Cardioversion

[Jonhel]

My cardiologist says that I should have a cardioversion as my heart has 4 second pauses. He says that the pauses are nothing to worry about at below 6 seconds.

Do any of you have pauses like this?

[Mugsy15]

Your question may be a little outside the experience and knowledge of most of us on here, as Cardioversion as a treatment for pauses in rhythm is not something I've come across or seen discussed on the forum, so you have made me think about my own experience and thereby added to my own personal knowledge, thank you!

Before my Cardioversion and subsequent Ablation, along with various other arrythmias including AF, my heart would pause occasionally; sometimes for long enough to make me begin to pass out, although it always kicked back in before I did. It hasn't happened since my CV, so your cardiologist's plan does makes sense to me.

If you are concerned about the procedure itself, please don't be; there really is nothing to it. You'll enter a waiting area with several others on the list for the day. Some of them will have had it done several times and they'll be the relaxed ones as they know it's nothing to be anxious about. You will then be shown to a cubicle to get changed and wait your turn. You'll take a whiff of anaesthetic then wake up shortly after in a small recovery room as it takes only minutes. I never felt the slightest pain or even discomfort and felt good when I woke.

I hope you are reassured to get it done and that it is as successful as mine was.

[Jonhel in reply to Mugsy15]

Thank you. That is very reassuring. I do get bouts of dizziness which pass quickly which I’m told is related to the pauses. My cardiologist told me to go directly to hospital if this progresses to fainting / blacking out x

[Mugsy15 in reply to Jonhel]

Yes, I had the same and had almost forgotten about the dizziness attacks.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Not taking Metoprolol?

Metoprolol gave me 2 sec pauses nd breathlessness during exertion. It was banned.

Earler in my life I was given Ace Blocker which made me cough, Inhibace. Banned as well.

Bisoprolol is suited to Afers. No interference or not so targeted on breathing systems.

cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)

[Jonhel in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Not taking Metropol. I’m on Bisoprolol, Digoxin, Rivaroxaban and Candersartin. I was on Perindopril Ace Inhibitor but changed to Candersartin because of the cough x

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Jonhel]

Hi

Good but something is causing the pauses. Are you sweating alot?

cheri JOY

[Jonhel in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

No, not sweating. I just thought that the pauses were to do with the AFib.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Jonhel]

Hi

Digoxin a very old med has not been added to my meds.

WITH EACH MED ON OR THEN CHANGED I HAD A 24-HR HEART MONITOR TO RECORD.

Hasn't your cardiologist done this?

I would say scary feeling having your heart pause! ????

Well, the AF comes into play when your heart misbehaves, then you become anxious.

I hope they can sortit for you.

cheri jOY

[Jonhel in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thank you. I didn’t know that my heart paused until he told me but the fleeting dizzy spells are probably related to it. He said that pauses weren’t serious until they reached 6 seconds. I guess the cardioversion is worth a try if there’s a chance that it could get me back to sinus rhythm with no AFib or pauses x

[mav7]

You do not mention your afib status, but assume the cardioversion is to convert you to Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR) ?

Lot of info on "pauses" on the 'net, may want to google.

[Jonhel in reply to mav7]

Yes, I was diagnosed with AFib last July. I felt dreadful and was taken into hospital with breathing difficulties and difficulty getting my heart rate down. Once my medication was sorted and tweaked, I felt a lot better. My AFib has continued since then but I’m ok really. I was at a follow up appointment with the cardiologist on Tuesday and he explained about the 4 second pauses and recommended the cardioversion.

[mav7 in reply to Jonhel]

Respectively suggest you ask him about taking an antiarrythmic drug after the cardioversion to hopefully maintain Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR). As you may have read here, cardioversions may not last.

[Jonhel in reply to mav7]

Thank you. Yes, I had noticed that there are a lot of posts about cardioversions not working or about the success only lasting for a short while.

My medication seems to be working well for me at the moment as I feel much better than I did last summer.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to mav7]

Hi

Anti-arrthymic drugs can be detrimental. Because of the pauses he should have ECHO first to see if he has a normal heart structure.

CCB Diltiazem works as an anti-arrhymic drug bur isn't.

It controls my rapid h/rate. Was over 200.

cheri JOY

[mav7 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

You are correct. Reason I asked her to consult with the cardiologist about the antiarrythmic drug.

[Jonhel in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I’ve had two Echos. The first one in September showed some impaired systolic function but it was repeated as my heart rate was too high to guarantee accuracy. The repeat in September showed better function.

[Eiadio]

Dear Jonhel,

I too had pauses in heart beat during sleep and up to 6 seconds duration. This was discovered during Holter monitoring.

I had a cardio version and pacemaker implant the following day in October’23

Both procedures were painless and I am thoroughly restored to full health and exercise every day…. runs in the park.

Trust your cardiologist 🙂

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Eiadio]

Hi

Great I hope this helps Jonhel.

Convert then Pace Maker. Not a Difribricator?

cheri JOY

[Jonhel in reply to Eiadio]

That’s brilliant. Yes, the pauses were picked up through the Holter monitoring. The cardiologist also mentioned a pacemaker further down the line. Thank you so much for your encouraging post x