1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Cardioversion

Posted by abob @abob, 6 days ago

Husband had ablation (2 afibs & 2 flutters) a few wks ago.
Today he had 1 Cardioversion, EP said it went well.
He took his BP this evening - machine says “irregular heartbeat”.
Isn’t that what was supposed to have been fixed?

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abob | @abob | 3 days ago
In reply to @slh317 "We bought the single lead a long time ago before the others were available. Since that..." + (show)
@slh317

We bought the single lead a long time ago before the others were available. Since that works well and gives the same information about the type of arrhythmias we did not upgrade. If I were buying a new one today I might try the 6 lead. We only use it to see if my husband is in a-fib so the single lead is fine for us now. It is my understanding the 6 lead gives the same arrhythmia type information but may be a little more sensitive because of the extra leads and the info can be transmitted to your cardiologist. But it is also a little more difficult to use as you have to hold it on one leg while you do it as that is one of the areas for the extra leads. The single lead you just put on a table and put your fingers on it. We don’t have a need to transmit the info to a doctor, we just make an appointment and they do the regular EKG.
As far as a pacemaker, for now we don’t mind doing a cardio version once or twice a year (in at 8 am and out by 11 am). Since his heart rate and BP are normal even when in a-fib, he doesn’t feel terrible, just a little “off” until he gets shocked. If it gets to the point where we have to do the cardioversions more often or he starts feeling worse when in a-fib then a pacemaker would be the next step. It is my understanding that with a pacemaker you also have to be careful with certain things like airport security screening, etc. so just one more thing to worry about. Do you have a pacemaker and if so which one?

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Thanks for your info.
This is recent for yd. My husband’s Afibs were detected by his Apple Watch. Referred to EP who did ablation, then Cardioversion a couple of weeks later. Silly us thought you had procedure(s) and were fixed. Worried husband has not felt but is having irregular heartbeats again.

Now thanks to this forum, learning about monitoring devices. And that ICD/pacemaker may be in his future. Glad to hear that there are options and that technology has improved. See response from @jc76

I truly appreciate helpful feedback here.

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1 reply
abob | @abob | 3 days ago
In reply to @jc76 "The advancements in ICDs and Pacemakers had been dramatic. Most now have limited issues with MRIs,..." + (show)
@jc76

The advancements in ICDs and Pacemakers had been dramatic. Most now have limited issues with MRIs, electrical equipment, etc. Airports have gone away from using electrical screening for metal to screenings that are approved for those with ICD/Pacemakers.

I see some post about getting cardiocoversions and mentioning pacemakers. Do you mean ICD? A pacemaker does not shock you back into rympthm it is to pvovide an electrical trigger to your heart muscle to "pace" when it gets to low, to high, and or a problem with normal sinus rympthm and you need a pacing of the heart.

And ICD is a device that monitors your heart rympthm and can detect issues that need to have your heart shocked back into rympthm. I have had about 10 shocks over the 20 years I have had a device.

The only problem I have now is my ICD/Pacemaker wires that were implanted back in 2006 are not MRI compliant. I am looking forward (3 more years of battery life) into the new improved version coming up.

I have a home monitor device called Latitude. The new ones do not require a box like device and sends your device information to your medical provider using your phone. The new ICD and pacemakers or a dual device have gone through so much improvements over earlier models.

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Thanks for your feedback.
Husband is just starting this scary heart journey.
I see that ICD/pacemaker may be a viable option in his future. Thanks for sharing technology improvements.

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slh317 | @slh317 | 3 days ago
In reply to @abob "Thanks for your info. This is recent for yd. My husband’s Afibs were detected by his..." + (show)
@abob

Thanks for your info.
This is recent for yd. My husband’s Afibs were detected by his Apple Watch. Referred to EP who did ablation, then Cardioversion a couple of weeks later. Silly us thought you had procedure(s) and were fixed. Worried husband has not felt but is having irregular heartbeats again.

Now thanks to this forum, learning about monitoring devices. And that ICD/pacemaker may be in his future. Glad to hear that there are options and that technology has improved. See response from @jc76

I truly appreciate helpful feedback here.

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My husband’s cardiologist said sometimes you can experience a-fib in the 3 months or so after an ablation as the heart is healing. My husband went into a-fib 7 weeks after his last ablation and had cardioversion last Friday. He is back in normal rhythm now so hopefully it will last. As far as medications he was on one 200 mg amiodarone daily but now just for the 2 weeks after his ablation they increased the dose to 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg at night. Then he will go back to 200 mg in the morning only. He has been on amiodarone for many years and it is not a nice drug but fortunately no side effects so far. The advantage of a pacemaker, if/when we go that route, is that he could stop the amiodarone.

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1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | 2 days ago
In reply to @slh317 "My husband’s cardiologist said sometimes you can experience a-fib in the 3 months or so after..." + (show)
@slh317

My husband’s cardiologist said sometimes you can experience a-fib in the 3 months or so after an ablation as the heart is healing. My husband went into a-fib 7 weeks after his last ablation and had cardioversion last Friday. He is back in normal rhythm now so hopefully it will last. As far as medications he was on one 200 mg amiodarone daily but now just for the 2 weeks after his ablation they increased the dose to 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg at night. Then he will go back to 200 mg in the morning only. He has been on amiodarone for many years and it is not a nice drug but fortunately no side effects so far. The advantage of a pacemaker, if/when we go that route, is that he could stop the amiodarone.

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Just a comment on amiodarone. It is a very strong and potent drug. It does work.

If your doctors have not briefed you Amiodarone is and can be very toxic with many serious side affects. The medication can affect a lot of organs including your eyes.

Low doses of course have a less toxic affect than high doses. I took this medication for about 6 months after getting out of hospital where I was on a I.V. drip of it. This was due to 5 ICD shocks in 24 hours.

Regrettfully it was the ER cardilogist not my electrophysiologist who had me on it and prescribed the pills. I did not have an noticealbe side affects other than my heart rympthm had really improved.

On my own I looked up the medication and was shock to read how toxic it can be. I want to emphasize the medication does work and for many is a life safer and is worth the risk of toxic side affects. But everyone should know the side affects.

My EP (Mayo) agreed to weed me off it. It took several months to lesson the dose each week. I then had to have blood test and a special eye test every year looking for amiodarone side affects on my organs and especially my eyes.

This year at my yearly eye exam my optamololigist said my eye test did not reveal any damage from the amiodarone and after 10 years of being off it I no longer had to come in each year for testing.

My ICD/Pacemaker paces my heart at 70 bpm. I did have to go on a medication called mexiltine to help with tachacardia and PVCs. That medication is low toxicity and has to be taken every 8 hours as leaves the body really fast. It did help reducing my PVCs in half and have not had a tachacardial episode since been on it.

Ablation do work but don't mean won't have PACs, PVCs, from same area. I had a ablation done on RV and it stopped the PVCs and has worked for over 6 years. My LV has 3 different areas causing PVCs. My EP wants to try medication first (the Mexilitine spell) and it worked.

I would not hesitate if in ER and having life threatening arryimias to be put on Amiodarone. It does work but with that working has a very high toxicity rate with high doses.

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kayecard | @kayecard | 2 days ago

I had a cardio version performed six months ago. I feel my heart pounding after standing up or any activity. Is this normal?

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1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | 2 days ago
In reply to @kayecard "I had a cardio version performed six months ago. I feel my heart pounding after standing..." + (show)
@kayecard

I had a cardio version performed six months ago. I feel my heart pounding after standing up or any activity. Is this normal?

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@kayecard
Good question for your cardiologist or EP.

How has your anxiety stress been? Are you reacting to that? Kind of a panic attack feeling. I don't want to imply that but unless you have had a panic attack it can mimic heart issues. I have had one after being released from hospital after being shocked 5 times in 24 hours.

I thought I had another shock as my heart was pounding and my body shaking but my ICD/Pacemaker showed was not having tachacardia or arrymthmia.

What was your diagnosis that you had cardio version done? Is it atrial or ventricle ablation? The heart pounding can be from many medical causes as well as mental after such procedures. It is why you need to discuss with your care givers who probably would like to do some additional test.

Six months from your ablation is quite a long time. Did you have these symptoms after your ablation or is this new. Do you have any symptoms of you had before when they had you do an ablation.

Good to discuss with your doctors we can only give you our experience not medical advice.

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milkmaid | @milkmaid | 2 days ago
In reply to @abob "Thanks. I found the KardiaMobile device on Amazon: 6-leads, 1-lead, card wallet size. Which do you..." + (show)
@abob

Thanks. I found the KardiaMobile device on Amazon: 6-leads, 1-lead, card wallet size. Which do you use?

Why would you prefer cardioversions to a pacemaker?

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I like 6 leads

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