Irregular Heartbeat

[emsling]

This forum has been of so much help to me and I am very grateful for every one who replied to my past questions.

I do feel a bit silly asking this but have tried to find answers unsuccessfully.

Maybe someone here can help.

Luckily I haven't had an episode so far. I only know that I have AF because my heart beat is permanently out if sync and I hear it through pulsating tinnitus at all times, loss if energy and fatigue. Would having a cardioversion if successful get me into a normal sinus rhythm and I no longer have AF or will it come back very soon. Has anyone here had a successful cardioversion and how do you feel afterwards?

I was diagnosed 3 years ago after a stroke and take Apixaban and Perindopril.

I am still waiting for my appointment with the cardiologist.

[Hidden]

Yes the purpose of a cardioversion is to get you back into normal sinus rhythm but there is no guarantee as to how long you will stay in NSR.

I have had very many cardioversions over the 25+ years since my diagnosis. ..my 19th back in April in fact. It's a great feeling of relief to be back in a normal rhythm ! As to how long these last, it is really variable. I have had a couple which have lasted 3/5 years, many for 12 months and latterly 4/6 months.

I do hope you get your appt with your specialist soon. I would chase them up if you feel the wait is unduly long.

Sandra

[emsling in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I wish you well.

[Buffafly]

Hi, I looked at your previous posts and it seems someone decided you were in slow permanent AF and therefore didn't need any further investigation, treatment or follow up. I think it is disgraceful 😤 and sadly I think it may be too late to try a cardioversion after such a long time but it surely should have been tried at the beginning.

As you are in Permanent AF you would not have episodes as such, maybe a few ectopics as you mentioned before, which is the advantage of your condition. People with Paroxysmal AF like me are in normal rhythm most of the time but go into fast AF sometimes (HR over 130) and it makes us feel very ill or at the best exhausted. One of our volunteers (Ian) did have a successful cardioversion after a long time in AF but it only lasted for a very short time.

I hope you get to see the cardiologist soon!

[BobD Volunteer]

If you are in permanent AF a cardioversion is unlikely to be effective I'm afraid.

[Ianc2]

Hi Emsling

I have had permanent AF for about 18 years now. I have had a cardioversion. in the past and I was told that if your heart can go back into normal rhythm, if only for a short period of time, it indicates that an ablation might be successful. Ask to see an EP. As Bob says a cardioversion is unlikely to be effective by itself

[Sean_C]

I have had two cardioversions (was in persistent AF, but apart from irregular heartbeat, light-headedness on standing up, general lethargy and much slower running times I wasn't anywhere near as bad in AF as many of the folks on this forum) in the last two years. The first one lasted 5 months (and I still think it was my own stupid behaviour that caused me to go back into AF) and the second one was early April this year, so I am now 6 months in NSR (and being much more intelligent so I hope this one will last much longer).

I feel so much better after the cardioversions, there really is no comparison. It is like I have shed a lead overcoat that I had to wear for two years.

I sincerely hope you have the same experience. All the best!

[emsling]

Thank you so very much for your replies. I am a bit disappointed that a cardio version might not be what I hoped for. I hope my app will come soon and I can discuss this with an EP