My Cardioversion.
I’m 60. I weighed 23 stone and I am 6’4”
First symptoms occurred last August while I was at work. I did high pressure pipe fitting and commissioning on large systems. Getting out of the van early in the morning, i went light headed and had to sit down.
A week later, I had to sit down again with a racing heart. I googled the symptoms and found benign answers to satisfy myself and I wrote it off.
Had the Man Check done by the Council Health Nurse and she picked up on my pulse and ratted me out to the quack. The quack sent me straight up to Outpatient. They did an ECG and some other tests and diagnosed AF. My pulse was peaking at 200bpm.
Rivaoxaban 20mg and Bisoprolol 5mg and off I went. I brought forward my retirement and started going back to the gym. Me and Her-indoors left for India and had a solid 5 weeks of long walks, light meals and light drinks. Averaged 7 miles a day. Lost 4 stone.
Meds control heart to 85-95 resting bpm.
Letter through on our return to the UK for a Cardioversion 18 Jan.
After a pre-op interview, we rocked up at GWH Swindon at 07:15 and signed in. First stop was with the Nurse Practitioner. She introduced me to the team of people who were to deal with the event. She again went through the medical history and she explained how the procedure would go.
Her-indoors asked several questions and the nurse explained slowly and carefully.
Next up was the anaesthetist. He went through my medical history, looked at old scars and he explained how the gas worked and the overall procedure again.
Time was called and I looked at Her-indoors and said ‘Hasta’ and away I went.
A needle was inserted into the back of my hand and an oxygen ask was applied.
I came to in recovery and actually was alarmed that I had woken up before the op. A nurse began asking questions and offered me water. My vitals were taken.
The nurse explained that they had given me two shocks, as my heart did not go to NSR after the first hit. My bp seemed low to her and my pulse was around 58.
I felt a soreness along my chest similar to a sunburn where the pads had been.
ECG showed good and they are happy.
I still feel the odd tumble or bump a week later. My pulse is 54 resting and my bp is 110/72. Manual pulse sometimes feels thread but no signs of the popcorn popper like it was before.
I am going back for follow on check on 9 Feb.