Hello everyone. I had my son in February and the week after I went into permanent AF. This is well controlled with biosporadol 1.25 and I actually feel quite well considering I have two young children!
Went to private EP as NHS cardiology still haven’t made me an app. He said I should have cardioversion as heart is all normal and good chance this was brought on by pregnancy.
I have put off cardioversion for a month or so as I’m really nervous. Have never had GA and the thought of having my heart shocked scares me although they have said it’s a day procedure. I guess I’m just looking for some reassurance and also an idea of how long your cardioversions have lasted?
Taking Edoxoban for last few months and they have advised I come off beta blocker the day before so heart rate doesn’t go too low after the cardioversion.
Thanks
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Sarahhhhhhhh
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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.
I have had a couple of cardioversions and they really are very straightforward. Like you I was nervous the first time, but the cardio team soon put me at ease. Apart from the waiting around while they put a cannula in the hand (for light anaesthetic) and pads on the chest, the whole procedure is very quick. You’ll be eating a sandwich and going home soon after. Most people on this forum seem to have had cardioversions and I’ve never heard anyone having any problems with it.
The results vary - some people stay out of AF for years while for others AF quickly returns. But even if you’re only in NSR for a few days it means further procedures such as cardio ablation can be offered.
I think being young it’s really important you take up the treatments on offer. AF doesn’t kill you but it can become more difficult to treat later on, and it saps your energy which you need a lot of as a parent! Wishing you and your family good health.
I would listen to the EP and have the cardioversion as soon as possible. The longer you stay in atrial fibrillation the more difficult it may be to eventually get out of it.
Electro cardioversion it's not as scary as it sounds. Many of of us here have had it, including myself.
As to anesthesia, at least in the United States it is not performed under general anesthesia, but rather under sedation.
That means you shouldn't be aware of anything, but there will be no tube down your throat The procedure is very quick, just minutes, so you will not be under the anesthesia very long as opposed to other procedures, such as ablation.
Cardioversions can vary in terms of how long they last, but from what your EP says, yours could conceivably last forever. My first three cardioversions lasted 10 years each, but none of my afib episodes were caused by pregnancy 😀
Just do it and get on with your young life and without the medications you now need to keep your heart rate down.
I really hope mine last that long! Were you on any medications afterwards? Also did you drink? Can’t say I get much time for socialising with two young children but wouldn’t like to think my wine drinking days are completely over at 34!
They put me on a rate medicine and a blood thinner for a few weeks afterward the cardioversion, then nothing. I was always pretty much just a social drinker and continued to be. So I basically returned to my normal life before the cardioversion.
That said, an afib episode can be kind of a wake up/reminder that things should be looked after. So with hindsight -- even though I always managed my weight pretty well and exercised regularly -- I wish I paid a little more attention to managing blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and diet. But I think those things are important whether you have atrial fibrillation or not.
I don't think a couple of glasses of wine at dinner would hurt you and might even help, but heavy drinking is discouraged and binge drinking is a known afib trigger --not that it would pertain to you, but while we're on the subject.
Also a number of us choose not to drink so it's a very individual thing.
I believe each one is different. I was under GA and it was pretty much an all day affair. I forget what they called it now but first they check to make sure everything is OK inside by putting a scope or a camera. They numb you quite well before you have to swallow that and you pretty much are out of it after that the last thing I remember was being told to bite on the block that goes between your teeth. I was there for about six hours. A lot of it is prep. Also waiting for different meds to take affect once you were out of it. It seems like you awaking right back up, but you are not. They were wonderful with me. somehow when I woke, I knew it was successful. I could feel a smile. I also had a terrible case of the giggles which probably was the cocktail that they gave me before starting everything lol. I had arrived in a wheelchair and was able to walk out what a wonderful feeling
unfortunately my only lasted 3 1/2 weeks but I will tell you those were wonderful weeks. they attempted another one during Christmas week and had plans to keep me in five days to monitor me on a new medication 24 seven sadly nothing worked so the whole plan was canceled. I have a pacemaker now if you ever get to the point don’t be afraid it’s the best thing they could’ve done for me. I feel wonderful.
I had no other options, which is why the cardioversion was being done as I had been in tachycardia from the beginning of my a fib, having both atypical a fib and atypical flutter I have no regrets other than I wish it had been done for me sooner
if they can get you into sinus rhythm, you are gonna be one happy person. Try to avoid stress, which will not be easy being a new mother. Definitely avoid alcohol. You can test yourself if you want, but I can tell you how sensitive I am to it that even with the pacemaker I go right into flutter the only difference now is it cannot do any harm if you want to have a drink and you end up in a fib it probably won’t take you long to realize you don’t care that much about the drink. even a heavy male can trigger it. it’s up to you what you want to tolerate best of luck.
Sounds like you had a TOE (trans oesophageal echocardiogram) to check that there were no clots in the heart which a DCCV may dislodge and cause a stroke. This is normally only used if the patient has NOT been anticoagulated for the required period prior to DCCV. I had one many years ago before permanent warfarin.
Its is good that you know that cardioversion (DCCV) is not a cure for AF but for many people it can last ages especially if this is the first such AF event. ~
The procedure is a breeze. Its not really General anaesthetic more a sedation for a few seconds. You will be taken to the anti room of an operating theatre where you will be prepared. A canaula is fitted into a vein in your arm and two pads placed either each side of your chest or one in front and one on your back. You will also be wired for an ECG. When the doctor is ready some fairy juice is put into your canula and whilst your are off playing with the fairies they give you a shock and your heart will jump back into rhythm. You may have slight "sunburn" type discomfort where the pads are placed but aqueous cream sorts this out very quickly.
There are people here who have had many DCCVs (20+)
Sarah, if I tell you I've had 28 cardioversions and live to tell the tale does that make you feel any better ?! My last 2, which were only weeks back, were sedation , not GA, and i was completely out of it. No problem. I was home a few hours later and I never got a cup of tea ( never mind the toast!)I have had GA in the past for this procedure though.
My children were primary school age when I first started on this merry go round.
I've had cardioversions last for 3/4 years, many 12 months and some 3/6 months
It’s hard that it has started while my children are so young but it makes me feel better that people seem to be living with it ok and for many years. Want to be as healthy as possible for my babies!
Sarah, take note of what your cardiologist said that this could just have been brought on by pregnancy and accept the cardioversion. Just take it easy for a couple of days. You are young so should bounce back.
I'm sure you have enough to occupy your mind with your young family. Enjoy your life and don't let AF get in the way.
Ps...I see you have mentioned alcohol and your wine drinking (sounds like my daughter scared she would 'go off' wine....as I did...after giving birth!). Let's be honest here....alcohol is a big trigger for some but needn't be. Time will tell! You may be able to tolerate it well but no binges!
Thanks Jalia appreciate your replies! Just got to take it all one day at a time I suppose. I have never been a binge drinker but yes would be sad to give up a glass of wine occasionally,
Hi Sarah I think of cardioversion as resetting a clock and it takes just a few moments .I dont remember my first one . The last one l had was done with sedation not a GA and I was allowed home within a few hours though not allowed to drive myself.
The procedure was done by 2 nurses and I asked if it was ok to use my slow breathing technique as a distraction the nurse said yes then I opened my eyes and was back on the ward .
I guess having a new baby makes it an extra worry for you , try not to worry and enjoy your baby .
This is very unfortunate Sarah and yes, such things can happen with childbirth. I would take reassurance from the fact that your heart is normal and apart from the A/F performing well so, in my opinion, if it was me I would go with the cardio inversion, and I don't say this lightly, my reasons being: Age/young family/normal sound heart/drugs. In other words, you are very young and if, as your specialist suggests, this happened as a result of childbirth then once the inversion is done you should be back to normal. You are taking drugs that are necessary at the moment for rate control but if you can return to normal sinus rhythm then no more drugs and for me that would be a big plus. After this, regular checkups to ensure all is well and take it from there. If, worst case scenario, A/F returns then re-assess but for now I would be positive, going forward, a long and happy life to live bringing up your family and living a good life. Good luck Sarah and good luck with your little Family x
Trust me when I say it does, you have think positive always, difficult at times I know, but grit your teeth and take control, I always feel better when I think I'm in control lol huggggs
I have read that pregnancies can cause just this. What I gather might have occurred is that the heart expanded naturally during pregnancy (any weight increase will need a bigger heart, but the number of heart cells in it is fixed); this then stretched the atrium's cells a little, and stretched atrial cells are more prone to forming (safe) irregular rhythms that pass by the heart's natural pacemaker to create palpitations (the natural PM is a tiny bundle of cells in the top right of the atrium called the sino-atrial, or SA, node).
Also, the swelling of your growing baby will have likely pushed the intestines and stomach upwards into the diaphragm and, this, physically against the heart. This is known to be able to set off ectopic ("missed" or "premature") beats. These create palpitations and can even spark atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias in prone individuals.
The chances are all will settle down. There are a few other aspects of health that often are present alongside arrhythmias: obesity, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid conditions. Keeping all in healthy ranges will help lower the chances of arrhythmia happening, with perhaps the most important being to keep blood pressure normal.
cardioversions are nothing to be nervous about. Please don’t worry. Very simple snd quick snd dont feel a thing. You are asleep (not often GA more a sedative) but usually not more than 5 minutes. You do have to take care afterwards as don’t want to ruin the procedure do as you have two little children perhaps have help
I had my 8th in April and its natural to be nervous. Never had GA just sedation. The relief, if it works, is immediate so I would get it done if its on offer. Congratulations on the new baby.😊
It depends on what treatment options are available for how the AF affects you. Beta blocker medication is usually the first option and cardioversion.As yours may be pregnancy induced, hopefully, you'll just need one DCCV and then never be bothered by AF again.
Some of us end up with it pestering us long term so, cardioversions generally help until we get to the next stage of any treatment or just to give relief to long term sufferers.
Try not to worry about it too much. I'd rather have a cardioversion than a tooth extraction any day of the week 😁.
I've had 2 cardioversions. I'm much older, but the first one lasted 3 1/2 years, and I'm now nearly 4 months back in normal rhythm after my 2nd one. I definitely feel better in normal rhythm.
If your AF was brought on by pregnancy, it sounds as if you have a good chance of staying in NSR (normal rhythm) afterwards. Also, if AF does return, you may be able to be considered for an ablation, which can often keep AF away for good, or at least for a long time. Your EP will be able to advise on this.
Yes. I've stayed on bisoprolol throughout, at various doses, and a "blood thinner". But it may be different for you.
I found that I seemed to get ectopic heartbeats with certain foods e.g. aged and processed meat, and have gradually worked out what suits my system best. Both times I went into AF I had had medical procedures beforehand, and had also unusually for me eaten quite a bit of ultra-processed food with lists of ingredients as long as your arm Different people have different triggers.
It can be done with bisop & flecanide,done it myself twice 👍also had 3 cardioversions but had to wait 4 months for last one & it was he'll,with heart rate 140-160
I had cardioversion in January 2023 and have been in NSR since that time. No guarantee how long I will remain out of AF but I'll take a year and a half at this point and go on to Plan B when necessary. I It was a straightforward procedure and I'm really glad I did it.
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Different people have different triggers.
My first cardioversion. Couple of questions. Thanks.
Just back from my first cardioversion.
First Cardioversion today!
First Cardioversion last monday
First Electro Cardioversion
