Hi
My cardioversion didn't work and I have been taken off all tablets (except for Warfarin) as the cardio said that I would not benefit from any further treatment and didn't recommend ablation. I am waiting for a 24 hour home monitoring. So, that must be it?
Is your cardio a proper Electrtophysiologist or just a plumber? I would be unhappy taking his word for it and would reccomend that you see an Electrophysiologist before you accept defeat. Where in the world are you?
Bob
You need a week long monitor minimum 24hrs is not long enough to find it. I would ask for a second opinion. From an EP
Thank you and I need to think about this.
Hi Scooty
Do you suffer from paroxysmal or persistent, in other words are you getting episodes, or are you in AF all the time and what sort of symptoms are you experiencing?
I am guessing from the home monitoring that it's paroxsymal, in which case I agree with everyone here that you need to probably get a second opinion, if however you are persistent, then just perhaps the Cardio is correct but has not explained himself well.
One of the challenges as I understand AF is that sometimes the potential treatment can worsen your quality of life rather than improve it, however on that horrible other hand, is the knowledge that AF won't go away and is only likely to get worse not better. So for many it's trying to decide at what point to intervene, at what point to say I am willing to take a shorter term worse quality of life for a longer term gain. It's not an easy decision for anyone, and it's certainly different for everyone on this board. But I think, and could be wrong, that this is what the Cardio is actually saying to you.
Either way you have left your appointment with more questions that answers, and that's not good for anyone, perhaps a phone call back to the Cardio saying you wish to clarify some points might be a good idea, and prepare a list of questions to ask?
But good news, you're on the warfarin, that's very positive.
Good luck, and let us know if we can help
Ian
Hi Beancounter and thank you for your help. My cardio is from Royal Bournemouth Hospital where I was referred and where the cardioversion was carried out. Now to be fair, all this started with a chance ECG at the GP who then rushed me to A&E with a suspected heart attack. They said no it is AF and see a cardio. I find it difficult to explain what I feel, because I don't really feel anything except I get tired and walking up-hill slows me down but I can walk long distances. When I see what is on this website and what other people are expressing about their AF I can't relate to them because I am not aware of going into or out of AF. I went to the site you said and it referred back to Bournemouth. I could ask the GP to refer me to Southampton General. Meanwhile I will see the GP and suggest the 24 hour monitor should be for a week.
Hi Scooty
You are describing almost exactly what happened to me,
Can you take your own pulse?, try that first and see if you can detect the irregularity, you could easily be in persistent AF (like me) without actually feeling anything. Yes the tiredness and especially the hills is typical for all of us, sometimes the drugs and sometimes that damn AF which underlines it for all of us.
It was Bob who referred you to the AFA website, and there you will find lists of specialist Cardiologists (we call them EPs which stands for Electro Physiologist) and you need a specialist it will be easier for you if you can get in front of one.
But you are describing exactly what I went through roughly a year ago, and now?, I am learning to live with AF every day, and every day this site reminds me that I'm the "lucky bugger" as an eminent professor told me less than a week ago.
Be well
Ian
I thought cardioversions often didn't work! Agree with Ian you need clarification from your cardio what you have and what he means, and why an ablation hasn't been recommended.
24 hour monitoring isn't going to do much if your AF comes and goes. I've had a monitor fitted a number of times and always for a week.
I had a cardioversion 3 weeks ago and so far so good....I was under the understanding that you could try again if it wasn't successful. Fingers crossed I stay in NSR.....I've got a terrible cough and cold and am hoping it doesn't cause any heart problems. Hope you get sorted quick.
Yes, abihel, my cardioversion still having a positive effect after one week. Not long, I know, but feels so good! Something I saw on this forum a while back is happening to me now. If I lay in bed on my left side, I'll sometimes start missing beats (ectopic beats?). Bit scary. Go back on my right side and all reverts back to NSR. Very odd!
Hope your cough and cold gets better soon. Don't take any cold remedies you're not sure of - suffer it and it will go away.
I get that Dadog, but is it that you just don't feel them when you're lying on your right side, or have they actually gone away, don't know? Can't sleep on my left at all.
You say that your cardioversion didn't work. Do you know whether it worked for a few minutes and then you went back into AF or it just didn't work at all. If it's the latter, they can do an internal cardioversion via catheter that has a much better chance of success. But you may then need a drug like amiodarone to keep you in NSR. Ablation could be a solution but if you've been in persistent AF for some time it's less likely to be successful. I've been through multiple cardioversions and managed to stay in NSR for years at a time. But in the end I'm back in persistent AF and have elected to stay that way as it doesn't stop me doing anything.
Hello, I have had AF since 03. Meds and Cardioversion stopped working in 07. I stay on something now for rate control,warfarin and sometimes Digoxin. Please get a second opinion. Due to waiting for abalation, I now have heart failure and no longer qualify for AB.
So please seek another opinion
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