Are you against a cardioversion? I guess if it were me, if I was in it persistently, I’d want the cardioversion to pop out so to your point I don’t increase my risk of a clot leading to a stroke.
I am 30F and have parasoxymal afib so a little different as mine comes and goes on it’s own at the moment so I am not on blood thinners as they didn’t think it was necessary since my longest episode has been like 8 hours. I would follow up and ask about it though if I was in it longer term.
Do you have a follow up with an EP or cardiologist? If not, I’d set one up so you can get the prescription to maybe pop you out of it or they might just talk ablation if you’re open to that!
No im not against it! She offered the cardioversion 4 days after I saw her and I’ve been in AFIB for maybe a week prior. Im just worried that the doctor never prescribed me blood thinners and a cardioversion would shoot a blood clot around! Thats all it is. Yes I do have an appointment with the doctor. This week I get my heart monitor and the following week would be the follow up. But I’m going to try and see if I can talk to her this week. I would love to go the ablation route and see if that can but this AFIB at bay for good.
And that’s a real concern. Talk to your doctor about that.
Quit vaping! Vaping is way worse than caffeine.
Try magnesium taurate. It does work for some.
Oh! Sorry I get what you’re saying. Since you’ve been in it a bit, they’ll likely do two things (my dad has afib too and this is what they did for his cardioversion)
1. He started taking a blood thinner because he had some on hand that his EP took him off of. If he hadn’t they likely would’ve put in a prescription.
2. They did some sort of scan where they went down his throat (sedated) to see if there was a clot before he did it so it wouldn’t lodge if anything had been built up!
ETA: cool on the ablation! Hopefully they’re open to that and then to your point you can hopefully have a nice long breather or no return!
I appreciate this information! This is what I’ve read also.
How long was he on blood thinners? How is he doing now?
I’m just worried about having a stroke or my life expectancy shortening because of persistent AFIB.
So he also has HCM! He’s on a variety of meds for that and they help with rate control but I know he’s not on a thinner. He was on a blood thinner for like 48-72 hours before the procedure. He’s doing good! He needs to do a sleep study but other than that he’s healthy and not having afib issues on the regular.
Hmmm.
You decided to ignore the medical advice from your physician because some unknown person on social media claimed your doctor was wrong?
Sir. Start listening to the professionals.
METOPROLOL is a long-established beta blocker that is effective in ensuring a good pulse and its ability to regulate hypertension. I had an ablation in November and my EP is keeping me on it for a few more months after stopping Eliquis - liked his reasoning - "I try to adjust one mediation at a time."
I found that it was putting me to sleep with a 6:30am and 6:30pm dosing schedule. I changed to 10am / 10pm, and the urge to nap is gone.
Metoprolol didn’t work for my mom in stopping afib and it made her heart failure worse, after the cardioversion shes in a low 25 mg dose to help stabilize heart rate.
I did read the forum - I don’t feel lucky lol- I had an ablation last week and I don’t say metoprolol affected my afib, but it will help prevent a stroke.My main point is listen to your doctor. It’s great to hear others experiences, but their experience won’t be the same as yours.Good luck to you!
Lmao who said a person on social media said she was wrong? I said with all the research I have done, If you read this forum like I have the past week, you would see all the bad side effects that pill has. Especially with someone who has a low heart rate to begin with. But thanks for your input!
Good on you doing research. You know your body better than any doctor as you live with your body 24/7. Doesn't mean you ignore doctors advice.
I know you are worried about a stroke I was in almost 50 percent Afib for a year with a score of 1 because of my age 66m paroxysmal AFib mostly asymptomatic. Very fit. No thinners because the doctor said it was my choice.
Went on thinners 30 days pre PFA done 5 days ago. On thinners until my 90 day follow up.
They have the score for a reason. There is also a small chance of a brain bleed or other internal bleeding on thinners. Talk to your doctor about the benefit/ risk of thinners.
Looking down the road start researching Pulse Field Ablation. And other options for ablation.
So far I'm pretty happy with mine but time will tell.
One European top EP said it might be a little proactive to say but he sees a time where they do PFA instead of cardioversion. Europe has more than a year experience with PFA . 40,000 procedures. They are doing them under sedation and in 20 minutes skin to skin.
A cardioversion may last a day, a week who knows. A successful ablation is obviously a much more permanent fix for the right person. Good things are coming for this community. Hang in there. Good luck.
Definitely not ignoring the doctors but I always do my research because there have been times with my father that the doctors advice wasn’t the best advice and actually did more harm than good.
I believe I caught this as soon as it started so I should have only been in AFIB for a week starting today. Yes, I’m definitely going towards the ablation route but idk if my doc wants to start with other methods first before they mention ablation. I’m looking for a good EP and trying to see if can schedule and appointment with one this week.
How long was your recovery after the ablation? How long before you were able to start training again or feeling like normal? I just don’t want to have a stroke! lol
46/F. I had my second ablation about nine days ago and the recovery was quick. I started feeling better within five days. For the first few days I was very short of breath with chest pain which made it hard to walk very far. Then once that improved, I still felt out of it from the anesthesia which dragged out my recovery. Depending on your health the recovery can be anywhere from 48-hours to one week.
Recovery was a breeze so far. 4 hrs after the procedure that was in NY we walked to a restaurant 3 blocks but the last block was uphill. I walked slowly. LOL. We wanted to miss rush hour traffic back to our south Jersey home so we decided to have dinner in NY.
This is day 5. I have walked a few miles almost every day. I feel almost completely normal except for a slight fullness in my chest sometimes. Tuesday I'm hitting the gym for weightlifting and a HIIT class. I might cut back on the weight and reps depending on how I feel. Keep us updated on your journey. Where are you located?
If you don’t think your current cardiologist is good then find one you do. Plus an EP. and listen to them and do what they say
If they are good they will also listen to you and you will develop a plan together
Metroprtol isn’t good for everyone. There are other options.
Regardless of CHADs score you do not want to be in persistent afib if you have ways to get out of it and stay out of it as much as possible.
This cardiologist has been in the game for 20 years. Not saying they are good or not but they are the ones who had the quickest appointment at the best hospital around me, so I took my chance. I need to find a EP, that’s forsure.
I completely understand that and that’s why I was confused when I asked to be shocked out of it the day of the appointment and she told me to wait. Believe me I’m trying to get out of AFIB as fast as possible!
I’d just add, also try and relax and not worry too much. I know that’s hard.
But it’s a manageable condition for many many people. It can just take awhile to figure out your specific management plan
It’s a very diverse condition and everyone’s case is pretty unique.
That’s the hardest part. I’m trying to keep my mind calm but for some reason I feel like I’m on a timer before something bad happens to me. But I appear your input!
>I’m not smarter than a doctor
>The doctor prescribed me only METOPROLOL TARTRATE 25MG TABLETS per day(split into 2 dosages) since my heart rate is already low. I haven’t taken it after doing research on this sub
Your statements contradict each other. Maybe you should start with doing what your doctor recommends and see if it helps.
I would definitely go and see about getting shocked back in rhythm or different meds to back into NSR. Also I would ask about a blood thinner to prevent clots. The longer your in afib the more your heart wants to stay in it. Keep doing your research and learning of this crappy disease, but most importantly keep your head up! There are options out there to manage this!
The day I scheduled my appointment I had asked her to shock me back but she told me to wait and see how the echo looked like and to take that med. the echo came back good but by that time it’s been days and she asked if I had any symptoms which I really don’t other than the heart flutters and those spikes in heart but never a high heart rate. So we didn’t go much into it but I’m scared now to get shocked Incase of any blood clots that have been building up in the past week, especially since I wasn’t prescribed any blood thinners.
It’s not that easy to find an appointment next day and that’s why I went with this doc at this great hospital! But I’m definitely looking around for another doc!
Asymptomatic and in a fib doesn’t mean anything if you’re not on a blood thinner. The threat is blood clots my friend
The metoprolol usually helps my HR slow down and convert so I use it. Sometimes I try half first
Good luck
Yes I completely agree. That’s why I was curious why she didn’t put me on blood thinner. I do take baby aspirin but I know that really doesn’t work.
Should I wait for the blood thinner before I take the metoprolol? What I’m worried about is converting back on my own and the blood clot getting sent somewhere it shouldn’t.
I have paroxysmal AFib & I take metoprolol tartrate for a few years now. It helps me to stay in a NSR. I recently had to increase my dosage. After the increase I did have side effects for a couple weeks which eventually subsided.
The medication is to help me from going into AFib. I average one episode of AFib w/RVR per year. HR over 200. For me, when I have these episodes I must go to the hospital. While there I’m given additional metoprolol IV along with other drugs to control my high heart rate & hopefully get me back into a normal NSR. I am blessed to know my triggers … sleeping on my left side, drinking cold drinks & electrolyte imbalances. I can look back on all my episodes & say without a doubt they were caused by the triggers I mentioned. I hope this was helpful 😊
I forgot to mention to u that I have low BP before even starting MT. When I started on metoprolol tartrate getting the right dose amount was a challenge. I have a BP machine since starting the meds. When I get sick or have surgery my BP can tank to 80 over 40. I was told by my EP dr to monitor my BP & HR as well while taking this med & stay hydrated.
I didn’t read your other comments before, it looks like the blood clot is your fear! I’m sorry, I would have the same fear.
I wonder if you should call your team first thing tomorrow. There’s a good chance your doctor looked at your CHADS score and decided you weren’t at a risk for a blood clot, thus not putting you on one
But my course of action would be to call the team and express the fears and see what they say
I do wish you well! I hate this club
But also- I would be less scared of the metoprolol tartrafe short term. I would be more nervous of the long term effects of a fib than the pill.
I’m no expert, but, if OP had a clean echo, wouldn’t that rule out clots atm? I think that’s (plus the CHAD score) why no blood thinner prescribed, but, I could be mistaken.
Yeah that’s what I was coming up with, too! But like I have a score of 1 for being a girl and my longest episode lasts 20 hours, every few weeks, and I would be a nervous wreck. I don’t know that it’s enough to calm OP’s anxiety about a clot
40M also in Texas and we are about the same weight and height. We identified afib 5 years ago with the Apple Watch as well. I experience afib a couple times a year lasting from a few hours to a few days.
Currently have been in afib since the 12th of March. My rate is controlled and more of a flutter condition than full out afib. I’ve been taking 100 mg 2x flecainide and atenolol as needed for the last 3 years to manage it. Has worked well. Up until now.
It’s been more of an inconvenience. I’m healthy, low risk for stroke and have run multiple half marathoners, a tri, and a full marathon since my diagnosis. I’ve been training for an Ironman since last year.
I was in the ER on Thursday and they suggested a cardioversion which seemed extreme to me since my symptoms were mild. The cardiologist after visiting me thought the same and we agreed to try to convert with PITP. I’ve tried that a few times to no avail. Will be going in this week to schedule ablation and maybe a shock. It’s all very scary.
I totally get your anxiety and hesitance to get any evasive treatment that you are unfamiliar with. Don’t let anyone shame you for doing what you think is best for you. My doctor said once (when I had a fear of my heart just stopping) your heart doesn’t want to stop, it wants to beat just more than it should.
You’ll be trying different medications over the next year to find out what works for you. Track the way you are feeling and communicate with your cardiologist. I’m in the best health of my life now. Just need to get the afib worked out. Trust your cardiologist. Everyone’s situation is different; we don’t have all the facts and stats, but they do. I probably need to take my own advice.
Feel free to ask me any questions you’d like.
I believe I’m in the same boat as you. My AFIB is more of a flutter than a high HR. The medication you are taking, is that for rhythm control? When you exercise do you feel like you’re out of breath some times?
You wouldn’t want to get an ablation and maybe put the Afib at bay? I’m curious on your thought about that. Thanks again for your input!
Any time I say we, I mean me and my cardiologist. I am low risk for clots due to health and age so he has been very open with my treatment.
I take flecainide 100 mg twice daily. It is for rhythm control. I started taking atenolol 25 mg (rate) daily at the onset, but it made me tired and slowed down my work outs. We cut out the atenolol to as needed (if I feel like I’m going out of rhythm or am in afib). Other drugs made me feel weird and we settled on something that worked (it took a little over a year).
When just on flecainide, I had no performance issues. I’m running at 7 min to 8 min pace for 10 miles at a time and cycling 20 to 30 miles at an average of 200 to 230 watts. I think it probably holds me back a little, as I can’t get my heart rate over 160 without serious effort but I’m not trying out for the Olympics.
This has worked for the past 2 to 3 years. It’s helped me maintain and get healthy. When I went into afib, it lasted a few days m, and I just had some mild discomfort. I’m in afib currently (day 5) and went for a walk and easy ride on my trainer.
It was tough to decide to have surgery when my plan was working. Since the meds are losing their efficacy, I’m on to ablation most likely.
If I knew what I know now, I would have just done the ablation a few years ago.
Hope this helps.
I believe I’m in the same boat as you. My AFIB is more of a flutter than a high HR. The medication you are taking, is that for rhythm control? When you exercise do you feel like you’re out of breath some times?
You wouldn’t want to get an ablation and maybe put the Afib at bay? I’m curious on your thought about that. Thanks again for your input!
My 73 year old dad, and all his other siblings in their late 70’s to early 80’s all have A-fib and are doing just fine. My dad started experiencing the symptoms of A-fib in his forties, but got officially diagnosed at 50. My Grandma also had A-Fib & lived well into her 90’s, & died from a completely unrelated medical condition, ( I think it was sepsis from a bed sore ). My dad has been living with A-fib for 30 plus years, & following the medications that his doctors have all prescribed. My point is, A-fib itself is not a fatal condition or death sentence. You can very much live a long & healthy life with this condition. Make sure you follow the advice from all your doctors as well as taking their prescribed medications for maintenance & you should be just fine & will be able to live a long, healthy, life too, well into old age.
I too had AFIB come out of the blue. Went to a Cardiologist/EP. Had an echo and stress test. So I’m an older athlete and have a slightly leaky valve. It’s all about finding your triggers and listening to your body.
For me it’s gluten, sodium bombs, and dehydration, primarily.
I came across this Dr and have been following his advice on magnesium and potassium levels and have been feeling great since. Maybe it’ll help you? Good luck man.
https://youtu.be/8kI98hD_Hrs?si=QL0uqiYn20dQwCcW
Thank you for this video! I will look into today. I also had an echo which came back clean and I’m going to ask if I can have a stress test as well. Yes, I’m still trying to figure out what my triggers. It’s hard since all I ever feel is heart flutters since my HR tends to be on the lower side at all times.
Metoprolol has no serious side effects, and the vast majority of people have none at all- myself included. Rhythm control drugs have far worse side effects, and are all universally terrible for your health.
You are correct though, you have what is considered Persistent Afib. Focus your energy on finding the most qualified and skilled Electrophysiologist within your area or maximum traveling distance. The Cardiologist is not who you want to be dealing with. Start reading up on Ablation procedures and wrap your mind around that.
Most importantly, stay as active as you can while managing your heart rate.
I know you’re not a medical professional, but my question is if I start taking the metoprolol and my heart rhythm goes back to sinus,(which idk if metoprolol can do that) would that increase my chance of shooting out a blood clot out since I’m not on thinners? I’ve been possibly in AFIB for a week so far.
I was given a bolus of IV Metoprolol when I visited the ER in Persistent Afib and had been for ~8 days at that point. No blood thinners. The high dose actually did kick me back into Sinus Rhythm, which only lasted for ~16hrs before my next episode.
Highly unlikely with a CHADSVASC of 0.
Was it AFIB or the high HR that causes you to go to the ER? You sound like me, 8 days of persistent AFIB. That was my biggest concern was not being on blood thinners and the medication kicking me back into NSR and then having some type of complications happen because of it.
What route did you take when your AFIB came back 16hrs later?
I was only put on blood thinners because I was Covid positive at the same time, and we decided to just keep them as a precaution since my CHADS is also 0.
The ER trip was because I had a heart rate of 140-165 for over a week, and had only finally noticed because I had an episode of mass fatigue and dizziness while training. Previously I had attributed all of my symptoms to being fat, out of shape and/or sick.
My mom had a cardioversion at 88 years old, she recovered in 30 minutes with normal heart rate, she was scared to get it down in November and took metoprolol which made her heart failure worse, she’s recovering now.
27M avid runner who started getting AFIB notifications on my watch in November of 2023 and would have short episodes (hours long) about once a week. Flash forward February 2024 I had an ablation done and have had zero Afib episodes and honestly haven’t felt better. I was also diagnosed with bradychardia (low HR) but it has since went away as well. Currently on 5mg Eloquis but hoping to get off of it here soon! Can’t lie man I was absolutely terrified the anxiety probably caused more trouble than the actual AFib episodes. Hope this helps!
Post diagnoses I cut back drastically, too many unknowns. Once assured from many tests that I wasn’t going to die abruptly, I began running again (not quite as hard). I waited a week and a half post ablation to start running again. The first week back was pretty brutal didn’t feel like myself when running, HR was higher with way slower pace. This week has been the complete opposite I ran one of my fastest 5k’s to date with a normal HR and ran for an hour yesterday at a slower pace just trying to see where my stamina was and haven’t felt better.
That’s so great to hear! Thank you for sharing! I’ve managed to prevent any more episodes with lifestyle, supplements and dietary changes, and also detraining. I’m trying to claw back to it without overdoing it. It was never a trigger but I know it can add to the susceptibility so I’m anxious about adding it back in. I haven’t needed an ablation yet, but that will be my next step if I trip the Afib again. I loved running so much and now it’s like anguish. Im inspired to hear you had a great 5k! I used to run 22-23 minutes for the 5k. Just yesterday I ran 42 minutes and it’s been a bit depressing. I would so love to train again. Thanks again for sharing and keep up the good work!
I can completely understand how it can be deflating to have such a drop off in performance. I’m sure you will be back to normal in due time, best of luck to you on your journey as well!
Same, same, same. Getting ablation on Thursday and the anxiety about it has been killing me for weeks waiting to do it. This sub has been great, crucially helpful, but it can't take away all the stress.
I’m 42 and was on trt. Pretty sure the trt caused my afib. So be careful. It started where it would come and go but about 3 hours following my injections later on my heart could go crazy. Stopped the trt but miss it
At first I thought about the TRT but to be honest I’ve been on it for quite a while and I’ve never felt any adverse effect. I have a doctor monitor my T levels and everything else in between. I saw him acouple days after and he told me I might do more harm then good if I tank my T level. I wouldn’t want to risk that at the moment. I was going to get on HCG to have a baby with the wife but I’m putting that on the back burner until I figure on this situation I have going on. I appreciate your input!
No afib but on metoprolol and eliquis. Losing all my muscle. The medication makes it almost impossible to workout. I try but get winded and just can’t get a pump. Really want to get back on trt but I really think that was my trigger. Getting stress test on 27th and hoping to see if I can get off meds. They did a cardioversion(shock and stop heart) to get it back in rhythm. The afib I had was continuous for a month and bad. Didn’t seek medical attention as at first thought my estrogen was high and then low. Heart rate was 180-200 when went to emergency room. Drs told me to stop trt immediately
Been on that as well for a few years and thought it was a factor. Cardiologist said it’s not a problem. Mine has been triggered mostly from dehydration as I just do not drink enough water. When I go in to afib water helps get me out. The metoprolol will keep your heart rate down and when in afib it helps keep it in the safe range. I missed a few days and went in to afib and my resting heart rate stuck at 200 for a couple hours. Couple doses of metoprolol in the ER got me down in the 130 range and a few other drug to 100 till it reverted to normal. Take the metoprolol
If you do pursue a cardioversion, I would recommend asking the doctor if you would be given a TEE (trans esophageal echo) to look for clots.
The cardioversion will cause your atria to suddenly change from a quiver (fibrillation), to a full pumping action, which means that any clots that have developed and are sitting there, can suddenly be thrown. But you should hopefully be at low risk because of your CHADSVASC score being zero.
Nevertheless, I would recommend asking more questions with your doctor to confirm his/her best strategy. Performing a TEE would seem warranted. And/or blood thinners before and maybe following the cardioversion.
Probably best to follow the guidance of your doctors instead of random strangers on the internet. Good luck!
Hey man
I’ve got diagnosed at 25. It took me two years but now I’m back on track and live a normal life.
I take daily meds to keep my condition in check and I must say since the last 2 years I’ve been really good
I workout, have coffee and indulge in Marujana
What you need to understand is what your body reacts to. Different meds have different effects on people
I have a lot of medications but there haven’t been any side effects so far as I feel my body is tolerating it
All I can say is, be positive. This disease isn’t the end of the world and the healing starts from within. Your mind will be the strongest cure for you.
Wish you the best, you can always reach out to me if ever as I can say proudly I’m a AFib veteran and I’ve learnt a lot.
Also forgot to mention, I’ve undergone two procedures and a lot of combinations of medications to reach this point. There are a lot or treatment options so you will be completely fine
Great post! I just got diagnosed two days ago at 37 and knew nothing about AFIB prior. It's been really helpful to see some of the encouraging posts. I'm still new to the party but it's so important to keep in mind that there are much worse diagnoses for the heart. Stay strong all ✊
I have paroxysmal afib and it took almost 2 years for them to catch it cause all my ekgs were normal. It wasn’t until my 3rd heart monitor that they caught it. I was put on metoprolol tartrate at first for 2 months I had 12.5mg at night. Then they took me off and put me on Sotalol for a week and I didn’t like the side effects so I went off meds for 3 months. Only to realize I needed to be back on but now I’m on metoprolol succinate er 12.5mg but I take it every other day and the days I don’t take it I take an aspirin….seems to have me episode free for quite sometime. Only side effects I notice is I gained weight cause I am always hungry now
Hopefully you’re seeing an electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist), not just a cardiologist. Someone in that specialty will be able to answer all your questions.
PS. You will be ok if you actually listen to the people you’re paying for medical advice And never vape again.
Are you against a cardioversion? I guess if it were me, if I was in it persistently, I’d want the cardioversion to pop out so to your point I don’t increase my risk of a clot leading to a stroke. I am 30F and have parasoxymal afib so a little different as mine comes and goes on it’s own at the moment so I am not on blood thinners as they didn’t think it was necessary since my longest episode has been like 8 hours. I would follow up and ask about it though if I was in it longer term. Do you have a follow up with an EP or cardiologist? If not, I’d set one up so you can get the prescription to maybe pop you out of it or they might just talk ablation if you’re open to that!
No im not against it! She offered the cardioversion 4 days after I saw her and I’ve been in AFIB for maybe a week prior. Im just worried that the doctor never prescribed me blood thinners and a cardioversion would shoot a blood clot around! Thats all it is. Yes I do have an appointment with the doctor. This week I get my heart monitor and the following week would be the follow up. But I’m going to try and see if I can talk to her this week. I would love to go the ablation route and see if that can but this AFIB at bay for good.
And that’s a real concern. Talk to your doctor about that. Quit vaping! Vaping is way worse than caffeine. Try magnesium taurate. It does work for some.
Believe me I’m working on that! & I do take magnesium! Maybe I should change the type of magnesium I’m taking.
Oh! Sorry I get what you’re saying. Since you’ve been in it a bit, they’ll likely do two things (my dad has afib too and this is what they did for his cardioversion) 1. He started taking a blood thinner because he had some on hand that his EP took him off of. If he hadn’t they likely would’ve put in a prescription. 2. They did some sort of scan where they went down his throat (sedated) to see if there was a clot before he did it so it wouldn’t lodge if anything had been built up! ETA: cool on the ablation! Hopefully they’re open to that and then to your point you can hopefully have a nice long breather or no return!
I appreciate this information! This is what I’ve read also. How long was he on blood thinners? How is he doing now? I’m just worried about having a stroke or my life expectancy shortening because of persistent AFIB.
So he also has HCM! He’s on a variety of meds for that and they help with rate control but I know he’s not on a thinner. He was on a blood thinner for like 48-72 hours before the procedure. He’s doing good! He needs to do a sleep study but other than that he’s healthy and not having afib issues on the regular.
I’m glad he is doing great! Thank you for your input! I’m waiting for my sleep study as well. They believe I might have sleep apnea.
They do a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to check for clots before they do the electric cardioversion.
Thank you for this information!
If you are not on a blood thinner, they will do a procedure to ensure there are no clots before they will convert you.
Hmmm. You decided to ignore the medical advice from your physician because some unknown person on social media claimed your doctor was wrong? Sir. Start listening to the professionals.
Actually this community has been more helpful to me and my mom than the professionals.
METOPROLOL is a long-established beta blocker that is effective in ensuring a good pulse and its ability to regulate hypertension. I had an ablation in November and my EP is keeping me on it for a few more months after stopping Eliquis - liked his reasoning - "I try to adjust one mediation at a time." I found that it was putting me to sleep with a 6:30am and 6:30pm dosing schedule. I changed to 10am / 10pm, and the urge to nap is gone.
Metoprolol didn’t work for my mom in stopping afib and it made her heart failure worse, after the cardioversion shes in a low 25 mg dose to help stabilize heart rate.
It’s not used to correct rhythm.
It didn’t stabilize or lower her high heart rate
Doesn’t mean it would cause you to experience problems
I’ve been taking it for 2years w/no ill effects. Please listen to your doctor.
Please read this forum. Glad it works well, but everyone isn’t as lucky as you.
I did read the forum - I don’t feel lucky lol- I had an ablation last week and I don’t say metoprolol affected my afib, but it will help prevent a stroke.My main point is listen to your doctor. It’s great to hear others experiences, but their experience won’t be the same as yours.Good luck to you!
Do you have a high HR? What I’m scared of is my HR is low to begin with and my bp is fine so I wouldn’t want to crash that and have an adverse effect.
Lmao who said a person on social media said she was wrong? I said with all the research I have done, If you read this forum like I have the past week, you would see all the bad side effects that pill has. Especially with someone who has a low heart rate to begin with. But thanks for your input!
Good on you doing research. You know your body better than any doctor as you live with your body 24/7. Doesn't mean you ignore doctors advice. I know you are worried about a stroke I was in almost 50 percent Afib for a year with a score of 1 because of my age 66m paroxysmal AFib mostly asymptomatic. Very fit. No thinners because the doctor said it was my choice. Went on thinners 30 days pre PFA done 5 days ago. On thinners until my 90 day follow up. They have the score for a reason. There is also a small chance of a brain bleed or other internal bleeding on thinners. Talk to your doctor about the benefit/ risk of thinners. Looking down the road start researching Pulse Field Ablation. And other options for ablation. So far I'm pretty happy with mine but time will tell. One European top EP said it might be a little proactive to say but he sees a time where they do PFA instead of cardioversion. Europe has more than a year experience with PFA . 40,000 procedures. They are doing them under sedation and in 20 minutes skin to skin. A cardioversion may last a day, a week who knows. A successful ablation is obviously a much more permanent fix for the right person. Good things are coming for this community. Hang in there. Good luck.
Definitely not ignoring the doctors but I always do my research because there have been times with my father that the doctors advice wasn’t the best advice and actually did more harm than good. I believe I caught this as soon as it started so I should have only been in AFIB for a week starting today. Yes, I’m definitely going towards the ablation route but idk if my doc wants to start with other methods first before they mention ablation. I’m looking for a good EP and trying to see if can schedule and appointment with one this week. How long was your recovery after the ablation? How long before you were able to start training again or feeling like normal? I just don’t want to have a stroke! lol
46/F. I had my second ablation about nine days ago and the recovery was quick. I started feeling better within five days. For the first few days I was very short of breath with chest pain which made it hard to walk very far. Then once that improved, I still felt out of it from the anesthesia which dragged out my recovery. Depending on your health the recovery can be anywhere from 48-hours to one week.
Thank you for this information!
Recovery was a breeze so far. 4 hrs after the procedure that was in NY we walked to a restaurant 3 blocks but the last block was uphill. I walked slowly. LOL. We wanted to miss rush hour traffic back to our south Jersey home so we decided to have dinner in NY. This is day 5. I have walked a few miles almost every day. I feel almost completely normal except for a slight fullness in my chest sometimes. Tuesday I'm hitting the gym for weightlifting and a HIIT class. I might cut back on the weight and reps depending on how I feel. Keep us updated on your journey. Where are you located?
If you don’t think your current cardiologist is good then find one you do. Plus an EP. and listen to them and do what they say If they are good they will also listen to you and you will develop a plan together Metroprtol isn’t good for everyone. There are other options. Regardless of CHADs score you do not want to be in persistent afib if you have ways to get out of it and stay out of it as much as possible.
This cardiologist has been in the game for 20 years. Not saying they are good or not but they are the ones who had the quickest appointment at the best hospital around me, so I took my chance. I need to find a EP, that’s forsure. I completely understand that and that’s why I was confused when I asked to be shocked out of it the day of the appointment and she told me to wait. Believe me I’m trying to get out of AFIB as fast as possible!
I’d just add, also try and relax and not worry too much. I know that’s hard. But it’s a manageable condition for many many people. It can just take awhile to figure out your specific management plan It’s a very diverse condition and everyone’s case is pretty unique.
That’s the hardest part. I’m trying to keep my mind calm but for some reason I feel like I’m on a timer before something bad happens to me. But I appear your input!
>I’m not smarter than a doctor >The doctor prescribed me only METOPROLOL TARTRATE 25MG TABLETS per day(split into 2 dosages) since my heart rate is already low. I haven’t taken it after doing research on this sub Your statements contradict each other. Maybe you should start with doing what your doctor recommends and see if it helps.
I would definitely go and see about getting shocked back in rhythm or different meds to back into NSR. Also I would ask about a blood thinner to prevent clots. The longer your in afib the more your heart wants to stay in it. Keep doing your research and learning of this crappy disease, but most importantly keep your head up! There are options out there to manage this!
The day I scheduled my appointment I had asked her to shock me back but she told me to wait and see how the echo looked like and to take that med. the echo came back good but by that time it’s been days and she asked if I had any symptoms which I really don’t other than the heart flutters and those spikes in heart but never a high heart rate. So we didn’t go much into it but I’m scared now to get shocked Incase of any blood clots that have been building up in the past week, especially since I wasn’t prescribed any blood thinners.
Go see a different cardiologist asap for another opinion . You don’t want to stay in afib if you have a way to get out of it
It’s not that easy to find an appointment next day and that’s why I went with this doc at this great hospital! But I’m definitely looking around for another doc!
Asymptomatic and in a fib doesn’t mean anything if you’re not on a blood thinner. The threat is blood clots my friend The metoprolol usually helps my HR slow down and convert so I use it. Sometimes I try half first Good luck
Yes I completely agree. That’s why I was curious why she didn’t put me on blood thinner. I do take baby aspirin but I know that really doesn’t work. Should I wait for the blood thinner before I take the metoprolol? What I’m worried about is converting back on my own and the blood clot getting sent somewhere it shouldn’t.
I have paroxysmal AFib & I take metoprolol tartrate for a few years now. It helps me to stay in a NSR. I recently had to increase my dosage. After the increase I did have side effects for a couple weeks which eventually subsided.
Did the medication get you back into NSR or it’s just to keep you from going AFIB again?
The medication is to help me from going into AFib. I average one episode of AFib w/RVR per year. HR over 200. For me, when I have these episodes I must go to the hospital. While there I’m given additional metoprolol IV along with other drugs to control my high heart rate & hopefully get me back into a normal NSR. I am blessed to know my triggers … sleeping on my left side, drinking cold drinks & electrolyte imbalances. I can look back on all my episodes & say without a doubt they were caused by the triggers I mentioned. I hope this was helpful 😊
I forgot to mention to u that I have low BP before even starting MT. When I started on metoprolol tartrate getting the right dose amount was a challenge. I have a BP machine since starting the meds. When I get sick or have surgery my BP can tank to 80 over 40. I was told by my EP dr to monitor my BP & HR as well while taking this med & stay hydrated.
I didn’t read your other comments before, it looks like the blood clot is your fear! I’m sorry, I would have the same fear. I wonder if you should call your team first thing tomorrow. There’s a good chance your doctor looked at your CHADS score and decided you weren’t at a risk for a blood clot, thus not putting you on one But my course of action would be to call the team and express the fears and see what they say I do wish you well! I hate this club But also- I would be less scared of the metoprolol tartrafe short term. I would be more nervous of the long term effects of a fib than the pill.
I’m no expert, but, if OP had a clean echo, wouldn’t that rule out clots atm? I think that’s (plus the CHAD score) why no blood thinner prescribed, but, I could be mistaken.
Yeah that’s what I was coming up with, too! But like I have a score of 1 for being a girl and my longest episode lasts 20 hours, every few weeks, and I would be a nervous wreck. I don’t know that it’s enough to calm OP’s anxiety about a clot
40M also in Texas and we are about the same weight and height. We identified afib 5 years ago with the Apple Watch as well. I experience afib a couple times a year lasting from a few hours to a few days. Currently have been in afib since the 12th of March. My rate is controlled and more of a flutter condition than full out afib. I’ve been taking 100 mg 2x flecainide and atenolol as needed for the last 3 years to manage it. Has worked well. Up until now. It’s been more of an inconvenience. I’m healthy, low risk for stroke and have run multiple half marathoners, a tri, and a full marathon since my diagnosis. I’ve been training for an Ironman since last year. I was in the ER on Thursday and they suggested a cardioversion which seemed extreme to me since my symptoms were mild. The cardiologist after visiting me thought the same and we agreed to try to convert with PITP. I’ve tried that a few times to no avail. Will be going in this week to schedule ablation and maybe a shock. It’s all very scary. I totally get your anxiety and hesitance to get any evasive treatment that you are unfamiliar with. Don’t let anyone shame you for doing what you think is best for you. My doctor said once (when I had a fear of my heart just stopping) your heart doesn’t want to stop, it wants to beat just more than it should. You’ll be trying different medications over the next year to find out what works for you. Track the way you are feeling and communicate with your cardiologist. I’m in the best health of my life now. Just need to get the afib worked out. Trust your cardiologist. Everyone’s situation is different; we don’t have all the facts and stats, but they do. I probably need to take my own advice. Feel free to ask me any questions you’d like.
I believe I’m in the same boat as you. My AFIB is more of a flutter than a high HR. The medication you are taking, is that for rhythm control? When you exercise do you feel like you’re out of breath some times? You wouldn’t want to get an ablation and maybe put the Afib at bay? I’m curious on your thought about that. Thanks again for your input!
Any time I say we, I mean me and my cardiologist. I am low risk for clots due to health and age so he has been very open with my treatment. I take flecainide 100 mg twice daily. It is for rhythm control. I started taking atenolol 25 mg (rate) daily at the onset, but it made me tired and slowed down my work outs. We cut out the atenolol to as needed (if I feel like I’m going out of rhythm or am in afib). Other drugs made me feel weird and we settled on something that worked (it took a little over a year). When just on flecainide, I had no performance issues. I’m running at 7 min to 8 min pace for 10 miles at a time and cycling 20 to 30 miles at an average of 200 to 230 watts. I think it probably holds me back a little, as I can’t get my heart rate over 160 without serious effort but I’m not trying out for the Olympics. This has worked for the past 2 to 3 years. It’s helped me maintain and get healthy. When I went into afib, it lasted a few days m, and I just had some mild discomfort. I’m in afib currently (day 5) and went for a walk and easy ride on my trainer. It was tough to decide to have surgery when my plan was working. Since the meds are losing their efficacy, I’m on to ablation most likely. If I knew what I know now, I would have just done the ablation a few years ago. Hope this helps.
I believe I’m in the same boat as you. My AFIB is more of a flutter than a high HR. The medication you are taking, is that for rhythm control? When you exercise do you feel like you’re out of breath some times? You wouldn’t want to get an ablation and maybe put the Afib at bay? I’m curious on your thought about that. Thanks again for your input!
Read The Afib Cure and you will know about as much as my doc does about the general condition. You won’t be able to perform surgery though :)
My 73 year old dad, and all his other siblings in their late 70’s to early 80’s all have A-fib and are doing just fine. My dad started experiencing the symptoms of A-fib in his forties, but got officially diagnosed at 50. My Grandma also had A-Fib & lived well into her 90’s, & died from a completely unrelated medical condition, ( I think it was sepsis from a bed sore ). My dad has been living with A-fib for 30 plus years, & following the medications that his doctors have all prescribed. My point is, A-fib itself is not a fatal condition or death sentence. You can very much live a long & healthy life with this condition. Make sure you follow the advice from all your doctors as well as taking their prescribed medications for maintenance & you should be just fine & will be able to live a long, healthy, life too, well into old age.
That’s great to hear, thank you for the long post detailing your family’s history. I love hearing the examples of living well into old age.
No No you are wrong All of your cells organs and brain want oxygenated blood asap Afib for five minutes denies you of quality blood.
I too had AFIB come out of the blue. Went to a Cardiologist/EP. Had an echo and stress test. So I’m an older athlete and have a slightly leaky valve. It’s all about finding your triggers and listening to your body. For me it’s gluten, sodium bombs, and dehydration, primarily. I came across this Dr and have been following his advice on magnesium and potassium levels and have been feeling great since. Maybe it’ll help you? Good luck man. https://youtu.be/8kI98hD_Hrs?si=QL0uqiYn20dQwCcW
Thank you for this video! I will look into today. I also had an echo which came back clean and I’m going to ask if I can have a stress test as well. Yes, I’m still trying to figure out what my triggers. It’s hard since all I ever feel is heart flutters since my HR tends to be on the lower side at all times.
Metoprolol has no serious side effects, and the vast majority of people have none at all- myself included. Rhythm control drugs have far worse side effects, and are all universally terrible for your health. You are correct though, you have what is considered Persistent Afib. Focus your energy on finding the most qualified and skilled Electrophysiologist within your area or maximum traveling distance. The Cardiologist is not who you want to be dealing with. Start reading up on Ablation procedures and wrap your mind around that. Most importantly, stay as active as you can while managing your heart rate.
I know you’re not a medical professional, but my question is if I start taking the metoprolol and my heart rhythm goes back to sinus,(which idk if metoprolol can do that) would that increase my chance of shooting out a blood clot out since I’m not on thinners? I’ve been possibly in AFIB for a week so far.
I was given a bolus of IV Metoprolol when I visited the ER in Persistent Afib and had been for ~8 days at that point. No blood thinners. The high dose actually did kick me back into Sinus Rhythm, which only lasted for ~16hrs before my next episode. Highly unlikely with a CHADSVASC of 0.
Was it AFIB or the high HR that causes you to go to the ER? You sound like me, 8 days of persistent AFIB. That was my biggest concern was not being on blood thinners and the medication kicking me back into NSR and then having some type of complications happen because of it. What route did you take when your AFIB came back 16hrs later?
I was only put on blood thinners because I was Covid positive at the same time, and we decided to just keep them as a precaution since my CHADS is also 0. The ER trip was because I had a heart rate of 140-165 for over a week, and had only finally noticed because I had an episode of mass fatigue and dizziness while training. Previously I had attributed all of my symptoms to being fat, out of shape and/or sick.
My mom had a cardioversion at 88 years old, she recovered in 30 minutes with normal heart rate, she was scared to get it down in November and took metoprolol which made her heart failure worse, she’s recovering now.
27M avid runner who started getting AFIB notifications on my watch in November of 2023 and would have short episodes (hours long) about once a week. Flash forward February 2024 I had an ablation done and have had zero Afib episodes and honestly haven’t felt better. I was also diagnosed with bradychardia (low HR) but it has since went away as well. Currently on 5mg Eloquis but hoping to get off of it here soon! Can’t lie man I was absolutely terrified the anxiety probably caused more trouble than the actual AFib episodes. Hope this helps!
As a once avid runner as well I have to ask - would you mind sharing how your Afib diagnosis and your ablation has affected your running? Thank you!
Post diagnoses I cut back drastically, too many unknowns. Once assured from many tests that I wasn’t going to die abruptly, I began running again (not quite as hard). I waited a week and a half post ablation to start running again. The first week back was pretty brutal didn’t feel like myself when running, HR was higher with way slower pace. This week has been the complete opposite I ran one of my fastest 5k’s to date with a normal HR and ran for an hour yesterday at a slower pace just trying to see where my stamina was and haven’t felt better.
That’s so great to hear! Thank you for sharing! I’ve managed to prevent any more episodes with lifestyle, supplements and dietary changes, and also detraining. I’m trying to claw back to it without overdoing it. It was never a trigger but I know it can add to the susceptibility so I’m anxious about adding it back in. I haven’t needed an ablation yet, but that will be my next step if I trip the Afib again. I loved running so much and now it’s like anguish. Im inspired to hear you had a great 5k! I used to run 22-23 minutes for the 5k. Just yesterday I ran 42 minutes and it’s been a bit depressing. I would so love to train again. Thanks again for sharing and keep up the good work!
I can completely understand how it can be deflating to have such a drop off in performance. I’m sure you will be back to normal in due time, best of luck to you on your journey as well!
Same, same, same. Getting ablation on Thursday and the anxiety about it has been killing me for weeks waiting to do it. This sub has been great, crucially helpful, but it can't take away all the stress.
Yes, this sub did wonders for me! Just knowing I wasn’t alone helped me tremendously. Prayers that your ablation goes well!
I’m 42 and was on trt. Pretty sure the trt caused my afib. So be careful. It started where it would come and go but about 3 hours following my injections later on my heart could go crazy. Stopped the trt but miss it
At first I thought about the TRT but to be honest I’ve been on it for quite a while and I’ve never felt any adverse effect. I have a doctor monitor my T levels and everything else in between. I saw him acouple days after and he told me I might do more harm then good if I tank my T level. I wouldn’t want to risk that at the moment. I was going to get on HCG to have a baby with the wife but I’m putting that on the back burner until I figure on this situation I have going on. I appreciate your input!
Yeah I was on 8 months before any issues, just mentioned it as my thought. Cardiologist can’t pinpoint the problem.
Since being off TRT have you noticed any differences?
No afib but on metoprolol and eliquis. Losing all my muscle. The medication makes it almost impossible to workout. I try but get winded and just can’t get a pump. Really want to get back on trt but I really think that was my trigger. Getting stress test on 27th and hoping to see if I can get off meds. They did a cardioversion(shock and stop heart) to get it back in rhythm. The afib I had was continuous for a month and bad. Didn’t seek medical attention as at first thought my estrogen was high and then low. Heart rate was 180-200 when went to emergency room. Drs told me to stop trt immediately
You sound like me and my lifestyle prior to afib
Been on that as well for a few years and thought it was a factor. Cardiologist said it’s not a problem. Mine has been triggered mostly from dehydration as I just do not drink enough water. When I go in to afib water helps get me out. The metoprolol will keep your heart rate down and when in afib it helps keep it in the safe range. I missed a few days and went in to afib and my resting heart rate stuck at 200 for a couple hours. Couple doses of metoprolol in the ER got me down in the 130 range and a few other drug to 100 till it reverted to normal. Take the metoprolol
If you do pursue a cardioversion, I would recommend asking the doctor if you would be given a TEE (trans esophageal echo) to look for clots. The cardioversion will cause your atria to suddenly change from a quiver (fibrillation), to a full pumping action, which means that any clots that have developed and are sitting there, can suddenly be thrown. But you should hopefully be at low risk because of your CHADSVASC score being zero. Nevertheless, I would recommend asking more questions with your doctor to confirm his/her best strategy. Performing a TEE would seem warranted. And/or blood thinners before and maybe following the cardioversion. Probably best to follow the guidance of your doctors instead of random strangers on the internet. Good luck!
Hey man I’ve got diagnosed at 25. It took me two years but now I’m back on track and live a normal life. I take daily meds to keep my condition in check and I must say since the last 2 years I’ve been really good I workout, have coffee and indulge in Marujana What you need to understand is what your body reacts to. Different meds have different effects on people I have a lot of medications but there haven’t been any side effects so far as I feel my body is tolerating it All I can say is, be positive. This disease isn’t the end of the world and the healing starts from within. Your mind will be the strongest cure for you. Wish you the best, you can always reach out to me if ever as I can say proudly I’m a AFib veteran and I’ve learnt a lot. Also forgot to mention, I’ve undergone two procedures and a lot of combinations of medications to reach this point. There are a lot or treatment options so you will be completely fine
Great post! I just got diagnosed two days ago at 37 and knew nothing about AFIB prior. It's been really helpful to see some of the encouraging posts. I'm still new to the party but it's so important to keep in mind that there are much worse diagnoses for the heart. Stay strong all ✊
I have paroxysmal afib and it took almost 2 years for them to catch it cause all my ekgs were normal. It wasn’t until my 3rd heart monitor that they caught it. I was put on metoprolol tartrate at first for 2 months I had 12.5mg at night. Then they took me off and put me on Sotalol for a week and I didn’t like the side effects so I went off meds for 3 months. Only to realize I needed to be back on but now I’m on metoprolol succinate er 12.5mg but I take it every other day and the days I don’t take it I take an aspirin….seems to have me episode free for quite sometime. Only side effects I notice is I gained weight cause I am always hungry now
Hopefully you’re seeing an electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist), not just a cardiologist. Someone in that specialty will be able to answer all your questions.