Electric Cardioversion.

[Butterfly65]

Hello everyone, Finally received a letter this morning confirming date for first cardioversion on the 2nd of April, 7 months after Afib & HF diagnosis.

I'm fully aware it might not work & also aware that even if successful, it probably won't last longer than a few days but know I have to go through the process like everyone else so hopefully won't feel too disappointed.

Letter says I'm to arrive by 8am but I'm guessing everyone booked in for that day will arrive at the same time so I might not have procedure until much later in the day?

Any tips on how I might prevent possible burns?

I have a pre-admission clinic appointment two days before, I'm guessing this will be to check heart rate, blood pressure, temperature etc, to ensure I've taken anticoagulants religiously, & to ask any questions but I'm an impatient so & so which is why I'm asking on here.

I've read the general anaesthetic is short lived so we wake pretty soon after procedure & can go home within a couple of hours.

What are we ladies given to wear during procedure, gown & trouser/pj bottoms?

Has anyone knocked/harmed themselves during the procedure?

Thanks - Michelle

[Jalia]

Hi Michelle, I've had 28 dc cardioversions over 32 years so a bit of an expert 😀.

You will not necessarily get any burns . If you do a bit of E45 cream afterwards normally suffices.

I've never come to any harm during any of my procedures.

Ladies will obviously take off top clothing and will keep knickers on plus gown of course.

It's all over so quickly ,you will be well looked after and hopefully feel so much better and relieved afterwards. Don't overdo things for a couple of days!

Ps....a couple of my cardioversions lasted around 3 years !

[Butterfly65 in reply to Jalia]

Goodness - are you in the Guinness book of records & were they all performed in the uk?

My legs & feet get icy cold since being on meds so I'm probably going to take in a pair of pj bottoms & thick bed socks.

I burned easily from the ECG pads whilst in hospital so am expecting burns, plus whenever I have an ECG the nurses comment on how the pads stick to my skin like superglue so they have a bit of a job removing them.

[Jalia in reply to Butterfly65]

Yes...all performed in UK. ( Got quite well known 😬)

They may let you keep pj's on, you never know ! I can recall being allowed to keep crop trousers on once. Cath labs are very cold places !

If you have a dccv in theatre it's a bit different...very strict .

[Butterfly65 in reply to Jalia]

Were you ever given an explanation as to why some of them lasted much longer than others & are you currently in NSR?

[Jalia in reply to Butterfly65]

The length of time remaining in NSR is very unpredictable. Alot of my 'remissions' were around the 12 month mark, some 6 months, some 3/ 4 months. They were all ' emergency.'..fast/very fast....' in that I did not go on a waiting list (elective).

After my 5th ablation 8 months ago ,which did not hold ,I have gone for Pace/Ablate . I had CRT P pacemaker implant over 2 weeks ago. The AV node ablation will be in 8 weeks or so. I am in paroxysmal AF at this time , not fast but nevertheless feeling compromised.

( After all that I bet you wish you had never asked ?! 😅😅)

[Butterfly65 in reply to Jalia]

We can only learn by asking questions but I do find it all difficult to understand because we're all so different..So were you experiencing very fast, or very slow heart rates during your emergency cardioversions?

[Jalia in reply to Butterfly65]

Always fast which would not respond to chemical cardioversion at A&E. From memory I responded to a magnesium infusion a couple of times. At other times I failed IV Flecainide and Amiodarone.

In more recent years I became quite well known to the ER consultant who was aware of my refractoriness to drug treatment and arranged cardioversion in either theatre or A&E without further ado.

[50568789]

Had one last year, in the great scheme of things it was a walk in the park, even then I couldn't wait to get discharged and back home. Wife collected me and we walked happily from the ward into the main hall, only to hear a voice urgently calling me back. Looked behind to see a nurse and a trail of blood going all the way back, dripping down my hand. Turns out there was a leak from the removed cannula in my arm and had to go back to the ward to be cleaned up and have it properly sorted. Highly unlikely it will happen to you! Enjoy the day out, being pampered by nurses and given all the attention you want.

[Jalia in reply to 50568789]

Ha! Similar thing happened to me. Now I always remind them that I'm on Warfarin. I've also got home and realised that the cannula was still in my arm 🙄

[50568789 in reply to Jalia]

Must be them, can't be us 😵‍💫

[Butterfly65 in reply to 50568789]

Thanks for that, I'll keep an eye out for any leaks. Are you still in NSR?

[50568789 in reply to Butterfly65]

No, the AF apparently is playing the game but atrial flutter took its place and has been persistent, though mild, since Christmas. Face to face appointment with EP this Friday, on list for second ablation.

[Butterfly65 in reply to 50568789]

It seems to be a very long process with several cardioversions & ablations.

Does a flutter feel milder than afib & on average, how long is the waiting list for an ablation?

[50568789 in reply to Butterfly65]

I waited about 8 months for my AF ablation. Recovery was going well but a couple of months on I had a respiratory procedure which triggered another episode, and a month later had a cardioversion to put me in NSR. Then at Christmas had a bit of a to do (my own fault) and had another episode which was diagnosed as flutter. Similar symptoms of irregular heartbeat, breathlessness on exertion but normal heart rate. Easier to live with than AF, just ignoring it really, but EP thinks it needs ablation. Probably 4 month wait.

[30912]

Good luck with the procedure. I don't know how you can prevent burns although if you get them, I've used Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream - it's not just for babies.

[Butterfly65 in reply to 30912]

Thank you, are you still in NSR?

[30912 in reply to Butterfly65]

Yes, mostly. Thanks for asking.

[Tapanac]

I’ve had 4-5 cardioversions before my pacemaker and flecainide, but have never had any burns. It’s painless and very quick.

Good luck

[Butterfly65 in reply to Tapanac]

Thank you. 👍

[Fannyphasbees in reply to Butterfly65]

Let me know how you got on.

[Fannyphasbees]

in Dumfries they only do 3 procedures a day so we were all there at 9. They give you a gown to wear. Tests took a couple of hours and I was first at 12 noon. Worked a dream then in recovery getting observations done every 30 mins. Let out with my lift about 4 pm. No burns . Rested for a couple of weeks and got back at work in January ! Go for it with confidence ! ❤️

[Butterfly65 in reply to Fannyphasbees]

Thank you 👍 are you still in NSR?

[Fannyphasbees in reply to Butterfly65]

Yes.

[Mrsvemb]

Only had one cardioversion, because I always self converted. No burns, slight red mark where the pads had been. The nurse put some cream on straight away and I had no problems or soreness.

I did get injured though. My pinky looked dislocated and I couldn’t straighten it. An xray showed it to be mallet finger. The tendon had torn away from the bone. It was splinted for 12 weeks, but I still can’t fully straighten it and it looks deformed. Only thing now is surgery, which I have declined. I have had enough surgery and not looking to have anymore.

I was told that they have never had any injuries reported during cardioversion, so this is rare and not something that you should be worrying about. You will be fine.

As for what I wore, a gown, my pants and dvt stockings. That was it!

[Butterfly65 in reply to Mrsvemb]

Thanks for reply, sounds as though you must have knocked your finger on something such as protection panels on side of bed. I noticed you've had the mimi maze with Mr Hunter.

[Jajarunner]

I've had 12. All urgent so either just.in.normal clothes or a hospital robe on top half. It takes a few minutes and I've never felt anything but have heard myself cry out or shout!! The burns I have had have been minimal, dry skin rather than a burn per se, just itched a bit. Took me between 5 days to a month depending on how long I'd been in afib for, to recover.

Hope it goes well 🙏🙏

[Butterfly65 in reply to Jajarunner]

Thank you, are you still in NSR?

[Ducky2003]

I've had 9. There's no way to prevent burns, they either happen or they don't. I've always had them and so make sure I have some Savlon around as that soothes them. They itch rather than anything else. They only things I've had to remove are my top and bra and they put a gown on. No need for pyjama bottoms as you keep your own trousers, jeans etc on. If you have enough sedation, you won't feel a thing. On a couple of occasions, I have felt the jolt so I do remind them about that.

You come round fairly quickly, but they'll make sure you're properly awake and give you a sandwich and cuppa before sending you home.

Hope all goes well.

[Butterfly65 in reply to Ducky2003]

Thank you, are you still in NSR?

[Ducky2003 in reply to Butterfly65]

Currently, yes but I do take Amiodarone. Mine have lasted between 4 days and 2 years. Last one I had was November 24. My situation is a bit more involved as I'm awaiting mitral valve repair surgery so that doesn't help with keeping the AF in check.

[Butterfly65 in reply to Ducky2003]

Cardiologist said he wouldn't prescribe amiodarone because I have hashimotos. 2 years isn't bad, but must feel awful when afib takes over again. I also have HF with leaky mitral & Tricuspid valves plus damaged ventricles - dialated cardiomyopathy.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Thank you for sharing your post Michelle, it is completely natural to feel anxious ahead of any procedure, so please ensure you have a family member or trusted friend to accompany you. There are many benefits of having a cardioversion, and each and everyone's experiences will slightly vary, so I am positive many members will offer their advice based upon their own experiences. For a full overview, please visit our Cardioversion tab on the AF Association website heartrhythmalliance.org/afa... and download the Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation booklet: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

However, our Patient Services Team are always here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact us direct, either by telephone [phone] or via email: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

booklet

[Butterfly65 in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thank you.

[Buffafly]

I have a fused thoracic spine, had two DCCVs during ablation and had a painful neck and left arm for a couple of days after, I suppose because my body couldn’t do what it naturally would. I don’t recall any burns. Best wishes.