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Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Post cardioversion question

paulypurplepants profile image

I’m just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences to me? I had a few AF experiences before going into persistent AF in September, having a CV a month later, which got me back into normal rhythm. Since then I’ve had a few moments where my heart went into Atrial Flutter, showing 170bpm and then reverting to normal quite quickly. I massively overdid the booze on a golf trip once while dehydrated, which gave me a super rapid hr for 7 hrs before eventually reverting to normal. Following that experience I gave up all alcohol for ten days before slowly starting drinking a small glass and increasing to normal (but not ott) levels. So apart from a couple of minutes of Flutter when covid was causing a high temperature, it’s all been fine so far. ( touch wood! 🤞🏻) I’m on just 1.25mg’s of bisoporol a day medication.

So I’m wondering if anyone else has just had a CV and it’s solved the problem for a particular length of time?

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paulypurplepants
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35 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

DCCV is a cure for nothing. It merely indicates if you can attain NSR and feel better in that state which can then sign post future treatment.

Bearing in mind your experience it seems unwise at best to even think about alcohol.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to BobD

I don’t recall suggesting it was a cure, just asking for similar experiences. I’m quite happy enjoying alcohol in moderation….my cardiologist suggested it was fine, so rather listen to him thanks.

Jalia profile image
Jalia

I've had 22 dc cardioversions over about 28 years, the last being in June this year. A couple if these have kept me in NSR fir 4/5 years , many 12/15 months and some just 6 months or so. So yes, my problem was solved for varying amounts of time by DCCV and was a very welcome intervention!

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Jalia

Wow, 22…..I’m amazed! No ablation?

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply to paulypurplepants

Oh yes, should have said....4 ablations. 2009, 2011 , 2013 and 4th one just recently ,5 months ago . Fingers crossed. It all seems to be part of my life now !

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Jalia

Hopefully 4th time lucky! 🤞🏻

Sean_C profile image
Sean_C

I’ve had 4 cardioversions before having my first ablation five weeks ago. 1. Put me in normal rhythm for a day short of one year (364 days).

2. NSR for 18 months.

3. NSR for two months.

4. NSR for 24 hours.

You see the reason why I then, finally, opted for the ablation.

Note that I do (did) not get paroxysmal AF. Mine was the persistent type.

Also, I never gave up alcohol altogether. A big reduction in quantity though.

Sean

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Sean_C

Thanks Sean.

LordGabriel profile image
LordGabriel

My AF was persistent - I had 1 cardioversion that lasted 13 months. Then a dose of Flecanaide in hospital got it back in rhythm.

My cardiologist said to go for an ablation after that.

8 months later, I had an ablation while in rhythm.

15 months later, still ok!

I’ve had a few drinking sessions and moved home twice since…. Luckily still ok.

Still on Bisoprolol Ramipril and Apixiban but I am ‘discharged’.

I was told a Cardioversion wouldn’t last and it didn’t but had been hoping that I was gonna be the one!!!

Maybe you will be!

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to LordGabriel

Thanks Lord G. I hope so too but my cardiologist said he’s booking me in for an ablation, as the flutter is a sign of fibrillation. 🙁

LordGabriel profile image
LordGabriel in reply to paulypurplepants

I think you’ll be fine with an ablation. I was scared but it’s fine now!

MissElley profile image
MissElley

Hi.My first experience of AF was seven years ago.

I went into persistent AF with a very high heart rate. I had a successful CV which lasted for six years!

In that six years I didn't appear to have any AF symptoms, that I was aware of.

Then last year I had another episode in March. I had another CV which lasted six months. I then had another CV September, this lasted three months.

I didn't receive a CV for my last episode. This time my AF appears different. I don't seem to be in persistent AF, sometimes the AF goes back into normal rhythm on its own.

I have had my Bisoprolol dosage upped to 10 mg daily. This appears to be doing the trick whilst I wait to hear from cardiology.

Hope my answer helps your query.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to MissElley

Thanks missElley….it’s amazing how different all our situations and conditions are. Hope it all works out for you.

MissElley profile image
MissElley in reply to paulypurplepants

Thank you.You too 👍

Belle11 profile image
Belle11

I've stayed in NSR for 2 years so far (in 2 weeks time) following my cardioversion for persistent AF of 9 months standing. I had a few very obvious bouts of ectopics in the weeks that followed the cardio, each time after eating some form of cured meat - sausage, bacon, and parma ham, and so decided that I wouldn't eat them any more, in case it would lead me back into AF. It may have been the high salt content, or possibly the chemical tyramine in cured foods, which has been associated with AF in some cases.

It maybe a case of noticing, and listening to your body to see if there are any recurrent AF links to alcohol for you, or to any foods and other factors.

Good luck with it all.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Belle11

Thanks Belle

Fullofheart profile image
Fullofheart

I only had 2 days of nsr following cardioversion...was persistent for many years prior. but since then...and also with amiodarone at first, now dronedarone...I am in and out of af and nsr. Ablation due in 3 or 4 months.I don't seem to have obvious triggers. Can be pretty random. But I avoid caffeine, limit alcohol, eat healthily and nowadays (sadly) am not exercising as vigorously.

Best wishes to you.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Fullofheart

Thanks Fullofheart…..hopefully you’ll be back exercising soon. 👊

Nanirightnow profile image
Nanirightnow

On Christmas, after Christmas Eve I had an intensive episode of heart beating. I had had the last one three years and 4 months ago which lasted a couple of hours and went away by itself. My GP related that episode to my tiroides problem. But this Christmas the episode was much more intense with beatings between 175/190 and I was taken to the hospital where after 5 hours beating and feeling a huge pressure on my chest I had a CV and recovered my regular Heath rhythm. I spent the night at the hospital and returned to my home. While in the hospital I knew I have Covid and nobody was able to confirm if this second episode was due to it or was more intense than the other one I had 3 years ago because of Covid. Thanks to God I am on my 9/10 days of Covid and I have only a mild consequence. I am on bisoprolol 5 mg, a daily aspirin and levothiroxine 0.70, that’s it. My questions are: How does CV last? How many times can a patient have a CV?My diagnosis is SVT and the cause has not been identified yet. Can anybody offer some comments please. Thanks and have everybody a much better 2022.

Pp

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Nanirightnow

Hi Nani, like me, you are seeing from the responses that there is no ‘normal’…..one person having 22 CV’s Which sounds incredible. So many different experiences.

mav7 profile image
mav7

Pauly, as you can see by above replies there are different results for a CV. As BobD indicates, it is not a cure but an indicator of future treatment.

By your comments it sounds like you went from persistent to paroxsymal AF which is great. I would encourage you to ask to wear a medical device heart rate monitor for an extended period. It will reveal detailed info about your AF.

Good Luck !

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to mav7

Thanks Mav7, I do use FibriCheck which tells me what is going on, although it’s getting to the point that’s confirming what I already knew.

mav7 profile image
mav7 in reply to paulypurplepants

That's good. Firbricheck is an excellent tool but it is my understanding it does not offer 24 hr continuous monitoring.

The main advantage of a medical device HRM worn for 24 hrs for an extended period is it records your HR at all times, even when you are sleeping which is also when AF can occur.

That is how I was diagnosed with AF so perhaps I am a little biased.

That said, it sounds like you are actually in pretty good shape with the AF regressing after the CV and returning to NSR regularly after a high HR.

Good Luck in the future.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to mav7

Thanks Mav. The thing is, I know precisely when something has changed, if I am asleep, I wake up…..or have done up to now and I test straight away and it confirms what I am feeling. Flutter is quite horrible and Fibrillation is uncomfortable, but can recognize both immediately.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003

I have had about 8 DCCVs now and they have put me into NSR for anywhere between 4 days and about 3 years.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Ducky2003

8 CV’s and no ablation? Seems unusual.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply to paulypurplepants

Oooh no. I had a cryoablation in April 20. Two of the DCCVs were during that and I had another in August that lasted 2 weeks. The cryo hasn't been a success so I'm looking at another with another DCCV in a couple of weeks to hopefully tide me over. I've posted an update about my predicament about an hour ago....... Demoralised Duck 😁.

Camille777 profile image
Camille777

I've had one CV, lasted 4 days. I do nothing to provoke AF & everything to prevent it, so I'm sorry to sound so negative & nasty, but I would do anything to not have AF & drinking is the last thing I would do.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to Camille777

I’ve never done anything to provoke AF either.

ETHEL103 profile image
ETHEL103

My cv lasted 2 hours only before ectopics then a fib kicked back in.Suffering really badly with fast heart rate.Ecg 6 week post cv hr was 135 but they didn't keep me in.Feel a bit out on a limb to be honest.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to ETHEL103

Sorry to hear that ETHEL103, maybe it’s worth putting more pressure on your cardiologist to get it sorted.

ETHEL103 profile image
ETHEL103

It's a bit of a mission at the moment Paul eve getting through to the gp is a mission at the moment isn't it but I will give it ago next week.Away from home till Tuesday.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants in reply to ETHEL103

Of course, but if you feel like that, let them know, even to the point of being a pain in the arse…..try and get through to the cardiologist.

Lulu2red profile image
Lulu2red

I've had 2 CVs. First one only lasted a month. Second lasted 6 months, was booked in for another but managed to convert with 200mcg Flecainide. I have paroxysmal AF. They offered me an Ablation but after research decided against it. Everyone's triggers are different from what I have read on the forum. Stress is mine, emotional or physical. They advised no caffeine. I only used to have one coffee in the am and tea in the pm. I gave it up but it didn't stop me going into AF the second time so it's not a trigger for me. I now drink the real thing no problem. They said to avoid alcohol too which I did but still went into AF. I love a glass of wine and at 63 life is too short to live like a Nun. So I have a glass of wine whenever I want it, I stick to white. Can have red but only one or two. I don't spirit's or sports drinks etc. Of course binge drinking will put a healthy person into temporary AF whether they realize it or not. My whole viewpoint is this, listen to your body, there is no one fit size for all. If the Cardiologists knew the answer and the cure we would not need this platform. Ablation is not a cure for all of us, it's a gamble and not one I want to risk.

paulypurplepants profile image
paulypurplepants

I’d forgotten about this thread, but Lulu’s response resurrected it. My latest news is that my cv lasted six months, after coming off all meds and then tripping back into Af after a very stressful day, inc booze. So I had another cv 31/5 and then a cryo ablation 13/7. Felt fine after the cv and a few days after the ablation was back to normal with no issues at all. Now off the amiodarone and Apixaban and waiting to come off the 1.25mg bisoprolol soon. Have been exercising, drinking moderately and not the slightest issue to date. Just hoping it continues.

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