyroid scan.
I don't feel my AF either.
Controlled my H/R 77-88 H/R Day at rest
Night 47 H/R
I had the stroke at 2am! Due tio thyroid cancer. Discovered on a carotid arteries scan.
Bisoprolol helps BP - what is yours?
Rythmn and Rate slightly. They may try you on that.
Any sweating profusely during exertion?
Many have AF or irregular heart beat and leave them on an anti.coaggulant only.
Mine had to be controlled. Remember no operations if H/R over 100. Mine was 120 plus uncontrolled.
Forget about it if you feel OK. Joy. 73. (NZ)
Thanks for your kind note. no meds other than Eliquis. was thinking of stopping to see if that was causing my tiredness. That's the only part i feel is different. No sweats even with mild excision except when the temp is over 85 F (St. Pete, Florida) then it's just normal as it has ever been! One thing is that i know i can no longer stand the cold. For a bit it's OK but once it hits the bones then it take a while to feel warm again.
Thanks for taking the time
Merry Christmas
Hi
Points to your aF.
Dr tells me that because of AF oxygen is not circling the body as it should and hence the 'stopping' episodes.
It wll be your rythmn unfortunately.
Lowering my PRADAXA did make some difference = Antico.agulate.
Stopping with persistent has a risk of STROKE. Is it worth it.
In PRADAXA I could reduce it from 150 twice a day to 110 twice a day. I'd talk to your Dr/Cardiac Specialist.
STROKES take on various levels. Mine was a wake up that something was wrong. I awoke with a 'sore head' and I never have headaches. My temp is lower than normal @ 36.5 C.
Take care. JOY
Eliquis. was thinking of stopping to see if that was causing my tiredness.
You mentioned you have permanent afib, not good to stop Eliquis.
Get your thyroid checked out. Tiredness , feeling cold and not sweating can be signs of hypothyroidism. This is very common as we age. The thyroid is one of the first organs to start malfunctioning especially in women.
Hi
In the same boat
Had AF for at least 5 years could have been more as it was only discovered by chance.
I am 70 and have no symptoms except the irregular Heart beat.
Resting heart beat below 50.
Exercise daily either running or walking fast which is all fine.
Had all heart scans ,X-rays, exercise machine in hospital up to 199 beats per minute with no problems.
Saw three different consultants and stayed with the third one as the others gave different solutions.First leave alone second have an abslation.
Third leave alone and monitor every year which is what I do.
Life and what I do has not changed.
Been abroad many times play with the grandchildren etc.
Just take Lixiana60 mg daily and get on with normal life.
As people on this site say AF effect is all differently and we are the lucky ones so far.
Merry Christmas and I shall be having a drink and eating as normal.
Thanks for taking the time to write. Had you ever thought about an ablation. Getting off these blood thinners would be the only reason for me. I just hate thinking of someone killing parts of the one organ i cannot live without.
Here's Cheers to you
Merry Christmas to you and your family
My husband used to think he had angina, he was given a G.T.N. spray, 9 years later no problems never used the spray, his doctor after a routine check up, called both of us in. He told us he was lucky not to have had a heart attack, that was the good news. The bad news was he had to start on Warfarin as he had A.F. He had to explain what it was, that was about 8 years ago. He cannot take the more modern tablet, but he is ok on Warfarin, just has to have regular I.N.R. tests.
My elderly friend is now all but 90 and has had this for many years. He only takes warfarin and has never need any other treatment. SO far as I know, treatments are for symptoms mainly, so if you aren't having any, then I would press the cardiologist to explain what benefit an ablation would bring you. Sometimes, there are other confounding issues with the heart that would make an ablation worthwhile. That might be so in your case
Steve
no other issues were ever mentioned. Reason given was to get back into sinus rhythm and no longer needing blood thinners
Thank you for your note
Merry Christmas
I've had permanent AF for about 7 years. I'm 77. Anticoagulants are my only treatment. I'll never willingly be without them. Eat healthily, cut out everything which has added sugar, including honey. Walk for 30 minutes a day, if you can. Eat regular meals, have healthy snacks like fruit or nuts. You need some starchy food for energy.
Hi,
thanks for writing. Do you get tired in the afternoon as well? Ever thought of having an ablation to get off of the meds? curious to everyone's feeling about this. I'm being pushed to have one and am resisting. just not a perfected science as yet.
Merry Christmas
In a word, no. I'm only on one med, an anticoagulant, Warfarin being my choice, and even if I had chosen the ablation route I would still be taking an anticoagulant.The success rate for ablations is not high. Those who have them have at least two ablations, some as many as five. For those with silent or asymptomatic AF the success rate is low.
For most of my adult life I've lived alone, with two or more cats. I don't see how an ablation would improve my life. As well as AF I am asthmatic, and for the last 2.5 years have had right foot drop, which means I can no longer drive.
On the AF. Association website there is lots of information about Ablations and recovery from Ablations which I hope you will find useful.
I don't particularly get tired in the afternoons, but do tend to get up later in the mornings.
Could be i was looking in the wrong place or didn't spend enough time looking but i couldn't find those all important specifics. my friend has AF has had 2 ablations and is seemingly doing better after his last one but his HR was at times 200 BPM. That would scare me!
i went thru a proctectomy to hopefully increase the amount of time i have on this planet so I'm doing the same with this, looking for the best solution to AF that will allow me to live the longest. I really like it here!
Thanks again for writing.
Merry Christmas
Silent af
Afib & cannabis 
Afib
Svt’s and Afib
Afib Ablation
