can I fly less than a week after a cardioversion

[Wilky57]

Hi. I have been given a date for a cardioversion,which I’m really happy about but we will be flying to Majorca 5 days later. Should I ask to postpone the cardioversion or will it be ok? The holiday is very much a beach/reading lots of books type of holiday but I don’t want to anything that might spoil my chances of it being a success. Thank you in advance for your help.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hmm, I had a cardioversion in 2019 a few days before an October flight to Croatia. I was afraid to swim in case it set my AF off. I went with my daughter and she got in a huff because I refused to race around and keep up with her walking speed! To be honest I'd say put the cardioversion off and have it after you get back. Who knows, swimming on holiday may put you back into normal rhythm. At some stage I went back into AF and as I'd already had a cardioversion earlier in the year I was refused a third one and since then have been left in constant AF.

Go and enjoy your holiday doing and eating what you want. That's if your AF isn't making you feel poorly.

Jean

[Wilky57 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean. I hadn’t thought about swimming. I think you’re right. I should ask for a different date. I feel so bad when the NHS are so stretched though.

[Tapanac in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi jean

I was hoping to see one of your or Bob’s posts. I’ve just been told I am now in permanent afib and also told to stop flecainide. The consultant was in such a hurry on the phone and didn’t give me a chance to ask should I wean off the flecainide or stop immediately

I think I saw that you were told the same. I did ask the forum a few days ago and I received so many lovely answers, but they were so mixed I was confused again

I also got on to my GP and believe it or not he wasn’t sure! I tried to get back to consultant, no luck, and his Secretary voicemail no answer

Hope you well. Best wishes

Pat

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Tapanac]

I was told to stop taking my Flecainide immediately as it was causing more problems with my heartrate than helping. You may find you have a few little stronger episodes of your heart racing higher than usual afterwards as your heart has become used to being restrained. Just ignore them as best you can and hopefully your heart will settle and beat a little better. I'd much rather be in this constant low rate AF than have the Flec draining me. Stopping that drug gave me a new lease of life.

Good luck.

Jean

[Tapanac in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean. Very kind of you to reply so quickly. Before the consultant put down the phone (he was talking to someone else in the office at the same time) I said to him that I had just been diagnosed with a tumour in my pelvic area (more tests today Ct scan) snd although he did say he was sorry he just said put the heart on the back burner!!! Then didn’t answer the weaning part so thank you for coming to my aid

lol pat x

[CDreamer]

Presumably you are in persistent AF now? I would imagine it would depend upon how successful the CV is. If you would be prepared to fly pre CV then I can’t imagine why you shouldn’t be able to post CV - if successful you will feel great, if not successful you haven’t lost anything and you could still travel. Just ensure you have very good travel insurance to where ever it is you are holidaying.

Best wishes for successful CV and long lasting NSR.

[Wilky57 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your advice. I was so excited to have a date for a cardioversion because I have been in permanent AF since February. I think I’d better speak to someone on Monday. I have upgraded my holiday insurance. You just never know, do you?

[Blearyeyed]

Personally , if it wasn't medically urgent for me to have a cardioversion I'd reorganise for after a holiday that involved a lot of travel , particularly air travel.Being on a plane can cause a lot of changes in blood pressure and heart rate . If you'd only just had the cardioversion your body would only just be settling to the effect of the treatment and more sensitive to that type of trigger.

[Wilky57 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you very much. Reluctantly I agree with you