atrial fibrillation

Posted By ron eggleston on January 01, 1999 at 12:39:03:







i am 51 y/o male in good health except of atrial fib which started july,1993. the initial episode was handled with cardioversion and i have been on medications to contol the rate and arrythmia. i have been on procanamide, quinidine, flecananide, and amiodorone, none of which has controlled the atrial fib for more than 1yr.
the flecanided had to be stopped because i had an adverse
reaction of supervertricular tachycardia. after being on amiodorone (verapamil to control rate) for about a year i started having breakthroughs again as i had with all the other meds. this time my cardiologists recommended that i just go on coumadine and live with the atrial fib. the cordorone was stopped approx 4 mo ago and i now am experiencing an unexpected outcome. i am in normal sinus rhythm at least 80% of the time sometimes in nsr a week at a time before a short episode of atrial fib then back to nsr.
i am 51 y/o male in excellent health, exercise regularly, do not smoke and drink in moderation. i have had many echos, including esophageal echo, thallium stress tests, and even cardiac cath of all arteries including swan ganz pressures. all have been normal.
my questions are :
1) what could possibly cause atrial fib to occur in the first place ?
2)  is it possible for someone who has had atrial fib, found no control with medication, after 5 years to experience a reversal and go back into normal sinus rhythm ?
3)  would you recommend that i see an electrophysiologist to see if there is anything else that could be done, any other medications or treatment, if the atrial fib resumes again as the predominant rhythm ?
Thank you very much for any advice you may provide. i appreciate your service very much.  Ron