Hi. I'm due to have a Cardioversion for my persistent AF on 12th Aug if my INR stays above 2, as it has for the last 4 weeks.
If you have had this done, how am I likely to feel following this procedure if it's successful? Do people often feel instantly better or does it take several weeks?
Personally, I felt instantly better but I only had paroxysmal AF. I was able to go home within a few hours. Although I was collected by car, I felt I could have coped with public transport if necessary. The week after, I was able to walk up three flights of stairs, something I hadn't been able to do for years. I stayed in NSR for 16 months.
Hi bigplantpot
Well the procedure itself is over and done with very quickly, and IF you go back into normal rhythm and stay there then you feel better instantaneously.
You might feel a very little sore from the pad sites, sometimes back and front sometimes both front.
But do be aware that many people slip back into AF after a cardioversion, it often seems the main reason for doing it is to check if you can go back into NSR, in my case yes, for about 10-20 seconds I am told.
I'm still in persistent AF following that, but fortunately almost symptonless.
Be well
Ian
You should feel better as soon as you come round form the sedation. Do understand that you wont be able to drive for 48 hours and should have somebody collect you. On one occasion I told them my wife was waiting in the car park but neglected to tell them which one so got a cab across London and a train to Tiverton. where she was waiting. Longest three hours of my life and I wished I hadn't been so damned gung ho. Stayed in NSR mind you. As Ian says cardioversion is not a cure for AF but may at least establish if an ablation would be feasible.
Bob
Hi
I have had 5 cardioversions for persistent AF and felt calmer after the 4 that were successful. After the 1st which wasn't successful I did have burns on my chest and back. Ask them to give you some flamazine for these if they are sore. Also if it isn't successful, ask about the possibility of another try in the future using internal catheter cardioversion. My last 4 were done this way and all succeeded.
Hope it sorts you
Lance
Hi! Well from my considerable cardioversion experiences ( 13 to date, last one over 2 months ago ), you should feel really great as soon as its over - providing it's successful of course. My AF & flutter was persistent & the effects of the cardioversions lasted anything from 4.5 years to just 1 week ( once ). You will be able to drive after 24 hrs . I felt capable of driving straight away & indeed skipping down the hospital corridor ( I didn't of course otherwise I may have been escorted to a different part of the hospital......... ) Make sure that someone is there to take you home.
All the best for the 12th August . Don't worry, it's a piece of cake!
Regards Sandra
I've got permanent AF without symptoms. I had a cardioversion. You have a light anaesthetic a d don't know anything about it. When I was back to normal which was very quickly I felt completely normal and had no subsequent side effects.
My cardio didn't work. They did 7 people on my day and only one was successful. I was told it depends on how long you've had AF? As I don't have symptoms I might have had it for years.
Don't get your hopes up too high, but I really hope it works for you.
I've had many cardioversions to halt my PAF (which has persisted for up to 6 weeks at a time). I didn't feel better immediately afterwards as my heart had been racing away for all those weeks and had exhausted me. However, it was so lovely to wake up and not feel my heart clunking around in my chest. I could have cried with relief and gratitude when I awoke from the short anaesthetic. Within a couple of days my energy levels were up again and I felt great.
The last one I had was in March of this year and my heart is still behaving now, before that I had one last October and that lasted for about 4 months. I know of someone who had a cardioversion over a year ago and he's still doing well now. A few years ago I had one which only lasted for a few days. I think it's just the luck of the draw. Try your best to avoid any stress after the procedure.
I was also told not to drive for 24 hours.
Hope it is successful for you.
Hi, I had a Cardioversion last Friday. All went well and i was restored to a normal rhythm. My pulse was bursting out of my wrist which i hadn't felt for 14 years of AF. To be honest I didn't feel a great deal better though. By Tuesday I feel I am slipping back into AF. The hospital changed the Bisoprolol I was on to Sototol saying it would help keep me in SR. 2 days on there is not much change. The worst bit of the Cardioversion was a sore chest afterwards. I aren't sure where I go from here. Maybe give Sotolol a chance for a week or so. The hospital gave me a number to ring if I felt I had gone back into AF
David
Such a shame if it hasn't worked for you. Did you have permanent AF. Mine was PAF i.e. I had periods when my pulse was normal and then it would just take off racing.
Can you feel in your wrist whether your heart is doing an abnormal beat now?
I thought Sotolol wasn't being prescribed anymore! I didn't get on with that drug at all. It made me feel spaced out.
Hi, Sorry I've been a long time getting back to you. Yes mine was permanent AF. After nearly two weeks my pulse feels the same as before Cardioversion, all over the place. You are right about being spaced out on Sotolol. Although I didn't feel that good on Bisoprolol. My doctor suggested I give Sotolol a chance to work before an ECG which is booked for the end of August. This has to be sent to the hospital to decide the next step. I did have a heart attack just before last Christmas caused they say by the AF. At 55 years old I am thankful it wasn't worse than it was. I do find I am struggling at times. Going along at a normal pace I aren't too bad, but anything beyond that my mind wants to do it but my heart won't let me. I am sure this is down to the drugs I am on. One thing I am finding is probably every couple of days or so, I get sparkly flashing in my vision just for a couple of minutes or so. No headache just this flashing.
Has anyone had this problem ?
Hi, I haven't had a cardioversion but do get the sparkly vision. Started a year ago. Went to Doc who sent me to Opticians to check wasn't a vision problem then sent me back to Doc.
Starts as sparkly bits then expand leaving a sort of blind void in the middle. This grows until it has worked its way outwards and disappears. Lasts about 40 minutes.
Called migraine auras or silent migraines. No pain just the visual disturbance. Can be associated with AF I believe
Hi,
I find this bit about the sparkly vision very interesting. I get this occasionally and have always assumed that is associated with AF as I tend to feel tired with it as well. I serve in a Post Office so I have to stop work and lie down until it goes away. Your description Sugarlump mirrors what happens to me exactly. I have had migraines on and off for 40 yrs or so, but this has only started since AF has reared it's ugly head.
Cyril
Hi Cyrilbarnes, yes they really worried me when first happened. They just came out of the blue. My first feeling /thought was it felt somehow electrical and my panic was i had turned epileptic maybe.
I sat in panic as the blind void took over and sight disappeared. Found the only relief was to close my eyes till it passed but I also felt and was left very tired.
They did get more regular, 3/5 a day and funnily enough needed an epileptic drug to control them. They slowed right down after three weeks and I came of the drug although I still get them occasionally but they don't scare me know. I just lay down, close my eyes with a damp cloth.
Worse thing is if you are driving. But there is always a few sparkles as it starts giving enough warning to pull over.
Hi Sugarlump,
Fortunately mine have been few and far between. They are only a problem if they occur whilst I am working at the computer in the Post Office as I can't see the screen. I've no idea what brings them on, and it's never happened whilst I am driving. Having said that, I don't drive nearly as much as I used to anyway. Have had much worse happen when driving though - read my profile!
Cyril
Hi, thanks for your replys Sugarlump & Cyrilbarnes. You have put my mind at rest. Fortunately mine only lasts a couple of minutes or so. It isn't too much of a problem at the moment but I do find it nigh impossible to read anything whilst having an attack.
Yes that's that pesky blind void and that in itself is quite disconcerting as you have peripheral vision then this star shaped ring of sparkles then blindness in the middle.
Turning your head to find the peripheral vision area doesn't work either as that darn void follows you... You Have no option but to accept it and let it run it's course...
It's good yours are short lived but if they get longer just see it as an excuse to lie down and grab 40 winks
Cardioversion
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Cardioversion
Cardioversion
