Dear Poirot,

Fully agree. It is quite amazing though how many different triggers, quite individual in a lot of cases, AF sufferers report.

One was definitely caffeine, I got into Chia Lattes on a recommendation for my cardiologist long before they were popular, in fact there was only two cafes that had even heard of them. Missed my coffees for a long time. I crossed alcohol of the list for a while but later found some additive in cheap wine was a trigger. Soy sauce was another.

I had wished I had found Cardio X earlier. My younger brother who had my same early symptoms put himself on it and has thus far avoided having to have the 'op' six years past the age I was forced to undergo it.

Dear Lexi,

If you end up discussing ablations ask about getting someone with at least 500 procedures under their belt. Mine was over 1500, one of the few times in my life I was happy to put my life in the hands of an loud, arrogant, cocksure person.

To Hasbeen,

Back on to doctors, I think it is unreasonable to think they will be over all aspects of your particular issue. Research is your best friend but the worst thing you can do is appear to be trying to trip them up. It is a collaborative thing, working together to get the best outcome. However at the first sign of obvious incompetence, get the hell out of there and find someone new.

I was recently treated for a problem by an Iraqi doctor who gave me an alternative treatment to what normally would have required a more expensive solution. It was home grown in some ways, born from having to get by with limited medicines in his home country before he fled. However it worked a treat.

Dear Poirot, Hasbeen, csteele,

Thanks to you all for your excellent advice.
I will cut out on coffee altogether. It's just
not worth it.

And I love Chinese food and must admit I do
use Soy Sauce and other additives. Now I'm
going to have take a second look at my methods
of cooking - very carefully. I would never have thought
that Soy could be harmful. Wonder what else I
need to scrap?

cont'd ...

Talking about the variety of doctors out there.
My previous GP was extremely casual (for want of a
better word) about symptoms. Several years ago -
I had developed rectal bleeding - and she told me
"It's your diet - eat more fibre." However, while
my GP went on holidays overseas I saw another doctor
who swiftly recommended I have a colonoscopy done by
a specialist. I did that and it was discovered that I
had bowel cancer. To make a long story short - I went
through a horrenduous process but all's well that ends
well, as they say - I've now been clear for a few years
and fingers-crossed that this continues.

Imagine if I would not have had that original colonoscopy.
I'd probably not be here today.

It was only due to the prompt action of this marvellous
doctor and my specialist - who acted immediately that
I am here today. Choosing the right doctor is so crucial -
and as Hasbeen said - go with your gut. Symptoms are
your body's way of telling you something.

There are good and bad workers in all jobs, including the medical profession.
Hasbeen seems to tar all Doctors with the same brush.

I would hazard a guess that far more people have been helped by Doctors than have been harmed by them.
Not that we should turn a blind eye to those who have caused harm.

There are legal processes by which we can report poor medical treatment, and if more people used this process, we could weed out those ineffective medical practitioners more quickly.

While there are certainly still some older Doctors out there who believe themselves to be "Gods" or above the law in some ways, the newer breed of Doctors, which includes far more female Doctors now, seem to be a little more empathetic.

So if you are annoyed or disappointed with the Doctor you have seen, then do shop around until you find a good one.

Lexi, I am sorry for what you are going through with your heart problems. While I agree that giving up stimulants such as caffeine is a good idea, I would caution you on listening to too many other lay-people re your heart problems, because everyone else's problems are usually much different than others.

Warfarin is not the big bad wolf drug that many believe. I know many people who have lived quite happily for years on that drug.
Yes, it has some side effects, but these can be well managed by regular blood tests and a good Doctor.

Certainly, if a Doctor recommends warfarin, it is usually after much thought, and I would therefore humbly suggest you go along with it.
The alternative problems that may come up if you don't, may well cause you more angst than you have already.

Why not ask for another opinion from another cardiologist?
Then, if they give you the same suggestions, you may feel better about it.
Good luck with whatever you decide. xxx

There is a shortage of doctors in Oz. we bring in incompetent overseas ones to fill the gap as the AMA protests vigerously. Like the legal profession, the medical profession is a collective, clandesting closed shop. The AMA doesn't want any more doctors - there must always BE a shortage to keep fees rediculously high. The victorian college of surgeons was offered 5 million dollars GRATIS to train more doctors; they said to the state government " get stuffed - we dont want to train any more doctors than a fixed intake set by the board." If no one took out private health cover, medicare would collapse because even when you pay $2,000 in private health fees / year; the moment you need surgery and you have private cover, the fees quadruple. Private cover ONLY gets you ahead of the queue and the privelidge of paying more fee's. More doctors would mean competition, lower fee's, better competing service.