I am a 72yr old male recently discharged from a 7day hospital stay where I was diagnosed with fast A.F., severe left ventricle impairment and a thickened aortic valve. I am on numerous medications (8 different types) and have been placed on the NHS waiting list for cardioversion. As the list is quite long I have been told that this is unlikely to happen before mid-summer at the earliest. I am wondering if there is any advantage in getting the procedure done earlier (privately 2-3 weeks) if I can find the money and is it likely to help the other problems above assuming it is successfull. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated as I am really struggling to come to terms with my situation.
Many thanks in anticipation.
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Gretaman24
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Hello, it will all have been a big shock to you and you will still be coming to terms with everything. My advice is don’t rush into anything, cardioversion may work for you but don’t pin all your thoughts and hopes on it. Listen to what your body is trying to tell you, look after yourself and live each day anew.
Hello Kathleen, thanks for yor reply. Can't believe this but since posting NHS have been on and offered me a cancellation slot to do a cardioversion next Thurs. which I have taken up !! Talk about rushing but feel I should try. Appreciate your outlook on not pinning all hopes on it as it does seem to be a hit and miss procedure. Hate taking all the tablets but will persevere and try to live each new day as you say. Make the best.
Hi Gretaman, Did the cardiologist suggest that the cardioversion will improve the issues you are currently facing? Of course i understand it will help with the AF but did they mention that correcting the AF will help the other issues? Going private will certainly help speed up the process. However, from my experience, when going privately, they are likely to want to carry out their own testing. This means it will not only take a little longer but also cost more because of the additional testing required. I don't believe this is some sort of money making scheme i guess they want to see the results for themselves to make their calls. I guess they might consider doing an ablation rather than cardioversion, as I believe the success rate is a bit better with an ablation.
All my private treatment is done through Nuffield Health, and I've been pretty impressed with them so far. You can see all the cardiologist they have and select the one you feel is based placed to help you with your condition
Hello Wattsy, many thanks for your comments. The cardiologist (NHS) briefly waffled over the question as to whether the cardioversion would help the other issues saying lets get this done first before disappearing down the corridor at speed. Don't think he knows how long the waiting list is ! However since posting NHS have been on and offered me a cancellation slot for next Thurs. would you believe ! So will see how that goes. Nuffield have a hospital close to our main NHS one so can check that out easy enough.
Gretaman that’s fantastic news that you’ve been able to be seen far sooner than expected, fingers crossed all goes well for you . Please keep us updated 😊
It is a shock when you first out about your health situation. I was diagnosed with AF 25 years ago, at the beginning I had three cardioversions - you're only supposed to have two - none of them brought me back to a regular heart rythum for more than a couple of hours. I was given medication and pretty much told to get on with it which I did. 18 months ago I was offered a "Pascal Loop" to encase the two atrials. This a relatively new way to stop the AF and it has worked to a degree. I'm on lower meds now. Way back in my early days with AF they had not invented these loops so it can be a game changer. My advice to you would be don't go privately, wait it out until the summer as the meds will control the AF. BTW, I'm 76 now. I would skip the cardioversion and go for the loop as that will certainly help, maybe ask your consultant about the latter. They kept me in for 5 days because of my age and other health issues. You are not alone with your struggles particularly as this has come about recently it's natural that you will feel anxious but you and your body will get used to your meds and as time goes on I hope you'll feel better about waiting.
Many thanks Sara for your response. Never heard of a Pascal Loop and will find out more. But guess what - since posting NHS have offered me a cancellation slot and will do a cardioversion procedure next Thurs. for me. Summer has come early !! Will see how that turns out. Hate taking all these tablets though but will persevere.
Regarding whether having the AF stop will help the other conditions, I personally think it's very unlikely (usual proviso, I'm not a doctor). The thickened aortic valve almost certainly won't be helped at all, though I'm not clear exactly what sort of thickening this is or why. Valve issues are usually atherosclerosis or sometimes genetic. The ventricular impairment might, very theoretically, not be made any worse if the AF is stopped, but seeing any improvement in the short term (a couple of years) is unlikely. Again, it depends on how why it started and exactly what it is.
In my experience (which ok is limited) I've observed cardioversions be successful if your situation is appropriate, but more often not. My AF has always tended to come and go and in this case, cardioversion is pointless since as soon as you're back in rhythm the chance of going back to AF is high, so I've never been offered it. The fact that you have been offered it means they do think there's a chance, but sometimes it's more hope than certainty. What I've noticed, though, is that it has a better chance if the AF came on recently, for a clear reason and there's no history of a tendency to AF. Bear in mind, too, that AF is more prevalent the older one gets.
As an initial half-way house, perhaps a more wide ranging discussion with a (private) cardiologist would help, as it can be difficult to get a long conversation in an NHS appointment. You should be able to get a copy of your NHS cardiologist's letter to your GP which should have some info in it to help a decision by a different cardiologist. Or does your NHS cardiologist have private appts?
Many thanks for your observations Cliff, greatly appreciated and food for thought. Amazingly since posting NHS have been on to me with a cancellation next week and will do a cardioversion procedure next Thurs. so will see how that goes. The AF did indeed come on recently so fingers crossed. After that a proper discussion with the cardiologist will be a priority.
I had Cardioversion done 2 years ago sadly it never really helped me after 2months i was back to AF thankfully i had OHS in feb this yr and a pacemaker wk later which works as should but im again bk in AF so now meds need upping to get my heart bk into slower rhythm so i agree dont rush into paying for it as they will do it asap or a cancellation may come up plus its not always the fix people expect some have more than 1 procedure my cardiologist said would only do the 1 . Im still recovering from it all 9wks PO now all be it slower than expected was told will take me months as had set backs so no running and jumping lifting etc etc .
Hello Soundofman, Thanks for your reply. You won't believe it but since posting a cancellation has indeed come up and I will be having the procedure next Thurs. Sorry to hear after yours you were soon back in A.F. but this seems to be a common theme so will have to see but I'm not expecting too much.
Hopefully you will start to improve yourself soon so hang on in there and I wish you all the best.
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