Mine is due soon. Would really appreciate some feedback on forum members actual experience both on the day and the the following couple of weeks.
Would also be good to know who had new medication straight away afterwards to try and make the procedure successful.
Thanks for any contributions.
I had cardioversion a few years ago, although nervous the nurse walked with me to the theatre, was on the op table and the next thing I was awake. Walked back to a comfy chair have a rest , family took me home. It’s like a new lease of life I don’t get as breathless when walking. I’m taking Amiodarone, apixaban, and candisartin . Good luck. No need to worry.
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
Really there is nothing to it. More time talking to the nurses and anesthetist than in the theatre and I knew nothing whatsoever about it. Was barely there for 10 minutes before I was back in the room having a drink and later an sandwich before being taken home by my wife. Took it easy for a couple of weeks as wanted to ensure it lasted. I have had 3 the first one with no change in medication lasted 13 months, second lasted about 6 months with medication to help - amiodorone and third lasted 15 months. Its fantastic as it feels like you have a new lease of life. Just take care no alcohol, caffeine or heavy spicy meals and light exercise when you go back to exercising and work up slowly.
Take care of your self and be sensible int he couple.
Good Luck.
Jean is spot on… take your time to recover in that first week especially. The most I did on about day 3 was to go for an easy level walk along the ocean path. I continued that and slowly increased my pace on about day 7. I had my last CV 2 weeks ago tomorrow. My cardiologist likes me to take Flecainide and metoprolol before and after a CV to help settle the heart. At about week 2 post CV I start to titrate the dose down of the Flecainide for a couple more weeks then stop it. I then continue on a low dose of the metoprolol. The procedure is straight forward and they may do a TOE if you’ve been in AF more than a couple of days so they can see if there are any issues around the heart, again it’s a straight forward procedure.
The worse bit is the freezing cold pad they put on your back, ( I hate the cold) it takes more time to set it all up than to do the cardio version. There’s no fancy room in Leicester just pull the curtains round on the ward and zap. On occasions I’ve had an oblong outline of the pad front and back which is a slight burn, they gave me hydrocortisone cream for it and it cleared in about 3 days. It’s a wonderful feeling when you wake up in NSR
What amazed me was that about 6-8 of us had all been given the same appointment time 8am. A small ward with beds had been set up and it was there that we had our cardioversions performed.
I’ve had two. My second, I was apparently apparently given a couple of shocks which did leave my skin a bit sore & Aloe Vera sorted it brilliantly.
I think I'm up to 8 now. To be honest I'd rather have one than a tooth out! With my last one, I was put on Amiodarone on the lead up and have stayed in nsr, fortunately, for almost 2 years, having remained on Amiodarone since.
If you've been in persistent AF, the feeling of being in nsr again after the procedure, is amazing.
Try not to worry too much and make sure upu have some Savlon at home for any sore patches from the pads they use.
Have a few days rest afterwards. You don't want to go daft, in the euphoria of nsr and undo the job.😊
I've had two, and both were extremely easy. I was wheeled to the prep area and waited maybe 10 minutes; then to the cardioversion area itself where I was given an IV of -- what I'm not sure! It knocked me out, and five minutes later I was awake and in normal sinus rhythm. I had no aftereffects whatsoever, and felt marvelous. I went home and that was that.
The cardioversion was a piece of cake. Had it done yesterday, and the worst thing is the itching skin on my back where they put the pad. Did not sleep at all last night due to itching. Feels like a thousand needles piercing your skin. Only thing so far to help is cold compresses to where the patch was placed. The one on front ,no problem.
I have has two cardioversions and they are quite easy to endure. You should have no problems at all.
Hi Hallane,
Had my first Cardio about a month ago, much like you i was very anxious and could easily have turned around and gone back home, but i didnt, like the others have said it is a simple procedure, a senior nurse fully explains what is going to happen, you have to sign for the procedure to take place.
A canula is inserted in the back of your hand then I was then wheeled in my bed into a small room where there were about half a dozen people, someone behind my head held an oxygen mask over my face and i was told to breath deeply, then an anaesthetist said he was going to put me to sleep, i saw him putting a syringe into the canula of white liquid................. and that was it !! next thing i know i woke up in the bed and it was back on the small ward, all done, didnt know anything didnt feel anything, to be honest my first thought was i must have dropped off to sleep as i was tired having been awake all night worrying about going through this procedure.
Had an oxygen mask on for about 30 mins they then removed it and after another 30 mins i was given a cup of tea and a sandwich, the senior nurse explained all was well and i was back in sinus rhythm after 2 shocks, evidently they only give a maximum of 3 shocks, she then told me i was to phone my wife to come and collect me from the ward as you cannot drive. Really dont know why i was in such a panic it sounds worse than what it is, i would go and have another one tomorrow if the Consultant said i needed one. Incidentally i had an appointment with the Consultant about a week later and he told me to take it easy for the first couple of weeks after the cardio and then to start nice steady excercise ie going for a walk on flat surfaces and build up after that.
He left me on all the same meds Bisaprolol, Apixaban,Entresto,Dapagliflozin,Furosemide.
Month later and i feel well, shortness of breath has reduced a lot and i am feeling good.
Really nothing to worry about you will be fine, lets us know how you get on, Steve
Cardioversion 
1st Cardioversion
Cardioversion 
Cardioversion
