after finally starting to do well following my procedure the end of April I am sad to say a fib is back. I had a wonderful month of breathing and being active and then last Thursday something happened I don’t know a lot. PR 145 and the lowest it has been cents is in the 120s. I kept waiting hoping for the best that it would stop I finally called my doctor. I have been off all my meds except my blood thinner. He put me back on my Multaq yesterday. I’m having an EKG done Monday and if my rate isn’t better by Tuesday he is talking cardioversion. I am scared to death of that procedure I know many of you have had it were you afraid? Do they actually stop your heart first or do it with your heart beating? I was trying to read about it but there is so many conflicting packs of information out there I don’t know what to think. It’s so-called side effects of having it done that can happen scare me to death.
funny I wasn’t afraid of my procedures I think I’m just worn out at this point 😔
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DawnTX
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Cardioversion is a very common procedure and whilst nothing is without risk. complications are very rare.
You will be fitted with a cannula in your arm and two pads stuck either each side of your chest or one front and one back. Some fairy juice will be injected into your cannula and whilst you are off playing with the fairies they zap you and with luck your heart goes back into rhythm.
No they don't actually stop your heart and re start it. It is usually all done automatically and the shock administered as your heart begins a beat. They can try different power settings but most people find the first shock works just fine. You may have some light "sunburn" from the pads but normal creams deal with this .
So all simple and nothing to worry about. Maybe five minutes with the faries if that.
You won’t remember anything about them doing it. The worst bit is the cold pad going on your back, and the slight burns afterwards, they gave me hydrocortisone cream for them but I have super sensitive skin the ecg pads make my skin sore. It will be fine and it feels great to wake up in nsr
Hi Dawn, so sorry after things going so well recently, I don’t remember my cardioversions and had no burns, I agree though whilst they are the easiest of all the procedures they were the most scary beforehand (not after).
Thank you hon I hope you continue to do as well as you had been. The doctor seems to be upset that this is happening to me and is determined to make me well. I just stopped the med for my parecarditis and within two days all of this started. Maybe it’s just me but I think there is a link. I had an EKG Monday my rate has dropped to 115 it was as high as 145 I feel like putting me back on my Multaq is working. I only started back on Friday. Thank you for the peptalk here’s hoping
Dawn I totally get what you say about being ‘worn out’ with it all. I think I feel the same! I think it is hard because the whole AF thing is a journey with no definite end or cure point. Even a successful ablation can’t be seen as a forever cure. It is this that Zi continue to struggle with. My husband also can’t quite take it in. He keeps saying things like “ well, after Thursdays ablation will you be cured?” I keep trying to explain but he really doesn’t quite get why I am going through so much for potentially so little. I think what keeps me going is the idea that ultimately after eliminating all other possibilities, there is always pace and ablate to fall back on and by that point I will be more than happy to go with that.
I have never knowingly had a cardio version but everyone on this forum that has , say it is nothing to worry about and if I need one I will not be worrying and believe me, I am usually a champion worrier. Good luck with everything.
Jane thank you so much. During my second ablation which was an RF I actually had my heart stop and know they did some thing then. I wasn’t aware of anything so I guess that makes it similar to what you all said about being put to sleep first. Thank you for responding take care of yourself and I hope everything works for you
Hi Dawn. My ablation was in June last year. Many months later, I had a long session of tachycardia up at 140bpm for days, and ended up in A&E (ER in US). They did little for me, mainly trying a large dose of beta blocker (metoprolol) without any effect. I eventually reverted to NSR myself, and they never offered a cardioversion. I've had briefer sessions since, but nothing now since April this year.
My point is that four months after the procedure is still early days on this path, and you might well come out of this and have no further problems. Don't get downhearted, an ablation isn't an instant cure by any means, we just hope we don't have to have two or more.
I had an svt ablation in May and was told I would need arib ablation after it was done. I was told no side effects and I would be fine the next day to go back to work. Well it was 7 weeks before I was okay and no episodes daily but still was having episodes of afib. Cardiologist said ablation was a complete success because at the time he saw me I was in NSR. Told me I wasn't having AF and couldn't tell if I was. I requested a monitor which showed episodes of AF and the cardiologists went into panic mode. I did not. Nutritionist told me to drink juice of 1 lemon first thing every morning. For the last 2 weeks since I started the lemon juice, no palpitations or anything. I read that electrolyte imbalance can cause arrhythmia. Working naturally to avoid all rx meds.
Thank you for your message. I have been back on my Multaq 4 days My heart rate has dropped to 115 it went from 145 to in the 120s So this is definitely a change. I had an EKG Monday afternoon so we will see what my EP/cardiologist has to say tomorrow
I usually know when my electrolytes and potassium are a bit off and I do keep sports drink in the refrigerator. My fingers are the first thing to cramp when my levels change. I may just try the lemon juice and see how that goes. Thank you again
Hi DawnTX, have had two followed by a Pacemaker and AV node ablated. Now back to as normal as possibel and only a blood thinner tablet. Do not worry it is a very common procedure with very little risk
Hi Dave thank you. So far all of the messages here have been uplifting and wonderful. My rate has dropped down to 115 I’m hoping the doctor will let me stay on my meds and see if that changes. I have been off my beta blocker since my follow up after my April procedure. I have been off my anti-arrhythmic for a couple of weeks now. I thought it was a bit too soon but I had pericarditis and they were treating that and I think wanted to clear everything else out. You are appreciated thank you I was NSR however even when I was I felt horrible and could barely breathe and felt like a car was on my chest I could not walk it was that bad. Perhaps it was the pericarditis but this feels quite a bit like it so maybe I need another round of the med for that. Just like all of you I am so tired of this I just want to wake up and be able to get up and do things simple things in the house would make me happy instead of struggling to breathe I pray I become a successful as the rest of you so far
Good morning Dawn, I was on Bisoprolol for some time prior to my procedure. They made me very tired and a little depressed too, once off them improvement quite quickly. Today I am back to normal with my heart beat regulated by the pacemaker between 70 and 120. I do check it regularly and it seems to average the 70 range, will be interested after having my 12 month check up for the pacemaker.
Remember its a normal procedure with a very small risk associated with it
Best Wishes
Dave
ps Had my worst game of golf yesterday for months !!!!!
Lol so sorry about the golf game. Being back on Multaq seems to be helping. My PR is now down to 113. Each day it seems to be dropping a little bit. I had my EKG on Monday it was 115 other than that my GP said it doesn’t look that bad. That was good news. My EP/cardiologist (he is both) is waiting to get the copy of the EKG. I told his person it is somewhere in their office because I was with my doctor when he sent it. My doctor is incredible I’m not so thrilled about the staff at times. Maybe they should only hire people that have heart issues so they get the sense of urgency that we have at times.
The good news is my numbers really fallen I am guessing from being back on my med. it looks like it’s going to be a wait and see situation for a little bit longer. I spoke with the head nurse this morning and had my say about feeling abandoned. I let it be known I know it’s not my doctor and gave her an earful of what’s been going on since my a fib came back. I immediately received an apology in writing from the person who has dropped the ball. She gave me all kinds of excuses. It’s obvious she was spoken to. If my doctor cared enough to say he was only giving until Tuesday then he considered me important. I am sure they are scared to death that he is going to learn of the shoddy way I’ve been treated I told the head nurse I would go back to Florida for my treatment if things do not improve but I do not want to lose my doctor here because he is incredible. I informed her if I had placed a call there he would’ve had me into the office either the same day or the next and I am not used to what has been going on. These people are working for one of the best of the best in cardiac care in the country perhaps world. He deserves a staff that supports him. I had been very ill after my procedure and had called the office a few times. Again the treatment was similar to this time. When I saw him at my follow up he asked why am I just hearing about this six weeks later. I informed him I had spoken with the office several times. I am pretty sure he addressed that to them at that time. His name is on the surgery he is the pioneer of it. I told the nurse about that today and she sounded concerned. I let her know he was already aware something was not being done correctly. The girl that apologized stated they never received the EKG from my GP. That’s the second time somehow I don’t think it is the fault of my GP. I didn’t say a word she had so many excuses. I wanted to sarcastically ask her if or when she was going to let me know she did not receive it.
My GP did them a favor and did me a favor saving me a two hour trip by doing the EKG in his office near my home. I will be sending a copy today and to 3 different places. There will be no excuse. When I do see my doctor I am going to make sure he is aware that it was not our fault he did not have the EKG. I have a feeling I was thrown under the bus about why he did not have it yet. It takes a lot to get me angry but when I am it is full speed ahead. I try to cut people slack and give them the benefit of the doubt. I only have one heart though and I said that to the nurse today. I have had one month of a good quality of life since my surgery the end of April. I am frustrated and upset. They did an enormous blood panel on me and again I was not given the results. It could be something besides the afib. The hospital has an incredible app where I can see everything but it still needs to be translated by medical staff and it’s not for the layman. If nothing is done this week I will take that horrible drive for an appointment with my doctor and you know I am going to tell him everything. As I said his name is on the surgery I had so you know he cares. It is only two years old.
Sorry for the novel I am still so frustrated it’s something as important as medical care is having trouble finding good staff. I hope that you are doing well.
I had two cardioversions and they were easy as pie. I actually looked forward to them as I was hoping they'd get me out of the a-fib loop I was in, and they did. I was out for about 5 minutes -- had an incredible dream in the process! -- and just like that, I was awake and felt 100% normal and better than ever. If you do need to have one, it's really not a big deal.
There is nothing to be afraid of about a cardioversion. You will be well sedated, and when you come to, you'll feel as if you've had a refreshing nap. At least that's the way it is in the US, do hope they do it the same way if you're in the UK. What I liked the least was having to lie still for about 45 minutes before I was taken back to my room. I've had at least a dozen. No big deal. Nothing to fear. You'll be fine.
Do not be afraid of cardioversion. I have had 22 cardioversions and 3 ablations and will be having an av node ablation next week. I have a pacemaker now and so looking foreward to "pace and ablate".
Thank you so much for the support you make it sound easy and I would love to have this pounding in my chest finally gone. The doctor put me back on my Multaq on Friday and Monday I received an EKG from my primary to send to my EP/cardiologist. He said it didn’t look that bad except for the fast heart rate. It was running about 145 then in the 120s and on Monday it dropped to about 115. I’m hoping the doctor will let me keep taking meds and see if it works. At least while lying here now it feels quiet. The moment I get up a pounding starts
Like the rest of us here all I want is some quality of life so thank you
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