Has a cardio version caused a different arrhythmia for anybody else?

[Mollybobs]

Hey all,

Been a member a while but more a reader than a poster.

I was pencilled in for an ablation but got cold feet and decided on a cardio version as they normally work for me.

Although the cardio version put my AF back in sinus rhythm it caused tachycardia so they gave me adenosine to bring heart rate down.

When I got home my bpm was 172 but I knew it wasn’t AF so went to A&E the next morning.

Anyway to cut a long story short, after lots of the usual meds pumped into me and another failed cardio version on the cardio ward, I was put on a 24hr amiodarone drip fed through my groin.

I spent 4 nights on the ward before being discharged with a loading dose of amiodarone, this has now brought my heart rate down to 60 bpm.

However I’m not very tolerant of amiodarone so not intending taking it for long and I’ve now got an ablation booked for 23rd November.

Hindsight, hey!

[BobD Volunteer]

The last cardioversion I had in 2017 "killed me" and I woke up an hour later with several broken ribs from the CPR so my sympathies. They are not risk free.

[Mollybobs in reply to BobD]

Thanks for the reply BobD.

Sorry you had such a negative experience.

I knew there was a risk as there is with any proceedure but thought ablation risk was greater. Hopefully I’m wrong though🤞🏻

[jeanjeannie50]

I've had loads of cardioversions, they always put me back into normal sinus rhythm. I loved having them because they were a quick cure. Was told 4 years ago I wouldn't be offered anymore and am now in constant AF but at a low rate of 60-90bpm.

Good luck with your ablation.

Jean

[Mollybobs in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for the reply jeanjeannie,

I too reverted back after one shock on my 2 previous cardioversions.

Thing is my heart rate was below 100 before the proceedure but 170 after.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Mollybobs]

Yes, that doesn't sound good at all. Really feel for what you must have gone through. I've been in hospital many times in the past, with my heart rate high. After my 3rd ablation things were a lot better. I think I let my AF get too bad, hence first two ablations didn't do very much.

Jean

[Mollybobs]

Not sure if it was SVT or AFL but EP told me to stop amiodarone 3 weeks prior to ablation so hopefully it’ll show up and he can kill 2 birds with one stone 🙂

[mike1961]

So they didn't tell you what the 170bpm arrhythmia was ? Sounds like atrial tachycardia. You say it is now back to 60bpm. Did you notice it go back as in wham 170 back to 60 or did it drift down over a period of hours/days ?

[Mollybobs]

Differing opinions mike1961, one cardiologist said Flutter the other SVT

However my EP thinks it’s more likely AVNRT.

Yes my HR went down in a wham, felt really strange.

[MikeThePike]

Hi there, I think its well known that cardioversion can cause other arrhythmias. You are applying external electrical currents to the heart. That is not a natural thing to do. Its a common, well understood treatment but unnatural all the same.

[Summer60]

My cardio version put me into Bradycardia (slow heart rate) which was worse than the AF for me, but I had a Pacemaker put in to stop my heart rate falling below 60bpm. I now take Flecainide and Bisoprorol daily and touch wood, everything has been fine since.

[Mollybobs]

Hey Summer60,

I also have a pacemaker due to bradycardia but believe mine was caused by the medication I take.

The consultant at the hospital upped my bisoprolol to 10mg and put me on Amiodarone as they weren’t concerned about my heart rate due to the pacemaker, however my blood pressure is through the floor.

I’ve took it upon myself to stop the amiodarone and reduce the bisoprolol back to my usual dose 2.5, hoping it holds out until I have my ablation 🤞🏻