Cardio inversion worked on afib but not how I feel

[Sfhmgusa]

Hi I wonder if anyone out there has had a similar experience to me following a cardioinversion. I had one Friday afternoon following three and a half weeks of Afib with a rate around 145 bpm. after 2 weeks I began to get weaker and more tired and despite being a coward I was genuinely glad to walk into the room for the inversion. I had started to feel bloated and a bit short of breath and feared Heart failure. My EP reassured me the effect would be temporary and not to worry (Easier said than done) before I was discharged The nurse was kind but unworried.. that should be enough for me but sadly anxiety and I are good friends

Today three days after I got into NSR whilst I feel a lot better I am still quite tired a bit breathless occasionally and certainly not feeling 100%

Like an idiot I have googled "Heart failure" I have only got a bloated feeling and tight chest no other symptoms but I read avidly all the doom and gloom and got a gut full of bad news

so I wondered if any others had a recovery period from a "Reboot" or was/is it always practically immediate that all is back to normal?

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Steve

[BobD Volunteer]

Steve as we say many times here google is bad for your health. I suspect your anxiety is the driver here. Although it will take a few days for the effects of the AF to pass, you should feel A LOT better. in NSR .

Forget heart failure which a) merely means that the heart is not performing to spec and b) it would take a great deal longer to happen.

[Sfhmgusa in reply to BobD]

Thank you , I realise I am often my own worst enemy. But realising it and being able to stop it are a bit separate!

[PlanetaryKim]

I usually feel a little tired, weak, short of breath , not 100% for a few days after converting back to NSR from an afib episode. In fact I feel like I am back in afib so I keep checking, but it's always NSR. I have never had an electro-cardioversion at hospital like you did. In my case it converts on its own after a few days. Or more recently I have found ways to convert it in a few hours. (low sodium V8 + 400 mg magnesium + 3 cups water... doesn't always work but often does.)

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Steve

If your heart was going at a rate of around 145 I'm surprised they didn't admit you to hospital. I've been kept in when at that rate many times, but that was years ago.

If you ran your heart rate could go up to 145, but yours was doing this while you were resting. Your heart probably thinks you've been running for three weeks, no wonder you're not quite back to feeling normal yet. Imagine if someone ran for three weeks, how tired they would feel - that's you now. Allow your heart to have a rest and take life very easy for a while.

Please let us know how you are in a few days time, hopefully you'll be feeling lots better - for now rest.

Jean

[LordGabriel]

After my first cardioversion I kept checking to see if I was in NSR even though I knew I was!!

I had a very high heartbeat for 6 months with my persistent AF until cardioversion.... I had some pains in my chest/heart a few nights after and wondered what that was but it never came to anything. I think it’s the mind playing tricks!

[Ochg]

Morning Steve,

I had a CV for atrial flutter last week. I had been in what I thought was an AF episode for 10 hrs, but when I arrived at A&E was told it was flutter. Never experienced that before, and when the medics said ‘we’ll just give you a shock’ I was scared stiff. Anyway, when I eventually got home following the CV (nearly 13 hours later),I felt absolutely shattered, and like LordGabriel I was for ever checking my pulse. It is only today , nine days post the ‘event’ that I can say I am feeling better and have more energy. I agree with Jean, let your heart recover and take it easy, all will be well.

I know only too well how hard it can be to ‘relax’, but hang in there, sending you a virtual hug 🙆‍♀️.

Best wishes

Shirley

[Paulbounce]

Pleased your CV worked for you Steve. That's great news on it's own as it shows treatments can work for you. Give yourself a few days to get back to norm and take things easy.

Now Doctor Google !

I too have consulted with him in the past. Everytime I've been worried sick and feared my day's were numbered - even asking about a common cold ! My take now ? Don't Google an illness as half the stuff online doesn't apply to you and only adds to the fear factor.

Just one more thing. A HR of 145 for 3 weeks is far to long to put up with. Personally I would contact a medic after 3 or 4 hours at that rate.

Paul

[Jajarunner]

I've had three cardioversions:

First time after 48 hours, took s month to be back to full fitness;

Second after 5.5 wks of AFib (3 weeks in hospital) took three months to get back to 100 percent,;

3rd another 5.5 weeks but only 8 days in hospital. Feeling 90 percent after one month but then had ablation.

The hospital told me I'd be well enough to start running again after 48 hours each time!! Even after the ablation. Ignore them though some people do feel instantly better too xx

[KMRobbo]

I was in A flutter for 3 weeks in 2018 and was very symptomatic with breathlessness and so did not move around much so my muscles atrophied. I was very tired when I bacj to NSR after an ablation. It took me weeks to get back to normal and worked myself better by walking most days and increasing the distance.

The longest I spent in AFib was 8 days between 130 and 195 bpm resting HR. Despite being asymptomatic except for the high HR I was well tired after that and it took over a week to get back to near normal ( which never totally happened owing to an unpleasant drugs regime I was moved to) .

So I suggest you rest up several days at least - 3 .5 weeks at 145bpm is a hell of a lot of marathons your heart has just done!