Conversion experience

I am 67 with episodes of a-fib, usually brought on by dehydration (usually from diarhhea or vomiting like when you get the flu) OR if I accidentally eat SOY or MSG. I can feel a-fib very clearly, same as you, although I've read that some people are totally unaware of when they're in a-fib (I cannot imagine how!) When I have a mild episode, I can usually calm it back down with the following combination: orange gatorade, chamomille tea with sugar, 2 benadryl tablets, and a magnesium/potassium supplement. That usually converts me anywhere from 20 minutes - 2 hours. About every 5 years or so I end up in the hospital when that doesn't work. The hospital will perform a chemical conversion, or the kind of conversion where they zap you with the paddles to kind of jump-start your heart. I've had the last one done twice. It was quick & painless and I'd do it again. They give you a special anesthesia that only lasts for about 10-15 seconds (amazing!) before they do it. You don't feel or remember anything. You wake up all fixed! The thing is, the hospital must convert you within 12 hours, or your risk for stroke increases. You don't identify what the "pill in the pocket" is, but I am concerned that it takes 5-10 hours for you convert, because that doesn't leave you much time to allow for the hospital to convert you. I recommend that you call your heart doctor ASAP and explain what is going on with you. Hopefully he should see you ASAP and get down to the bottom of what's going on. Also I recommend taking another person with you to your heart doctor, preferably a man, because often doctors will take your concerns more seriously if there is a man present who supports what you are saying. Seems silly in this day and age, but I've had it happen where the doctor acts like I'm bothering him with my complaint, disregards what I'm saying, and then the next visit my husband goes into the appointment with me and suddenly the doctor is all interested and understanding and ordering tests to figure out what's going on! So that's what I recommend, bring a SUPPORTIVE man (not someone who will roll their eyes when you talk!) with you to your heart doctor appointment and have him come in the examining room with you (NOT wait outside in the waiting room.) Best of luck to you!!!

AF is a progressive disorder, and I 'think' this is what you are learning....yourself. It can be controlled with drugs for a while, even by modifying one's lifestyle in some cases, or both.

Unfortunately, it's a disease that keeps finding new pathways to cause the chaotic rhythms. You might be at the point where you need a new medical regimen, drugs or what is called a 'catheter ablation.' If a new drug is not what you want, or it is but you find it doesn't work so well, or you can't tolerate them, then an ablation is pretty much all that is left if you want a remedy.

A catheter ablation is day surgery. It will take up a full day, and if you're local you'll be home that evening. If you must travel, it will be next day because they'll ask you to stick around for one night after the procedure...just in case you need extra care or monitoring.

Catheter ablations works so well for most patients that it is now the 'gold standard of care' for AF patients. And, the sooner you get it done, before other compromising and secondary conditions crop up as a result of your AF, the better. You will need to be in fairly good health otherwise for an electrophysiologist will agree to ablate you. Again, there is no better time than the present.

So, my advice is to seek the advice of an EP, an electrophysiologist, and get in line for an ablation. You'll soon know after meeting one for the first time if you're a safe and good candidate, and once that is done you'll probably undergo the procedure in a few weeks at most.

As for the sensation you describe, I think it is somewhat typical for most patients who go into AF and who soon come out of it. A prickly sensation, a flushed sensation, some 'relief' perhaps, with better oxygen perfusion in the system which would take place within about five seconds of the resumption of normal sinus rhythm. The brain is only 40 cm away from the heart, on average, so properly perfused blood reaches it quickly and the brain would begin to respond immediately.

gloaming's advice is excellent. The earlier you have ablation the better the success of this procedure.

@anniet101 I am 9 yrs from my first ablation This year started off tough with 3 visits to ER with AF the first time I converted with Cardizem the next 2 times were electroconversions just as you described easy peasy. So I get ahold of my EP and suggest I undergo a convergent procedure to stop the AF which to be getting worse In the meantime I’m back in the ER for another electro conversion I’m 4 weeks post convergent and the future looks AF free. FYI the convergent procedure is basically an ablation to both interior and exterior of the heart, supposed to be the latest and greatest AG treatment Hoogle it to learn mote