My husband had a cardioversion on Friday. It wasn't the same as usual when he has had Arrythmia but for severe atrial flutter and it was a rushed job in A & E where he was only partially sedated so he felt it. His heart rhythm/ speed is back to normal but he feels rubbish.
Normally after the procedure he feels well again. This time he is still a bit breathless, and constantly fatigued.
Two years ago he went into heart failure but this had improved a lot and he was nearly in normal range before this happened.
Anybody had a similar experience? Will he recover? He is saying if this is it for him he would rather die .
Thank you for listening
Debbie
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Debfro34
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I’m no expert on ablation but reading the AF Association info sheets helped put my mind at ease with my own procedure. Every ablation is different so there’s no reason to suppose your husband’s recovery will be the same each time and given the nature of the emergency he is most likely traumatised. Sounds awful poor chap.
I spent the first couple of weeks feet up or in bed following ablation. That’s what my body (and friends and family) told me to do. I wasn’t going to mess with that. At week eleven I’m still only just getting my energy back step at a time. It sounds like the exhaustion your husband is feeling is his body telling him to rest up and do nothing.
Thank you for the reply. He didn't have an ablation this time just the cardioversion and as I say he normally feels so much better straight away. We will see what happens after his 2 weeks rest
Well, that's not good at all. Poor chap. I would give it some more time as these conditions wax and wane a good deal. If he's truly feeling that down I would recommend seeing his GP to discuss things.
Has he got a home ECG or similar (I use one made by Wellue that has an AI function, but the Apple Watch or Kardia are all very good)? That might show that his heart is still not yet settled down in some way.
Thank you Steve. His biggest fear is more heart failure and feeling awful all the time. He is a chap with lots of hobbies and interests, a busy job and a big family and he hates the fact he can't keep up. I will try to get him to see a GP.
That and time will help him out, I bet. Heart failure is a diagnosis that does strike fear. My cousin has it and went into a full on period of depression for several months. He's out and about golfing again now, though. Another friend has been told he has it and it does slow him down a lot, for sure, but he's over the initial anxiety and back to enjoying life (or at least seems to be). I have to say that I fear it. I expect lots here do. I wouldn't ever minimise it but having seen two people cope well with it, I think its bark is worse than its bite.
Poor you as a wife of a husband with persistent AF, stage 2 heart failure and recent stroke as well as failed cardio version I can understand how stressed you will be feeling as I have been on and still am on this rollercoaster I’d like to get off . I hope he improves gradually , ring the docs if your feeling really worried x
Nearly all my episodes of afib end with urgent cardioversions in A&E and I always feel awful for 1-4 weeks after. But contact your EP if you are worried xxx
What type of cardioversion did he have. There are 2 types. Chemical and electric shock.For Aflutter my EP prefers the chemical procedure but it drops my BP so low that i feel horrid for a day or two.
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