Why am I having Atrial Fibrillation?

Hi Everyone,
I have had an episode of atrial fibrillation last week. It lasted 3 hours. I went in to see my Electrophysiologist and he did an interrogation. He told me that I had 30 events over the last month and they were usually less than a minute long. He wants me to begin taking 40 mg of Sotalol and .25 of Digoxin daily. I really don't want to start all these meds but he is very firm about it. It seems as though he doesn't want to discuss any options with me.

I have had my pacemaker for 3 months now. I'm 49 yrs. old and have sick sinus syndrome. My symptoms before the pacemaker seemed to be low pulse rate (in the 30s sometimes) and low blood pressure (93/63). But now after the pacemaker, my blood pressure has gone up (130/90) and I'm having afib (one 3 hour event and 30 events less than a minute in duration over 30 days).

I did have two afib events over the last couple of years, (before I got the pacemaker) that lasted all night and resolved in the morning on their own.

I just began taking 600mg of magnesium and I'm doing a little bit of walking on a treadmill.

I would appreciate any advice. Here are some of my questions:
Can the pacemaker make afib worse?
Will setting the pacemaker at a slower rate (currently set at 60) stop the afib events?
Will setting the pacemaker at a faster rate stop the afib events?
Will turning off the rate response help?
How can I stop the afib without going on meds?
Can I just take the digoxin and not the sotalol?
Will I have to take blood thinners?
What will happen if I don't go on the meds?
Can exercise make afib worse?
Can magnesium help lessen the afib events?

Thanks so much for any advice! I really need it.
Jackie





3 Comments

A-Fib

by Good Dog - 2016-02-25 03:02:03

If you are having a-fib for more than a minute or two, then it would seem to make sense to take medication. However, as with all decisions, it is yours. There are lots of folks that will swear by the necessity for medication even with a few minor momentary a-fib events per month. However, I don't think so and neither does my doc. A-fib does make us more susceptible to a stroke, but it doesn't guarantee we'll have one. So the question becomes; do we want to take the chance? The length and frequency of the events are relevant with regard to the risk. So the idea that we must take blood thinners with even minor events is intended to eliminate as much risk as possible.
I am not at all familiar with the med's your doc prescribed. One of the things that a Cleveland Clinic doc had said was that it is often very difficult to determine from a pacer check interrogation if it was in-fact an A-fib event.

I wish you the best!
David

afib

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-25 03:02:29

Afib is when the heart quivers instead of beating so no, the pacer is not causing it.

Sometimes setting the pacer higher can help pace you out of afib but that comes with its own set of complications.

The meds are not negotiable because when you are in afib you are at risk of stroke. You shouldn't need blood thinners also but that's a question for your doctor.

There are anecdotal stories of magnesium helping but no scientific evidence. Ask your doctor before trying anything new, but it can't hurt to add a supplement.

Exercise can usually only help things because it strengthens the heart, but that's another question for your doctor. It's not going to prevent afib.

You may be able to figure out your triggers for afib. For my mom, it's caffeine or alcohol. If she has even the smallest amount of either, you can bet she'll be up all night in afib. That cuts back on how often she gets it, however, she still has episodes with no known cause so she's still on the meds.

No one wants to take meds, but a stroke can end your life, or permanently change it in the blink of an eye. Small price to pay to decrease a known risk.

Life Style

by BillH - 2016-02-26 12:02:23

While not a "treatment" of AFIB a healthy lifestyle can reduce the amount and number of AFIB incidents.

The is include losing weight, healthy eating, regular exercise, and controlling stress.


Separate studies have shown that yoga has helped. And yoga is a one way to help deal with stress.

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