Elizabeth, I am in the early days of Afib. I have the impression that the disorganized and rapid contractions of the atria in Afib, which cause ineffective pumping of blood, even at heart rates in the normal range, will cause damage to the heart and other organs. Am I mistaken about this? You appear to have lived pretty well with Afib, but you have only been in persistent Afib for 2 years?by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have silent, persistent Afib, which I stumbled across when taking my BP at home 5 months ago. I immediately saw an experienced cardiologist, who put me on Eliquis and metoprolol (150 mg.). The metoprolol kept my heart rate in the 110-129 range. I had a successful cardioversion 4 months ago and now am off the metoprolol, but remain on the Eliquis. When I hear about people with persistent Afby Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks again. You may be right. All these ideas are percolating in my brain and are not forgotten.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
My cardiologist is very experienced (> 20 years experience). She is not an EP. Metoprolol can be used to help people flip back to NSR. At a minimum, it will keep my heart rate from getting dangerously high until she does a second cardioversion. I think you are suggesting that an EP would recommend an anti-arrhythmia drug, but I have never taken any of them. Thanks for your concern.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks everyone for all the ideas. After a message to her, my cardiologist advised me to discontinue metoprolol and monitor my heart rhythm. If I leave NSR, I should take metoprolol to switch back. I will continue to take Eliquis.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. I never heard of it, but it may be worth mentioning to my cardiologist as a replacement for metoprolol.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. Never heard of Multaq, but would its side effects be worse than Metoprolol's?by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. I'm going to propose this approach to her. It makes sense. Plus, since I will still be taking Eliquis, she can schedule another cardioversion ASAP (she performs them herself).by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. She told me to take an extra metoprolol if I flip back into Afib. If it doesn's help prevent a return to Afib, it does seem unnecessary.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. I'm hoping to go down on metoprolol to 25/12.5 mg. in Dec. when I see my cardiologist again. As you suggest, maybe I don't need it all the time.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. My BP monitor has a memory so I was able to determine closely when it started. It’s not like wearing a Holter monitor, but whenever I randomly took my BP, it came up 120-130/min. I started Eliquis within 2 weeks of when my Afib started. Why do you say I dodged a bullet?by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’ve had persistent, silent Afib 4 months and had a successful cardioversion 3 months ago. I am on metoprolol (50 mg./day) and Eliquis. I have made many lifestyle changes: no alcohol, no caffeine, reduced stress, more fluids, sleep apnea device, magnesium supplements. I have heard that persistent Afib is more difficult to ablate and NSR doesn’t last as long. I am 77 so my treatment might beby Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your info.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had persistent Afib, but no symptoms (e.g., BP in 120s/130s constantly). Thanks for your information.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Had successful cardioversion six week ago. Met with my cardiologist today and she cut my metoprolol from 100 mg./day to 50 mg./day. She told me, if my heart were to go back into Afib, to take an extra 50 mg. dose of metoprolol, which should make it convert back to NSR. Has anyone used this approach to convert back to NSR?by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. I'll pass this on to her.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
My wife has chronic, low magnesium, which is the result of taking a proton pump inhibitor for many years due to severe GIRD. When her magnesium gets low, she starts trembling/shaking. She gets an IV once-a-month to replenish her magnesium. They told her at the clinic where she gets the IV that testing at the cellular level is necessary. Testing using a blood draw is not accurate.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
Because I have long taken my BP almost every day and recorded it to show my doctor every six months, I have a long, detailed record of both my BP and my heart rate. Sometime between 5/25 and 6/9 of this year, my heart rate flipped from 60s-70s to 120s. It never went back. I have permanent, “silent” Afib. On 6/16, I started metoprolol and Eliquis. On 7/14, I had a successful cardioversion. Iby Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
GeorgeN, In my post above I reference magnesium oxide, which was recommended independently by two cardiologists. You state that it is the "least bioavailable". Ok, so why is it being recommended by my cardiologist? I'd like to know.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM
My cardiologist recommended magnesium oxide 250 or 500 mg./day. I am taking 250 mg./day and seem to tolerate it ok. A man I walk with, who had stents put in a year ago, is on 250 mg./day of magnesium oxide as recommended by his cardiologist. He takes it every other day because it upsets his lower tract otherwise.by Ice Man - AFIBBERS FORUM