A-fib Treatment Protocols

[GrammaHoney]

I learned I have A-Fib the beginning of January, had a successful cardio-vert (after a TEE to determine the lack of blood clots)and was started on Sotalol and Coumadin . I had a routine visit with Heart failure specialist on  Feb.3, EKG showed I was in A-Fib. they said I was fine and to go ahead with trip to Mexico for a week's vacation. We returned Wed., the 25th; did well on trip and walking through airports.  Thurs. i was out of breath walking 200 feet.  Thurs. night had severe "cllunking" for well over an hour. Fri. saw the E.P. who interrogated my Resynchronization Device (like a pacemaker) and the readout showed I had been in& out of A-Fib since Feb.3. He reported that my ejection fraction was going down.  Discontinued Sotalol. Scheduled another cardio-vert for this Wed Mar 4, and will start on Tikosyn and be monitored in hospital for 2-3 days.  Also said I would need to be on Digoxin and would fax that Rx in.... he "forgot".....I called the service Sat.&  Dr. in surgery his PA said he would call back in 2 hours.... but I didn't hear from him. Today I learned he called it in, but didn't notify me, the pharmacy did.
The P.A. said A-Fib was a "nuisance" not dangerous.....with heart failure it is dangerous, is it not?  So I am concerned with them letting me go while in A-Fib throughout Feb., and then 5 more days this week....is this typical?  Am I just being paranoid about this? There is a Heart Rhythm clinic in Portland that I am considering calling for a 2nd opiinion.  I have had PSVT for over 10 years, left bundle block, PVC's, leaky mitral valve, and then developed Heart Failure.  i had 2 ablations in the nineties which were ineffective, and they said my heart wall was too thin to do another.  This new EP suggested another ablation, but I am very leery of that.  I know technology has changed in the past 15 years and have read about the MiniMaze procedure.  I am concerned aobut being on tikosyn with such scary side effect (cardiac arrest), but do have an implanted defibrillator to protect me.....all this to say...HELP!!!!  Is this what is typical treatment?.....should I be concerned about the "nuisance" comment and "forgetting" to call in a Rx ?
I've read that Digoxin isn't used so much anymore and takes 2 weeks to be effective & can cause permanent A-fib.....is anyone on Digoxin with good results?  should I be concerned about being sent home while in A-Fib througout Feb and then for these past 5 days? (the latter is my biggest worry that they are not taking this seriously enough.)
Sorry this is so long.....I'll be able to shorten things up in the future!!

[GrammaHoney]

Thanx for the thoughtful response.I guess since I am 69 , I am more concerned.  I found a site stopafib.org that mentioned uncontrolled a-fib can lead to heart failure, eventually.....and I am already  in stage 3 CHF.  I was surprised to learn after your maze procedure that it only lasted 30 days!! How discouraging for you!!  In my humble opinion, if those symptoms were only in you rmind, I can't believe they would do a maze  or multiple cardioverts!!!!  
Thanx again for responding .

[Jerry_NJ]

I can't respond to most of your post, I'll just focus on living with AFib, I am.  I was in NSR following heart surgery and a maze procedure in November 2007, the lasted only 30 days.  I underwent another (I've had several over the years) electrocardioversion in August of 2008, that lasted about 10 days.  My EP and Cardiologist suggest I try stronger medications, but do not recommend trying an ablation as my symptoms are mild.. or are in my mind.  They say my life expectancy isn't improved by getting me back into NSR.  So, to your question about being sent home to live with AFib, that's where I am.  I've been in full-time AFib now, except for 10 days last August, since December 2008.  It hasn't done me any known damage yet.