Hi had my 3rd cardioversion yesterday.To be honest it is less than 24 hours since I went under more like 21 hours so I know anesthetic is still in sysstem. Head nurse said it qwent ok and only had to do one shock to get ,me back into sinus rythem. 1st cardio lasted 2 months, 2nd lasted almost one year until I had the covid booster and that put me back into afib.
Had to wait about one year from seeing doctor to having 3rd cardio. Just checked my pulse and it is more erratic than before I had cardio. True bpm are lower but sinus rythem is all over the place so it looks like the 3rd one only lasted a few hours,almost a waste of hospital time doing it. I have to go back in 6-8 weeks so they will check and find I am back in afib. I feel ok so no need to panic just deflated it did not work. I know afib for most will never go away so a cardiversion is really like a bit of sticking plaster but it still makes you feel down.
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dindy
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Any and all treatment for AF is for quality of life - so if your AF burden is debilitating and cannot be controlled with medication cardioversions are offered to see if these will put you back into NSR. Cardioversion even if it only lasts for a few hours shows that other treatments should work - like ablation. It just proves that you can revert back so an ablation could also be successful. When I had my 3 cardioversions I was given a number to call if I went back into Af. Not all places do this unfortunately. Just take it easy for a few days to a week, no alcohol or large meals, spicy meals or strong teas and coffee and maybe you could still revert back yourself.
I have read that stated on these boards previously - that any and all treatment for Afib is for quality of life . However untreated AFib raises the risk for problems like a heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, which could shorten life expectancy. So surely treatment of afib is equally important in preventing or delaying the risk of these other associated morbidities from developing or occurring .
Your next step is an ablation or if you and/or your EP do not think this is likely to work to continue on what ever medication you are on such as anticoagulants and if you can take them rate control medication - I can't so am only on anticoagulants, which also protects you from those risks - if your Chadvasc score is at the level for you to be on the medication. Are you on any medication? Have you had any Cardioversions Wilkie1? I notice you last posted about paying privately for an ablation. Are you any further forward with this?
EP says I'm no where near needing an ablation and he wouldn't consider it. Currently on 1.25 of bisoporal. Chad vas score 1 due to age and as in sinus rhythm so EP doesn't recommend that I should be on anticoagulant. Last Afib episode was in July for 12 hours and I reverted back into sinus rhythm myself. Still thinking of going privately to get a second opinion re ablation however it means travelling to get that opinion either to South of Ireland or to England neither of which is ideal. Thanks for your response.
I personally think you should follow your gut instinct and get a second opinion for a possible ablation on the NHS. If you go privately for a different EP consultation, they can put you on an NHS list for an ablation. I have been offered an ablation and my burden is extremely low in that I have only 1-2 Afib episodes a year, but I’m still going to do it. Your EP I’m afraid, sounds a bit out of touch. EPs have different views now which seems to have changed within the last few months.
Thanks for your advice Teresa. Locally in Northern Ireland I think that there are at least 3 EPs . They all work in the same team so they may not give contrary advice to their colleagues. Though I will consider a 2nd opinion from a local consultant before travelling further afield. I did quote the ESC guidelines to him which he was of course aware of but still remained with his position and of course the point in my going to an expert is that they can interpret broad population guidelines to my individual case.
Well that's fine you and your EP do not consider you need further treatment at the moment and CHADS VASC score shows no need for anticoagulation at the present time. When it comes time for further treatment - ie when you get more frequent bouts of AF or they start lasting longer then is the time to go forward for further treatment. Unless you wish to pursue this privately but cost of ablation must be nigh on £15,000 these days. A friend of mine lived with her paroxysmal AF from the age of 60 to over 70 before considering an ablation. Ufortunately, Covid got in the way of her ablation and then she died of a different genetic heart complaint at 78 in the middle of Covid
Sorry to hear that, Dindy Deflated is a very good word for how you must be feeling - it’s so hard to deal with the disappointment, isn’t it? I do hope that somehow you might revert back into NSR - worth keeping relaxed and breathing exercises etc. Let us know how you get on, won’t you? Jx
It must be a thorough disappointment having gone through all that to find it hasn't succeeded. Bad luck. Life takes us hither and thither, but too much of the thither can be tiring!
It’s time for an ablation., methinks. CV’s aren’t expected to last. I’ve had six, five of them in the last five months. That’s enough. My doctors agree.
My second ablation, this time for A-flutter, is February 6.
Meantime my heart is just fluttering away and I feel like a dishrag. Drugs have shown no help for either rate or rhythm control, and come with side effects that only exacerbate, double down on, the A-flutter symptoms that already make me feel crummy. Drugs are not the answer for me.
With the upcoming ablation #2, this time for flutter not fib, the success odds of returning to and staying in NSR are 90%-98%, depending on whose study you read. I am hopeful. Sending my best of hopes to you.
I really sympathise with you. I don’t seem to tolerate being in AFib very well either. I have had two cardioversions and awaiting a third. It’s not as if I ‘push the boat out’ too much and lead a life that would bring it on. However after having in and off AFib for 3 years it’s stresses me which just isn’t helpful.
Thanks for all your support it makes me feel I am not alone. I have been in permanent afib for several years now. The only time was when as I mentioned out of afib was when I had 2nd cardioversion. I have been on anticoagulants from the beginning and prescription to slow heart rate. I had a few problems with 1st ones now have changed to Edoxaban 60mg once a day and Viazem 120mg once a day. Been on these since before the covid shutdown and have had no side effects at all but I got to go to doctors every 6 months for a mot and all seems to be ok.
When I had my 2nd cardioversion they put me on Amiodarone for 6 months and I got to admit I was a bit unsure as I had read a lot of negative reports about this drug. Do not know if still on facebbok but there is or was a group on there tring to ban it. I was regulary checked out and had no overactive thyroid or any problems. They told me 6 months on Amiodoraone is save enough but long term could cause problems but in the short term can help you not to go back into afib.
This time because they asked me to go back on amiodorone 6 weeks before my 3rd cardioversion and again total of 6 months which I was ok with. The problem was as I have written did not work. I will give it another week and then phone the cardio dept up and ask it worth me to carry on with amiodorone. The only benefit which they may believe it is woth the 6 month couse is combined with the Viazem my bpm have come right down. As I am typing this reply on computer my bpm is 50. They told me even if at night if resting my bpm comes down to 30 not to worry,I suppose they only time you have to worry is when it comes down to 0 they you would not know anyway.
To be honest if I did not check my bpm and sinus rythem on my oximeter I would not even know I was in afib so maybe I am lucky but still respect afib and do not push myself too hard,heart comes first. They di mention the next step could/would be a ablation but will discuss that in 6-8 weeks time when I have to go back to cardio to see how I am getting on. It may be for me at least it will only drugs that can control it but it wil be what it will be.
for those that had cardioversion- I had one Sept and the. Went into Afib Nov- I haven’t had one since . Also since Sept my heart rate has been in 60 zone where as before cardioversion it was in 50’s… I am overdue for Afib (tracking for over a year) . I am wondering if anyone had an episode after cardioversion was done and then was fine ?
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Deflated is a very good word for how you must be feeling - it’s so hard to deal with the disappointment, isn’t it? I do hope that somehow you might revert back into NSR - worth keeping relaxed and breathing exercises etc. Let us know how you get on, won’t you? Jx
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