I am scheduled for electroconversion. What should I expect to experience after it? what questions do I need to ask Dr. before procedure

[shadski]

I had one meeting already and want to make sure I haven't missed something.

[lizwright]

It is a breeze I have had a lot. The only thing I noticed was a bit of mild memory loss for a day or two so I took to writing down anything I knew I had to do in the days around it.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Shadski

The Electro Cardioversion (CV) is a very common procedure nowadays and most of us will have had at least one, you've probably had a small brochure from the hospital describing it, but in case not here goes. It's usually a day procedure go in in the morning after a short period of fasting the first thing they will do is check your INR to make sure you are anti-coagulated, and then simply prepare you for the procedure usually just with a intravenous fix in your arm.

The procedure is often carried out in a theatre waiting room, i.e. outside the theatre and they will fix pads to your chest or chest and back, and then anaesthetise you and then carry out the shock, sometimes repeated up to 3 times to try and bring your heart back into Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR)

Afterwards probably all you will feel may be some slight soreness around the pad sites, sometimes quite red and they give you cream to fix that and it works very quickly. Cup of tea probably within 20 mins of being back on the ward, and no driving for 48 hours.

The CV will either work, work partially or not work at all, in my case they managed only to bring me into NSR for around 15 secs before reversion into AF. We are all very very different of course, but usually a CV is the very first thing they try after diagnosing AF, and a lot will depend on how long you've had it, maybe what caused the AF and even what type of AF you have.

Some people are CV'ed back to NSR and stay there forever, but that seems relatively uncommon and many people do revert to AF after a period sometimes days, weeks or months. But I understand that they can tell a lot about potential future treatments from the way you react the the initial CV.

I think we covered the questions in your other post about the risks of CV, yes there are risks, but they are minimal and it's a very common procedure nowadays, and it's completely normal to feel anxiety about any procedure, but this one really is very well understood and a routine procedure for most hospitals.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Shadski - I've had quite a few cardioversions and like Liz says I feel they are a breeze. As always Beancounter has explained the procedure extremely well.

My most recent one was last November and it was so lovely to wake up afterwards in normal sinus rhythm. Before my heart had been racing and bouncing around in my chest making me feel so ill. The gratitude I felt for the staff who carried it out was overwhelming. I'm still in normal sinus rhythm now 2 months later (a previous one lasted just 2 days). I'm now feeling better than I have in years, I actually have energy! You need to be with someone for 24hrs afterwards and I went to stay with my daughter. A short while after the procedure a lunch box was given to me - despite it being only 11am in the morning and I had to eat and drink something before they would let me leave the hospital. I'm lucky as my skin never has any reaction to the pads they use and I'm fair skinned. My hospital gave me a tube of cream before I left just in case. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Dadog]

Yep - it's all said there. You'll be well looked after and experience nothing unpleasant during the whole procedure. I was fine after mine and happy to be back in NSR. Not a bad thing to put it on a bit when you get home and enjoy being looked after for a day or so. Cups of tea, meals on the sofa, have your feet put up and cushions arranged....worth a try anyway! Good luck with yours!

[Totaleclipseheart]

I have had three cardioversions since 2011, two in the last four months. Usually, they will do a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to check for any clots first, at least, I have never had a cardioversion without a TEE first. You are under anesthesia for both, you don't feel any discomfort and you can tell right away that your heart rhythm feels much better in your chest.

[abihel]

I had cardioversion in November and although I am a now getting the occasional flutter nothing too bad. The procedure it's self was fine...however I did have itchiness and like a sunburn feeling on my back and chest. These feeling only lasted a couple of days and I felt amazing!! so much better than I had felt for a long time. I hope you have the same outcome as me....good luck x

[Hidden]

Read around it before you see doc questions may rise from this. I had cardio version chest bit sore after and some redness but nothing unbearable good luck.

[shadski]

Thanks to every one. Your responses are really helpful and make me feel much better.

[kakapo in reply to shadski]

I've had two , and both times I was wondering when they were going to get on with it when I looked at the monitor only to see I was back in rhythm. I hadn't even noticed it being done. The third time I was within seconds of being sedated when I went back into rhythm by myself. That would have been fine except they left the pads on for about 24 hours in case I needed them and when they finally came off so did most of my chest hair. !

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to kakapo]

Had to smile at this kakapo, I am sure that the staff in the ECG section at my hospital don't place the electrodes in the best possible place, but rather in the hairest possible place. Last year when I had around 8 ECGs in 2 months, my chest looked like a sparrow had been pecking at the hair and pulling it out in clumps, I nearly shaved it off

Ian