Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”
Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
Doctors & patients are saying about 'Beat Your A-Fib'...
"If I had [your book] 10 years ago, it would have saved me 8 years of hell.”
Roy Salmon, Patient, A-Fib Free, Adelaide, Australia
"This book is incredibly complete and easy-to-understand for anybody. I certainly recommend it for patients who want to know more about atrial fibrillation than what they will learn from doctors...."
Pierre Jaïs, M.D. Professor of Cardiology, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, Bordeaux, France
"Dear Steve, I saw a patient this morning with your book [in hand] and highlights throughout. She loves it and finds it very useful to help her in dealing with atrial fibrillation."
Dr. Wilber Su, Cavanaugh Heart Center, Phoenix, AZ
"...masterful. You managed to combine an encyclopedic compilation of information with the simplicity of presentation that enhances the delivery of the information to the reader. This is not an easy thing to do, but you have been very, very successful at it."
Ira David Levin, heart patient, Rome, Italy
"Within the pages of Beat Your A-Fib, Dr. Steve Ryan, PhD, provides a comprehensive guide for persons seeking to find a cure for their Atrial Fibrillation."
Walter Kerwin, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
I Couldn’t Believe the Drugs He Was On; How to Ask Questions About Your A-Fib Prescriptions
I received a very distressing email from a reader, Kenny, who was worried about his prescribed medications. He wrote that he just had a cardioversion a week ago and is back in A-Fib (unfortunately that’s not uncommon). Alarm bells went off in my head when I read:
“My doctor just prescribed me amiodarone 200mg, 4x a day…I’m a little concerned about the amiodarone and all the side effects!”
“I’m also on Digoxin…Xarelto and aspirin… .”
“I can’t get my doctor’s office or doctor to call me back! Reluctant to start amiodarone until I can talk to someone!”
Drugs Therapies Concerns
Ding, Ding, Ding!I am deeply concerned for him. The doctor prescribing these drugs is in internal medicine, not a cardiac electrophysiologist. While Kenny and I continue to exchange emails, here’s some highlights from my first reply:
• Amiodarone is an extremely toxic drug, and this dosage is 4x the normal dose. • You must get a second opinion ASAP! (consult a cardiac electrophysiologist) • Digoxin is also a dangerous drug not normally prescribed for A-Fib patients. • It’s very unusual to prescribe both Xarelto and aspirin.
Time to Change Doctors?And lastly, I wrote him that if your doctor or his office isn’t calling you back, that’s a sign you should look for a new doctor (don’t be afraid to fire your doctor). You need good communication when you’re in A-Fib and trying to find a cure.
I’m glad Kenny reached out to me so we can get him on the right A-Fib treatment plan for him and his treatment goals.
Ask These Questions Before Starting a Prescription Drug
Download the Free Worksheet
Before starting any prescription drug for your Atrial Fibrillation, you should ask what it’s for and why you should take it.
1. Why am I being prescribed this medication? 2. What are the alternatives to taking this medication? 3. What are the side effects of this drug? 4. Are there any precautions or special dietary instructions I should follow? 5. Can it interfere with my other medications?. 6. How long before I know if this drug is working? 7. How will I be monitored on this drug? How often? 8. What happens if this drug doesn’t work? 9. What if my A-Fib symptoms become worse? 10. If I don’t respond to medications, will you consider non-pharmaceutical treatments (such as a catheter ablation)?
Research and Learn About Any Prescription Drug
You can do your own research about a specific medication and if it’s the right one for you.
Download our free worksheet: ’10 Questions to Ask Before Taking Any Medication’. Take a copy to your office visits.
Your research and the answers to these 10 questions should help you decide about taking a new prescription drug. Remember, it’s your heart, your health. Taking medications is a decision you should make in partnership with your doctor.