Bit apprehensive about it as they stop the heart and restart . I hope the success rate is good . We thought he would be having an ablation but maybe trying this first . Only positive stories please as it will make me even more anxious . Thank you
Regards Jackie
I've had several and can assure you there's nothing to a cardioversion and the following is what I've experienced.
You go to the hospital, sit around waiting for about an hour for your turn. You go in, get undressed and put on one of their gowns. You lie on a bed and someone comes and puts a cannula in the back of your hand and you're wired up to a machine that's showing your heart rate. The team turn up all bright and happy (doc and some nurses). You have the GA injected into your cannula, are zapped and then wake up a few minutes later and for me I'm always back in normal sinus rhythm. The feeling of joy is like no other and gratitude to everyone involved sweeps over me - honestly I could kiss their feet!
At my hospital they want you to eat some toast and have a cup of tea before leaving, that's it! They tell you that you need to have someone with you for the next 24hrs and are told not to sign any documents during that time.
A word of warning though. Afterwards don't do anything to raise your heart rate for a week or so, no walking up hills, or lifting anything heavy. Allow your heart to gain strength beating at it's correct rate. I once made the mistake of walking up a hill the day after a cardioversion and my heart went straight back into AF. Oh, no alcohol for a while after either.
Best wishes
Jean
Thank you 🙏 I didn’t realise it was a pre cursor for an ablation I thought it was instead of so thanks again for info
I’m sure you have heard this before, a CV is normally a crucial part of a very commonly used treatment plan to see if a patient in persistent AF can be reverted back into normal sinus rhythm and assuming it works, as most do, even for a short while, and he feels better whilst in rhythm then the chances are the next step will be an ablation. We can all understand why you are both apprehensive, no one enjoys having things done to the ticker but this will be over and done before you know it. One important word of caution, having read some of your earlier posts, I see your husband recently had a stroke. It’s absolutely crucial that he follows the instructions given regarding taking anticoagulants before and after the procedure. If he misses one for whatever reason, they will not proceed and don’t even think about fibbing if he does!
Follow Jeans advice and he (and you) will be fine……..
Thank you yes they stated that on the phone call that they would have to postpone if he missed one but we have a tablet box to make sure he doesn’t miss any of his meds daily . Thank you
I always try not to jump to the wrong conclusions 😉. Best of luck for Friday week.👍
Thank you
I have had many cardioversions and every time it returned me to Sinus Rhythm. I always felt wonderful afterwards when I woke up.
Never a long term fix however and I have also had a number of ablations which in the end were the solution.
Pete
Thank you for replying 👍
My first three cardioversions lasted 10 years each! Have a friend that was cardioverted over 40 years ago and no afib since!
Unfortunately, you tend to get more negative stories on the support forums because those with successful cardioversions may not need support.
The procedure itself is short and painless with quick recovery.
Good luck with your husbands cardioversion.
Jim
Thank you 👍
Thank you for your really nice message . I think I still have a bit of pst after finding him near unconscious next to me in bed in the early hours and keep thinking if I hadn’t checked on him what could have happened as well as not being listened to in A and E two days before his stroke . When I was trying to wake him it brought back memories of when I was 13 trying to wake my mum up after she took an overdose , I used to stay home from school sometimes to look after her as she had mental health problems . It was only when I went upstairs to ask if she wanted a drink that I found the suicide note and empty tablet boxes and remember shaking her to wake her up and she wouldn’t . Luckily she survived as they said ten minutes later and she would have been dead , so I had the same thoughts with my husband if I had been later . She died a year later after complications from an operation . Sorry for the ramble lol but good to unload sometimes, Have a good day everyone x
💞
Your story about the probable cause of your PTSD and associated anxiety has moved me greatly, and no doubt many others. Scratch the surface of most peoples lives and you find such traumas. Thank you for sharing those details of your personal life. Such sharing brings our Forum community much closer, and that's good news. Light in the darkness.
That’s interesting Jim that your cardioversions lasted so long, were you on meds at the same time to control the heart?
No meds at all for over 30 years other than a few weeks after each cardioversion. Convinced that afib is over treated even more than it's under treated.
Jim
Jackie I’ve had a few and all been a breeze. As said before take it easy for a couple of weeks only walking. It’s not like getting a defibrillator hit when your heart stops, they hit you usually for that procedure with up to 350 joules and it’s not synchronised. With a CV it is synchronised to give you the hit at a precise wave point and the energy usually starts at 70 joules and they scale it up if it doesn’t work first time.
Oh thank you . Yes I imagined it being like a shock when they bring someone back to life🤔
Hi, I know you only asked for positive stories but wife has had 2 failed CVs. The positive note on this is that she is no worse off than before the procedure. She was the only one of the group of women that day who did not revert back into NSR. There is a slightly increased risk of stroke due to the procedure which is why taking the anti-coagulants is so important as mentioned by others.
Yes thank you he can def do without having another one ☹️
I hada CV 2 months ago to bring me out of atrial flutter and so far, so good as I'm still in NSR. Of all the hospital procedures I've had in the last year, it was the most comfortable. The sedation was lovely and I felt fine afterwards, aside from a light burn and a slightly bitten tongue. I wrote a blog about it on the day if you want a blow by blow! holeyunexpected.wordpress.c...
Yes I read it thank you . Hope your still ok 👍
I hope it was helpful - and yes, still in NSR and cracking on with my level 4 cardiac rehab, cycling 20km of the weekly 60km commute and on run 5 of couch 2 5k. Your husband will be absolutely fine with the CV. All best to you both 💐
Thank you I’ll keep you posted how it goes . Your doing so well 🙌
I've had eleven. They are a cinch. Sedative, fall asleep for a few mins, wake up with heart hopefully back in rhythm. Feel bit worn out for a week or two (I get fast AF) and teeny burn on chest, itchy more than painful. A modicum of discomfort in chest for a day, like you've been kicked! Hope it all goes well ❤️🩹
Six DCCV and all easy peasy. No worries.
Hi Jackie I had a cardioversion on Wednesday, Consultant wasnt sure if would work, said worth trying though, but it went back to NSR immediately, so far stayed in NSR, must admit doing as told and being careful for few days as Jean as said. It was done under sedation and anaethetist had warned me because of my history they may have to use a general, but it was fine with sedation, no problem at all. Tell your husband its ok and worth doing, couldnt believe the difference I felt straight away
Thank you . Hope it works for Paul
Cardioversion plus flecanide worked for me for several years and was easy.
Then a six day pack of prednisone put me into persistent Afib and then ablation.
Good luck!
I had two and they were easy as pie. The actual procedure was all of 5 minutes (prep time is additional), I was put under, and woke up in NSR. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I had to -- that's a joke, by the way!
76 years old with A F
apixaban and hematuria 
shortness of breath
3% Afib burden and proposed medication
