First post, I need help with A Fib at age 38, medication questions and more.

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Posted by steveh on December 05, 2002 at 14:55:39:

Hi all,
I am hoping to find a lot of answers here. I go in and out of A fib. First episode 98 and converted with med, 2nd in 2000, converted with meds, but in the last year have been feeling small episodes that convert back, the last 6 weeks have been worse. I went in and had to have the cardioversion. Meds were lanoxin and toprol. They changed it to betapace but any of them make my heart beat too slow, in the 30's and 40's. I went to St Louis, and was seen by an EP, he did no studies, sent me home with a heart monitor to see if I was a candidate for ablation, after a week I got a call today and he said no. He also said ablation success rate is no more than 30%. Anyway, he wants to put me in the hospital and start Tikosyn, I dont know what to do. I dont know the side effects, but it doesnt sound good if you have to be hospitalized for 3 days to start it. I understand why, but just dont know if this is the best or only option I have. It almost sounds like the medicine is as dangerous as going in and out of afib? I work at a small factory and just lost my health insurance, so life is not great at all. I want to to CC but dont know if they would see me, I know it says payment arrangements can be made, but i am waiting for them to call. I know its hard to get in somewhere without insurance, but I also know its hard to find insurance with a pre existing, I cant find anything in the small town I am in. PLEASE give me any info you can, at my age of 38, I want to get this fixed. Also, what are the dangers of going in and out of afib w/o medications? They have stopped everything of mine, lanoxin, toprol, everything. I have coumadin but they told me I didnt need it, which I don't understand, isn't that my protection? Thanks for any advice

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