Hello...... I'm Stuart

[Stuart_Westwood]

Hi I first suffered from AF 6 years ago, from then until now I have had 1 cardioversion and 2 ablations the last being 2 years ago which was immediately successful and felt great. I have had sporadic attack lasting only seconds and have been feeling pretty good ....until last Friday when it didnt go away!! I had a 3 day stay in hospital was discharged and put on Bisoprolol, Dijoxin and Warfarin.... Turns out I could have had cardioversion if the docs had done it within 48 hours of the attack starting but I didnt see a Cardiologist until 3 days after!!! Anyway I now have to wait 4-6 weeks at least.....I'm knackered and feel very low (sorry about the moan)

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes you need to be on anticagulants for at least a month, in range if warfarin, before they can do a DDCV. Presume they have started you now. If not ask or you will be wasting time.

[expences in reply to BobD]

Hmmm. I had a cardioversion immediately (24hrs) after my first and only episode of AF, in a hospital A&E . Got given anticoagulant injection 12hrs prior to it. Was successful too although it had changed from AF to A Flutter.

[jondeanp in reply to expences]

Hi, as a matter of interest, how long have you been in NSR since your cardioversion.

I am on a wait list for a CTI ablation to fix my current A flutter, although i have been in AFib previously too.

I was DC cardioverted in the first instance, which kept me in NSR for 2 years. When i went into Afib again i went straight to A&E and although the triage doc wanted to send me away with a cardiology appointment, I insisted on a cardioversion. This was agreed on although this time it was a chemical cardioversion. NSR only lasted 2 months this time.

Hence here i am on the wait list, although i still have my reservations about the invasive procedure

[expences in reply to jondeanp]

Actually I am still in NSR never went back into AF or flutter, that cardioversion was done on I March, 2015, fingers crossed that it lasts!

Your story is interesting isnt it. The Emergency Dept consultant insisted that a DCCV was the best treatment for me even though I was a bit apprehensive. My husband and I were both retired ambulance paramedics and he was allowed to watch!! Being A flutter took much lower joules than AF and it only took one shot, done by a trainee no less under supervision :o((

All the best, xx

[Hidden]

Hello Stuart, what a bummer!! I'm not medically trained, but I wonder if you could seek advice about using a pill in the pocket, such as Flecainide. Try contacting your EP's secretary or Arrythmia Nurse where you were treated to see if this is a possibility. Hope you get it sorted......good luck, John

[Jonty_13]

Hi Stuart, very sorry to hear about you Af. I had a very similar experience with Hospital at the start of my journey.

I now have had 2 cardioversion and 2 ablations. I'm 7 month post 2nd. Still having a few problems but only if stressed too much. I'm in NSR and use flecainide as a pill in the pocket. This works for me and converts in a number of hour, longest has been 12 hours.

I'm not medically trained but this works with rivaoxoban anticoagulant ongoing.

All the best

[Stuart_Westwood in reply to Jonty_13]

Thanks for your reply.....Over the last 6 years I've had 1 cardioversion for Afib (unsuccessful), 1 pulmonary artery ablation for Afib ( unsuccessful) and 1 radio frequency ablation for Aflutter (successful 2 year ago) now I have flipped back into permanent atrial flutter and to be honest the medication is as troublesome as the flutter!!

[Jonty_13 in reply to Jonty_13]

Stuart, i know what you mean about the drugs. I put 9 kgs on felt terrible and desperate to stay off them. I can't exercise that hard at all and that was my life before and I'm struggling with work. Im persistent AF and considering a third ablation to try and address this, just to be off the drugs. Is this another option?

good luck