Cardioversion

[AQuilter]

I don't know if it's common, I was given 3 shots during the cardioversion and was told that it was unsuccessful . My sinus rhythm did not revert to normal but I noticed I felt better a couple of days later. At my follow up appointment 10 days later, ECG showed that I was in normal sinus rhythm.

[Becksagogo]

Pleased to hear that you have gone back to normal sinus rythmn and long may it continue!

[Hidden]

That is good news AQ if for no other reason, it indicates that you can be brought back into sinus rhythm, therefore should it be necessary, further treatment such as an ablation could be beneficial. Especially useful because you obviously feel better for being in normal sinus rhythm.

[Barb1]

That is very unusual. I can't understand that. What does your cardiologist say? But it means that you are not in permanent AF which is good.

[AQuilter in reply to Barb1]

Cardiologist kept asking for symptoms. Do I feel breathless, do I feel dizzy, do I have chest pain etc. I have never felt dizzy even when I was in AF. Chest pain is more like a flicking sensation, breathless going upstairs. But I noticed breathlessness reduced a few days after cardioversion. It's my blood pressure that is not stable though not overly high. He says see me in 6 months time.

[Beck2018]

Very strange. Do you receive any medications?

[AQuilter in reply to Beck2018]

I was on dabigatran 110mg twice a day and sotalol 40mg twice a day. Stroke risk 4. Not been told to go off med. But had sotalol reduced to once a day before for a few months only to have more episodes of ectopics ,

so back to twice a day and was stabilised before date of cardioversion- my first and only ( fingers crossed). I think once my jetlag is over, I am going to reduce sotalol to once a day

[Beck2018 in reply to AQuilter]

Your rhythm might be restored because you are on sotalol... In some cases beta-blockers medication such as metoprolol also contributes to the synus rhythm recovery.

[Hidden]

Having read your thread 3 weeks ago, I’m a bit confused about the timeline here. How many CVs have you had?

[mjames1]

How much time between when you went into afib and your electro cardioversion? Afib can often resolves within a few days even without cardioversion. I didn't realize this when I first started getting afib attacks 30 years ago so I would run to the ER and get cardioverted right away. Now I just treat the rate myself and the last couple of times I naturally went back into normal sinus rhythm within a few days. No ER. No electricity. I suppose if I wasn't back in normal rhythm within a couple of weeks then I'd consider electro cardioversion again. There are many strategies to get you back into normal rhythm other than electro cardioversion and you should discuss them with a good cardiologist or EP.

Jim

[AQuilter in reply to mjames1]

I was first diagnosed with paf in March this year. With hindsight, it had been lurking in the background for several years and cardiologist had not detected anything. This March I had a severe bout of cold and the coughing kept me awake several nights. Took over the counter cough medicine, which I now know can trigger AF. Went to A&E while I was on holiday. Totally shocked when I got referred to an EP .Echocardiogram found a small blood clot and was started on dabigatran.

[AQuilter in reply to mjames1]

how do you know when you are not in normal rhythm? I still haven't got the hang of knowing if I am in AF or not most of the time.

[mjames1 in reply to AQuilter]

I suggest you get the Kardia Mobile or if you have an older Apple Watch, get the Kardia Band. Currently the Kardia Band in the US requires a premium service with a monthly fee while the Kardia Mobile does not. Apple Watch 4 has similar built in but I would wait for the reviews before buying. I have both Kardia devices and have found them very useful in help determining whether I'm in afib or not. The ecg generated by these devices can be saved on your computer and/or emailed to your doctor.

Jim