Electrical cardioversion

[Elaine1951]

Can anyone who has this procedure say anything about it

[BobD Volunteer]

Piece of cake. You go into the anti room area of an operating theatre where the anaesthetist will be. A canula is placed in your arm and two pads either both on your chest or one front and one back. Some fairy juice is put into the canula and whilst you are playing with the fairies they shock you through the pads and your heart should go back into rhythm. Total elapsed time about five minutes.

It is NOT a cure for AF but does show that you can be put into NSR which makes some choices like ablation a possibility.

You would need to be anticoagulated with a stable INR for a month to prevent the possibility of a stroke due to any clots hiding in your heart or have a TOE where they put an ultra sound camera down your throat to check for any clots in your heart. If you were treated within 24 hours of AF starting these last conditions may not apply as clots may not have formed.

Usual comment ---- loads of info on AF Association website.

Bob

[Elaine1951 in reply to BobD]

Thank you. It's so helpful

[DavDug]

Hi! Elaine. As Bob said, nothing to worry about. The staff are always concerned but they are there to look after you and make sure you do your stuff. As in all medical procedures a little strange first time but you will feel great afterwards. Six times for me.

Get well soon Elaine. Dave.

A bit worried about this fairy juice Bob! Have you got the recipe?

[Elaine1951 in reply to DavDug]

Thank you. So helpful

[PeterWh]

An important step along the road of your AF journey. As Bob rightly says a piece of cake.

[watchdog]

hi elaine, i have had 5 cardioversions because of my AF. this is a piece of cake you are put to sleep so you don't feel a thing. you wake up feeling a lot better. there are slight burn sensations were they put the pads, btr they give you cream to smooth any irritations.

best wishes

[Mazza23]

I have. Ha d 3 so far have. Not ha d a. Problem with them they put you to sleep then give. You a. Shock it works on me. First time

[AnticoagulateNow]

As has been said Elaine, it really is nothing to worry about. If it reverts your AF, which it probably will, this tells your EP/cardiologist that an ablation may well be successful should you decide to go down that route. Without wishing to put a damper on your expectations, I'm sure you understand that AF will almost inevitably return but it may give you relief for a while at least. It's important not to believe that cardioversion is any sort of AF 'cure'. I'm sure you're not one of them but I mention it because some folk do.

[Upbeat2000]

I had it one time. I wasn't put to sleep. I remember my husband holding my hand and looking at him. Then I asked the doctor when he was going to start. He told me it was over. So somewhere between looking a my husband and talking to the doctor it was done!

[KipperJohn]

Can't add much really- have had 3 (1 at the end of my ablation). Had my last one 7 weeks ago - I'd only gone to the hospital for an ECG as my EP said I should when I had an AF episode so he could analyse the data. They kept me in for 24 hours and did the cardioversion in CCU - very quick didn't know a thing until I came round feeling a lot better. Perhaps a good idea to ask afterward how many attempts there were - first time each time for me.

All the best.

[PeterWh in reply to KipperJohn]

And the energy used.

[constabule]

quick note to say my experience is pretty much same as others.

daunting first time around - nothing to worry about and if it works whch I am sure it will, felt great afterwards