Has anybody had their heart shocked back into rhythm? Does it work? Is it recommended?
Shock: Has anybody had their heart... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Shock
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JackyMac
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Yes, I've had my heart shocked back into rhythm many times. I had my last cardioversion about two years ago. I'm always saying on this forum how much I like having them, much to most peoples dismay. For me I go to hospital with my heart racing, feeling ill and quite disabled, have the shock (cardioversion) and the whole procedure only takes about 5-10 mins). I wake up from the general anaesthetic cured and as I said, for me generally I don't need to have it done again for quite a while.
There's a slight risk when having a cardioversion, but when I asked my AF nurse about this she said that in all the years they'd been doing them they had never had a problem.
Are you waiting to have this procedure?
Jean
No Jean, just hoping it will be an option.
Yes, many people have but I haven't personally, I am sure you will get replies from those who have had it done.
It works with some people and not for others. Cardioversion, for that is what it is called, is a simple procedure for which you are sedated and lasts a few moments. It is performed in the ante-room of a surgery theatre or cath lab by appointment.
Some people find it only last for a few seconds, others it last for a few months but NSR rarely lasts. What it DOES do is prove whether or not NSR can be established, if it can, even for a few seconds, it means ablation will have a good chance of working. Ablation and drug therapy are currently the only long lasting therapies for AF, bu there are good results coming through from those using diet and life style changes.
How are you doing today?
Best wishes & keep posting, CD.
Thanks CDreamer. bpm took off last night and was bad at 138 in permanent state and I was quite worried. However, after a the verapamil last night woke up this morning with just AF. I did manage a walk to town and back this morning, at a slower pace than I would normally, without feeling too wretched and bpm has stayed between 80 and 130 over the 2 min period.
Take care
BeancounterVolunteer
Most of us will have had them Jackymac, it's called a cardioversion, and takes place in day surgery very simple procedure, however it seldom is a long term fix for AF unless you are quite young and have gone into AF specifically due to an identifiable reason.
It's very common and often used as a first line treatment as it tells the docs a lot about how your heart will go back into rhythm, and is a good indicator of the likelihood of any later ablation success.
Search cardioversion, and you will find lots of threads about it, and long descriptions of the procedure. Nothing to worry about I've had 2.
Be well
Ian
I have had 5 of them up to now its great to wake up in NSR
Yes I've had cardioversions twice and it worked both times. I was back in normal rhythm straight away. It is not a permanent cure for AF though, just a way of controlling things and putting the heart back into NSR. Other things such as medications and ablation are the usual long term solutions.
If you are going through a cardioversion procedure now, try not to panic about it, and relax into it as much as you can, and you will be ok. It is a common procedure that is done and dusted really quickly!
For the last two years my paroxysmal AF has been treated with a dose of Flecainide using the pill in the pocket approach which usually works within a couple of hours. However last November this didn't work and I ended up in A&E and was given a cardioversion after being put on a blood thinner for three days.I too was a little apprehensive, however I woke up feeling like a million dollars! So there is really nothing to be afraid of.
Unfortunately it didn't last and have had two episodes of PAF since. These were treated with my usual Flecainide dose. Like everyone else here, I suspect I will need an ablation in the future. With AF it effects people differently, so hopefully you will enjoy the benefits of a cardioversion a bit longer
Stu13, many thanks for that. I had a Flecainide pill in the pocket and worked for many years. When the bpm shot up and stayed up and I went to hospital they gave me verapamil intravenously which took the bpm down but has still left me with AF. I am hoping I can get a cardioversion as it sounds like the answer and may go privately if I can't get it on the NHS.
Does anybody know the cost?
I also had one 2 years ago and it is a doddle. As others have said, it is not a permanent cure, but does get the heart back into sinus rhythm. It is not 100% successful, but works in most cases. After I had it I did not go into AF for nearly 2 years, but that may have been coincidence.
Hi Jackie,
My 1st shock about 6 months ago didn't work my heart went back into AF that night.tbe 2nd seems to be working s treat 7 days on.but it's early days.Amiodrone seems to keep it in sinus Rythm.so happy to not feel like I've got a crazy ferret jumping around in my chest !!!
Hi Jacky! I had my last ( direct current ) cardioversion ...DCCV...7months ago and in spite of battling a bad infection at present I am still in normal ( sinus ) rhythm
I've had a total of 15 over the years, some of which have lasted several years, supported by drugs, and others just a few months.
The procedure itself is nothing to worry about but before you go searching for this to be done privately you should be aware that they are not normally a long lasting solution and indeed for some the effects last just a matter of days.
Sandra
I have also had cardioversion in A&E after being in AF for a number of hours. Worked a treat, no reason to be scared of having it done, and as others have said what a great feeling when back in NSR.
It may not work for everyone and it isn't a cure, but does at least give a short/medium term fix for many people.
I had one set of them done when I was patient in the hospital and I donot recall anything bad although it only lasted a few hours and I was back in afib. 2nd time was 2 months later by a different cardiologist. Woke up sobbing( I am not a crier so kind of wierd) and had burns on my chest and back.He tried 5 times but I would not convert. never again after that experience! I know it has worked for alot of people,just find the right facility and Dr.you communicate well with. Good Luck!
The definition of success doesn't exist for this procedure as far as I am aware. However I seem to recollect that it is over 99% of people are actually returned to NSR but the knob is how long they stay in NSR. I hope the following helps.
For patients who have been in AF for a longer period of time there are two key questions. The majority are ones who are in persistent AF. Can the patient be returned to NSR and importantly do they feel better being in NSR. If the answer is yes to both of those then the patient is potentially one who can go down the ablation route (other factors are also considered). I'm not sure about the length of time staying in NSR is key but from a realistic point of view my GUESS is you would need at least 30 mins to determine do you feel better in NSR because of coming round from the anaesthetic or sedation. Unfortunately many patients lapse back into AF but that does not matter. In my case I lasted just over 24 hours but a few months but a few months later I had an ablation because cardioversion had shown it was possible for me to revert to NSR and I certainly felt much better in NSR.
The other group of patients are those who have paroxsymal AF and haven't reverted on their own after an AF attack or incidence. For some patients they will last in NSR for a few years, some for less. However some can revert to NSR because of the cardioversion then sometime later have an AF attack but then revert either naturally or with drugs. Sometimes a person in this category will slip into the persistent category because they have to wait for Anticoagulation drugs to be effective. Some are given amioderone for a few months to help NSR to be maintained.
A bit long winded but hope it helps.
Hi I have had it done - not a problem so do not worry about it. It does not fix the problem and still have episodes of AF a year later while on warfarin.
I am guessing you are now in persistent AF? If you are I would push for it sooner rather than later. If you have been AF for more than 7 days it is officially classed as persistent and it is very unlikely indeed that you will return to NSR naturally. In order to get back into NSR it is either a cardioversion (depending on the particular EP and particular patient you might be given a drug such as amioderone or flecainide to help afterwards) or it is just drugs. Which ever path is decided the reason is that ablations are more successful if AF is paroxysmal then if you have only been in persistent AF for a short period of time and the least successful if you have had persistent AF for a long time. Even with the latter people have a good chance of going back into NSR though it may take 2 or 3 ablations.
You don't say if you are taking any Anticoagulation or not. If not then you will need to be on that for at least a month before they will do a cardioversion and in any event you won't get one the day after your anticoag period. Some people have waited 6 months. Then depending on how long afterwards you last in NSR may determine an EP appointment and that could take 2 to 6 months depending. Then if ablation is the chosen path that could take from 3 to 4 months but in some areas it could be up to a year (but people may be quoting that for a second one). Obviously you will need to be referred to an EP unless you are already seeing one.
Having one is really a doddle and afterwards I felt so much better.
Hi PeterWH. With that information as well as getting my blood pressure down when I was admitted to hospital (3 days after it started) I should have been shocked as well. If I had of been then perhaps the AF wouldn't still be present 14 days later.
Now I am on verapamil which lowers blood pressure but doesn't address the AF. Its going to be months before I get to see a Cardio consultant and I would have really missed the boat by then.
They would not shock anyone who had been in AF for three days and had not been taking an anticoagulant for at least a month and, in the case of warfarin, had been in range for that month. The reason for this is, as you probably know, that when in AF, the chances of a blood clot forming are many times higher because of pooling of the blood. Shocking that person will send that clot into the bloodstream. People with AF have 5 times the chance of a stroke and the majority of people who die or have major strokes are caused by AF.
If you can afford it consider going to see an electrophysiologist privately first time. Depending on area it could cost £200 to £300 and possibly some tests then you can be transferred to their NHS list. If you go down this route do NOT cancel the cardiologist appointment nor tell them about the private route. Look on the main AFA website under specialists and then filter so that you select those consultants / doctors who perform ablations.
Many thanks PeterWh. I have been on Warfarin for about 4 months and been in range all the time. I have laid plans to see a Cardiologist privately but wants a referral with notes from GP, so I will look into the electrophysiologist route as you suggest. Again, thank you for your help.
Hi JackyMac
Like jeanjeannie50 said, I actually liked mine. Ok! maybe not the whole thing, because I do tend to worry a bit about it, but I like being in rhythm after the "shock".
I'v had 7 CV's in total. With 2 of them I had a bid of an acid re-flux issue but with some over the counter meds it did not last long.
I've had 2 and neither worked. They did give it a good try though judging by the red sore marks it left on my chess that took a few days to get over from. Having said that, on the session it worked for the majority out of about 6 people that had the procedure.. Give it a go what have you got to loose it didn't make me any worse.
I had it done 2 times and did not hold.
Thank you judystuddard. From what I understand AF will never go away. I was disappointed that it came back so quickly. What was your time frame?
They treated me with meds and did the shocking twice without success. I lived with depression and anxiety for several months before they finally tried the ablation. They began the ablation procedure and after they got in there they could no do it without damaging my heart. Thats when they put my pacemaker in. No problems since.
Thanks judy, will ask about pacemaker when I see consultant tomorrow but suspect they will try everything else first and pacemaker will be years away despite it being the best and eventual option. Keep well.
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