I purchased a Wellue 24-hour AI monitor a few months ago - mainly to catch my conversion pauses on ECG as I wanted to know how long they were. Have had PAF since January 2019, and conversion pauses at least from 2021.
From October last year I have had 8 AF episodes when I have been shaking as I converted - severely with several. Again, I wanted to see if what was happening on the ECG at conversion would give evidence for the shaking but I don't know what to look for.
I live in Australia, and moved from one side of the country to the other side two years ago to be with family who want to care for me as needed (I am 84 with several chronic health conditions). Before moving I lived in a capital city, but now in a rural area that is 2 hours from this state's capital city.
There is only one EP who visits the nearest town, who I saw 18 months ago just to be reviewed as a new patient. He does not have a good "bedside manner" making me feel very uncomfortable, now I am stressed at the thought of seeing him again but there isn't any other EP choice here! I have BP spikes round 220 bpm when I see Doctors in spite of being on Telimisartan and Nifedipene to prevent this happening.
I am on Sotalol 40mg am, 80mg pm and Eliquis 2.5mg. My AF episodes always begin middle of the night. I cannot walk around while in AF after a few hours because of the risk of passing out when the conversion pause occurs.
I would prefer not going the pacemaker route if there was any other option! I am just on 85 years old.
On the attached ecg (31st August), it said that 5 small squares equal 1 second. Can any of you with a Wellue ECG monitor confirm that, and how long do you estimate the pause to be?
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shaking on conversion could indicate the pause when converting back to NSR is too long. This happened to me and eventually the pause lasted so long that I would blackout. I was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and had a pacemaker fitted. No problems since. I would recommend talking to your EP Best of luck
Thanks for your thoughts, it's good to hear from others who have dealt with similar issues.
I briefly pass out every time I convert back to sinus rhythm, that's why I cannot walk around without risk of passing out until I convert. I did fall when I passed out once - with a cup of coffee in my hand, so learnt my lesson! Fortunately didn't hurt myself much.
Yes, I know I need to see my EP, just wish there was a nicer one near where I am located.
Thanks, the only problem would be getting a 24-hr monitor at the right time to catch an AF episode, since I have no idea when that will be. My episodes can be anywhere between 12 days to 7 weeks at present. Had a 24-hr Holter Monitor before seeing EP 18 months ago, but it wasn't during an episode - that's why I got the Wellue 24-hr monitor.
Avocado, black peppercorn and tomato ..... Yum! I don't have a dog, so I have my avocados all to myself. 😊
So what you are saying the pauses didn't show during that 24 hours.
When on Metprolol which had to change because of breathlessness on any exertion, bad fatigue 186bpm Day and pauses showed up at night when my low normal H/Rate was at 47bpm avge.
Changed to Bisoprolol another BB but still uncontrolled h/rate at 156 Day 47avge at Night bom and no pauses.
CCB Diltiazem came to the rescue.. but reduced 3x24hr Monitors in 2021.
AM Diltiazem 120mg CD. and now 60s bpm Day. and 47vge bpm Night
PM Bisoprolol 2.5mg BP. 110-135. and 69-79
Of course my anti-co.agulant PRADAXA 110mg x twice daily.
Yes, because I was not having an AF episode when I had the 24-hr holter monitor, it could not catch a pause that only happens when converting from AF back to sinus.
I lasted on Metoprolol for less than 2 weeks when it was prescribed for me when I was first diagnosed with AF. I felt awful, so I understand why you needed to change to something else!
It gets complicated when you have several health issues doesn't it, what with all the meds having to be taken at different times! I guess we can be thankful that we are alive and managing one way or another.
I was left on Metoprolol (which I said no to) 1 year 5 months. It seemed no one cared.
I don't envy you on conversion flops I'll call them because I am in rapid (now under control) and persistent but on 3rd day and 4th after 8th COVID jab my heart flopped 3 times. But it was confusing what caused it because I also had UTI infection which Nurse had found so not yet prescribed antibiotics. The mild vertigo vanished as soon as I started Amozil-Clav.
I cannot have cardioversion, ablation or anti-arryhymnic drugs such as Flec.
The best med is Diltiazem bringing down Heart rate and acting like an arrhythmic med.
There's something you are taking which is giving you a good chance of converting .. but I'd hate what you are going through.
Perhaps a short stay in hospital may find you with top attention.
The least meds and the least dosage preferable, avo.
Someone needs to take an interest in how you are suffering.
You have been through quite a bit in your AF journey haven't you, and it is not nice to feel that no-one cares. No-one should be working in the health field unless they genuinely care about people.
The Doctors haven't suggested an ablation for me, so I don't know if that is even an option. If it was, I would want the Pulse Field Ablation as they are reported to be safer, quicker and more effective.
I was told that if Sotalol stopped working the only only alternative I can have is Amiodarone, which I don't hear good things about!
Thanks for your suggestions, I know I do need to do something.
I have a fib & do not have a pacemaker. After about 6 years on eliquis they performed abalation surgery on me at 70. It had been very successful as I have not had any a fib occasions since then. I am still on eliquis as a safety measure but I have not had any occurrence of a fib since then. I am now 75. I would travel to get another doctor though. Take care.
That's great that the ablation was so successful! Not to be having afib would be wonderful.
No-one has suggested that I could have an ablation, so I must look into it, though I am a little hesitant because of my age. I wonder what age is considered too old?
Yes, I'm thinking that it may be worthwhile to travel to see an EP that is more user friendly!
HI, I have these conversion pauses with often the shaking as well. I have landed on the deck a few times and it does make you nervous about walking around. My PAfib is now more than once a week and the cardiologist I at last saw a week ago is talking of me having a pacemaker, but I have to have an echocardiogram first to check I am suitable. Like you I got the Wellue 24 monitor as holters never seem to catch the right day. I hope you get sorted. Good Luck. Jan
It is good to hear from someone else that experiences the same conversion pauses with shaking as I do. Having episodes more than once a week is a lot, do they last a long time?
I am sure that a pacemaker will be offered to me again as the solution, I just wish that there was some other alternative.
Has an ablation ever been suggested for you? If I was a candidate for an ablation I would want the PFAblation - it has some very good reports.
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