Cardioversion

[NorfolkGal]

Hello, I am in AF constantly and have been like this for 4 weeks. I was admitted to hospital when it started and my heart was racing at 160 bpm. I commenced Bisoprolol 7.5mgs and although still in AV, beats now at 80-90.

I am booked for Cardioversion in two weeks and when I attended my pre admission assessment I was told I’m having an internal DV Cardioversion. Apparently this is new to this hospital - Norwich, but the surgeons have performed it in other hospitals. I am very concerned. Has anyone had this procedure in this way? There will insert tube in my groin and feed through artery to my heart. I would be glad of your opinions. Following this, I am having a bi-ventricular pacemaker and if necessary AV node ablation through pacemaker.

Apart from AF I have left ventricular failure ( heart failure)and left Atria impairment,. Also asthma, iron deficiency, and hypothyroidism.

I was diagnosed with these heart conditions in March and my health has declined very quickly. I am 66

Please let me know your views

[Olliemonty58]

I had my 60th birthday April. In August I was diagnosed with af. 2nd of October I am having stop start of my heart. 18th I am having the dye to my heart as they think arteries furred. My pulse was 150 still high when I do anything. Lots of tablets. High blood pressure which is controlled by tabs. Will let you know how I get on xx

[rosyG]

sorry don't know about this. Just wanted to say sorry you have so much to contend with Make sure the asthma, hypothyroidism and iron deficiency are all well treated as this will lessen the burden on your heart/ Let us know how you get on

[Hidden]

New to me too, but found this via Dr Google.....interesting!

internalcardioversion.com/w...

[NorfolkGal in reply to Hidden]

That was extremely helpful, thank you x

[Gincalpe in reply to Hidden]

Interesting article I have never heard of internal cardioversion before

[NorfolkGal]

Thank I will keep you informed. I have been told that the hypothyroidism, and iron deficient are signs of heart problems. My problems are compounded by caring for my hubby who has progressive MS. Life’s toughv

[NorfolkGal]

Oh I hope someone has had this and I’m not a guinipig

[Hidden]

Perhaps your EP doesn’t want you to have a general anaesthetic which is required for an external DCCV which uses a much higher voltage than an internal DCCV, which requires only light sedation.

[NorfolkGal in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Oyster, you may well be right

[NorfolkGal]

Thank you all for your replies. It’s so good to know I’m not alone but I am anxious. X

[Slim2018]

I had my flutter done at the NNUH yesterday. Excellent people and service. They explained that sometimes AF fixing can cause AFib and then they simply use the same procedure of Cardioversion but with more accuracy and less voltage, and would have simply done that yesterday. I had Dr Till as a consultant, excellent as was all the care. Of course as questions but I trusted them big time.

[NorfolkGal in reply to Slim2018]

Thank you Slim2018, isn’t AF the same AFib? So, did you have an internal Cardioversion? I too am under Dr Till, and have nothing but praise for the team, though I am somewhat confused as to what type of Cardioversion I am having.

[Slim2018 in reply to NorfolkGal]

AF is flutter AFib is fibrillation. Flutter is easier to treat as they don’t have to hunt for it they know exactly where to zap. I just had standard internal ablation but if an AFib had developed they would have simply knocked me out and used the same wires as I understand it to do the Cardioversion. My youngest daughter is a fifth year medical student and has already seen several, its not a new procedure. The only downside of yesterday is they don’t really explain how sore your chest and shoulders may be the day after when the super pain killers wear off. I am having a very quiet day. My guess is its a bit like cracking / breaking ribs. Be glad when this element subsides...

[NorfolkGal in reply to Slim2018]

Thank you for the explanation. I wonder why you get pain following procedure? I hope your recovery is uneventful. Have they told you anything about driving? I’m the only driver as hubby has his taken away for medical reasons because of MS.

[Hidden in reply to NorfolkGal]

It’s quite confusing isn’t it. I believe that conventionally AF and AFib are synonymous with atrial fibrillation and AFL denotes atrial flutter

[Slim2018]

DVLA say two days Doctors say five days, my current feeling is five days deffo. No idea what causes the pain but its common after effect.

[Slim2018]

Can I also mention with my motoring and criminal lawyer hat on do not, I repeat do not drive, departing from the DVLA instruction of two days for a Class 1 as it could have catastrophic outcome if you were involved in an accident. Never mind what the insurance company would probably do!

[NorfolkGal in reply to Slim2018]

Do you mean now, or after Cardioversion. Should I inform them that I have AF (Atrial Fibrillation) now?

[Slim2018 in reply to NorfolkGal]

My understanding is that if you are a class 1 driver you don’t need to tell the DVLA if it is under control with meds etc and after ablation can drive after 48 hours. The DVLA have an excellent website that flags all of this up.

[NorfolkGal in reply to Slim2018]

Thank you

[Slim2018]

Hey hey back at the NNUH tomorrow three weeks to the day the ablation fixed my flutter and gave me fibrillation instead. The last bit of the bruise has gone, suspect it will be back tomorrow but as long as the fibrillation, the cold sweats, the cough, the feeling crap over the last three weeks goes I will be a “happy man” as we say in Norfolk.

[Slim2018 in reply to Slim2018]

So its Cardioversion tomorrow I should have said to put things right

[NorfolkGal in reply to Slim2018]

I had my Cardioversion last Friday in NNUH and it’s fixed my AF, I’m now back in normal rhythm and I feel incredibly better. Good luck

[Slim2018 in reply to NorfolkGal]

Hey Norfolk Gal that’s brilliant. I have been so positive since diagnosis at the end of August but the last three weeks since the flutter went and I got the fibrillation instead I have sort of lost heart (no pun intended). That’s cheered me up for 7.15 tomorrow morning when Richard will be in my groin for the second time in three weeks. He did say that if the fibrillation had started while the wires were in me for the flutter fixing they would have done it there and then, but because I had a whole weekend back to normal, it only started on the Monday. So chuffed for you and now more positive about tomorrow.

[NorfolkGal in reply to Slim2018]

Dr Till did not do my conversion, I has his colleague, Dr Raine. I didn’t feel a thing but I did ask for extra sedation. I shall be back in NNUH 11th December for my Bi-ventricular Pacemaker. The very best of wishes for tomorrow.

[Slim2018 in reply to NorfolkGal]

Yes, He was on holiday last week and Jane the Arrhythmia Nurse was trying to see if they could fit me into Dr Raine’s list but we were off to Bournemouth for the weekend so tomorrow instead. Glad it went so well, I have no idea what they gave me when they did the ablation but apart from chatting to the team in the room the next thing I knew I was back on the ward. Its just typical the bruise finally went this morning! I have to be on blood thinners for three months but hopefully either reduced or no beta blockers as soon as possible.

[Slim2018 in reply to Slim2018]

Hey all done. No more beta blockers now on flecainide acetate for 3 months and 3 months of rivaroxaban. I found Flutter a nuisance, Fibrillation was a total pain! I feel so much better already. In at 7.15 done by 9.30

[NorfolkGal]

Fantastic news, hope the success is long living. They did not change any of my meds but as my blood pressure has dropped to all time low and pulse around 54, I decided to reduce my Amopoldine by half as I was getting light headed

[Slim2018 in reply to NorfolkGal]

Thanks..now if I can get rid of this bloody dry cough which I have had for the last few days I will be a “happy man”. Fingers crossed