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Baltimore, MD
John Bennett MD
A-Fib Patient Story #87
Cardiologists Offer Little A-Fib Advice, Even to a Fellow Doctor!
By John Bennett, MD, July 2016
John Bennett, MD, is known for his series of Google Hangouts live videos featuring experts in a variety of medical fields. To learn more, visit his website, Internetmedicine.com, “Where the Internet Meets Medicine.” Previously Dr. Bennett worked in Emergency Medicine in Miami, Florida.
I had the good fortune to run into Steve Ryan, find his website, and get his book. Ultimately I got fine care and returned to having a healthy heart. My story being at age 57 when I suddenly went into Atrial Fibrillation.
I Trusted My Cardiologist
As a physician, I had the usual knowledge most physicians have about A Fib—which is not much, especially the care of chronic Atrial Fibrillation. Like most people, I trusted my cardiologist to do the best thing for me.
First Cardiologist No Options But Drugs—I Hated Coumadin
My first cardiologist did the usual workup, and prescribed Coumadin. I hated that medicine. Made me feel tired, no energy, but I accepted it.
Finally, I got tired of being tired, so I started to do some online research.
I found out that you could elect to be cardioverted, which my first cardiologist did not even mention (since, of course, he would lose me as a patient, if I returned to normal sinus rhythm).
Electrocardioversion Works for 7 Years
Well, he did. I then went straight to an Electrophysiologist (EP), who converted me, and it lasted 7 years. I was cardioverted again but this time it only lasted 5 months.
Still, no talk of catheter ablation. I had to chase my doctor down the hall to say, “What’s the plan?”
Ablation and A-Fib Free—“Beat Your A-Fib” Book
Next, I went back to the internet where I ran across Steve’s book, ‘Beat Your A-Fib’ and found I might be a candidate for catheter ablation.
July 2015 I had an ablation by Dr. Todd Florin at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach (highly recommended, good listener, super team) and returned to normal sinus rhythm. It’s been one year and I am still in normal sinus rhythm. If you’ve had A-Fib, I don’t have to tell you the difference between A-Fib and sinus rhythm.
I am truly appreciative about Steve’s work [A-Fib.com] and his book. I feel like a real human being again, with normal energy levels.
Lessons Learned
Take an active role in your care.
Like Steve says, catheter ablation may not be the answer for every patient with A Fib.
But you need to be aware of it! Read. Be aggressive with your cardiologist. Ask about catheter ablation [and other options]. Take an active role in the care of your pump!
Steve’s book, “Beat Your A-Fib,” motivated me to get active and investigate my treatment options.
Isn’t it sad that TWO of my Cardiologists did not care enough to even mention ablation to me? And I am a friggin’ doctor―and they treated me that way!
John Bennet, MD
Miami, Florida
Added 5/30/18: Dr. Bennett writes that he’s been A-Fib free for 2 years.
Editor’s comments
Electrocardioversion best for recent-onset A-Fib: Dr. Bennett was very fortunate to have a cardioversion keep him in sinus rhythm for seven years.
Unfortunately for most patients, a cardioversion seldom lasts that long. It works best in cases of recent onset A-Fib. It’s a very safe procedure and is certainly worth a try, but cardioversion is seldom a permanent cure for A-Fib. Don’t be surprised if you’re back in A-Fib within a week to a month.Amazing! Dr. Bennett’s fellow physicians didn’t tell him about options like electrocardioversion and catheter ablation.
You can’t always trust cardiologists (or the media): What’s most amazing about Dr. Bennett’s story is that his fellow physicians and colleagues (whom he trusted) didn’t tell him about options like Electrocardioversion and catheter ablation.
Today’s media and web sites talk about “Living with A-Fib”. But living in A-Fib is detrimental to your long-term health.
In contrast, the message at A-Fib.com is: You don’t have to live in A-Fib. Seek your Cure.
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If you find any errors on this page, email us. Y Last updated: Wednesday, May 30, 2018
