Atrial fibrillation

@normanchester
Never had the t e e procedure and really don' t know what it is.

Cardiocoversion. These are done all the time. Have I ever had one done by doctor no. Have I had a ICD shock which is same thing the cardiocoversion does. YES, about a dozen from my implanted ICD/Pacemaker.

I don' think they put you into deep sleep just a comfortable one to remove the anxiety and stress.

How stressful is being shocked while awake? Not good. Some described no problem and some say being kick by horse. I would say kind of like being punched in the chest by Muhammed Ali.

The first time will greatly scare you and say oh wow as not aware would be that strong. Then after several you come to the conclusion that the ICD shocks are taking you out of tachycardia and saving your life. So like my doctors told me kind of like having your own EMS team waiting to help.

I assume you are having cardioonversion for AFIB is that correct. They are done all the time when AFIB does not correct itself on it's own. Did your doctors tell you the biggest issue with AFIB is increased chances of stroke because of blood clotting chances are increased.

Discuss with your doctors about medication to prevent recurrences and also life style changes to help reduce stress and anxiety that can lead to PVCs, AFIBs, etc.

I had one cardioversion and you aren't out that long; the meds they use now are extremely safe and fast. My friend had a cardioversion without anesthesia but she didn't say if it was awful. I just had an A-fib ablation and the procedure requires general anesthesia and it was not at all a problem except for a dry mouth and a slight rawness of the throat for about 12 hours. As for the cardioversion, my cardiologist required 4 weeks of Eliquis before he would schedule it to be certain blood clots would not be an issue. I begged, but no exceptions. I feel he was looking out for my best interests. Don't be afraid. Give yourself some relief! I hated every minute in A-fib and hope that I am as "cured" as you can get right now!

@jc76 yeah I'm taking eloquis blood thinner for blood clots, I hope it works until I get this taking care of, thank you and have a great day

@sjm46 thank you very much, you have brought me some peace and comfort

Thank you once again

TEE stands for Transesophageal Echocardiogram — it’s an imaging procedure that gives a very detailed look at the heart

What is a TEE?

A TEE is an ultrasound of the heart where the probe is placed down the throat and into the esophagus, instead of on the chest.

Because the esophagus sits directly behind the heart, this gives much clearer images than a standard transthoracic echo (TTE).

Why do doctors order a TEE?

A TEE is done when doctors need more precise or high-resolution images, such as:

1. Detecting blood clots in the heart

Especially in the left atrial appendage (common in atrial fibrillation).

2. Checking heart valves closely

Useful for:

Leaky valves (mitral regurgitation).

Aortic valve issues.

Endocarditis (infection on a valve).

3. Guiding procedures:

Such as:

Ablations

Watchman device placement.

Valve repair/clip.

Cardioversion (if clot is suspected).

4. Evaluating congenital defects.

Such as atrial septal defects (ASD), PFO, etc.

What happens during the procedure?

1. Preparation:

You fast for 6 hours.

IV is placed.

You get light sedation (often something like midazolam or propofol).

Throat is numbed.

2. Insertion:

A flexible ultrasound probe is passed gently into your throat and esophagus.

You are sedated and usually don’t remember it.

3. Imaging:

The doctor takes detailed pictures of chambers, valves, and any clots.

The test usually lasts 10–20 minutes.

4. Recovery:

Sedation wears off over 30–60 minutes.

You can’t eat or drink until the throat numbness wears off.

Someone must drive you home.

Is a TEE safe?

Yes, generally very safe. Complications are rare.

Possible risks (uncommon):

Sore throat.

Nausea.

Small risk of esophageal irritation or injury.

Reaction to sedation.

Who performs a TEE?

A cardiologist, often one specializing in cardiac imaging.

@tommy901 thank you Tommy, the part that gets me is my heart doctor, told me when I was going to have a dental procedure she didn't want me being put to sleep, she didn't know if my heart was strong enough to handle it, now she wants me to have some procedures that require sedation, all she will say about it now is that there will be a cardiac arrest team on duty, thank you very much for the information

@normanchester You are very welcome! Hope everything goes well for you. I think it will!

Thank you very much,

@normanchester

My wife had a tee about a month and a half ago at Mayo in Jacksonville. The team was great. She was feeling groggy afterwards. She was not particularly hungry and a little fatigued, but felt fine by the evening. She had that procedure as an alternative to an MRI because of her sensitivity to contrast.