conversions

[jenny]

Hi everyone,
I am wondering if anyone knows why the doctors are saying that it is bad to be converted to sinus rhythm when you are in a fib? I am allergic to all the anti rythmia medications and so when I go into a fib the only thing that gets me into sinus rythym is the conversion which is the paddles on the chest? Does anyone know if this is damaging to the heart..thank you. Jenny

 

[tobagotwo]

I don't have a full answer, but they certainy don't like to have you in afib for any length of time, as it can lead to strokes or arrest. Chances are, if you're going to the ER for conversion, you're waiting a while to see if it will go away first. I would, too, but it might not be the best course.

Best wishes,

 

[RCB]

Jenny,
What the doctor are talking about is electroversion.
The paddles are place near your heart and then the machine
times your heart to give a shock in between beats hoping to
reorganize the contractions between the atria and the ventricals. While it is good to be in SR, it is bad for the body's nervous system to be repeatedly shocked. I hope they
have you on warfarin to prevent a stroke!

 

[KathyH]

Jenny,
How many times have you been cardioverted from afib? I'm sure the Dr have tried having you cough,bear down ect to get you out of afib on your own. I don't know anyone that has been repeatedly cardioverted often, but have heard of some that need an occassional cardioversion (shock).
Kathy H

 

[Susan BAV]

Jenny -

My dad's brother has been in a-fib for twenty years and has been cardio-inverted several times. He has also been on Coumadin these twenty years. One problem for him is that he is not aware that he is in a-fib (when I was in a-fib post-op, WOW - - I knew SOMETHING was wrong), so he went for long periods of time in a-fib and eventually they couldn't use the paddles anymore to get him back into sinus rhythm; I understood because it wouldn't work anymore for him because he had been in the wrong rhythm for too long. He's on some medications now, beta blockers I think (but I'm not sure).

Anyway, if I understood your question correctly, I don't know how many times is "safe" to be cardio-inverted. My dad "died" on a stress test (treadmill) once and they shocked him three times in that episode, stronger each time, to get his heart going again and he complained of the pain and burning from it. (He died from cancer a year later.)

What was your allergy like? I was on Sotalol for three months and I believe it "attacked" my leg joints; at least I had horrible pain there shortly after I began the medication, which I was on for three months, and I think the pain is almost all gone now, these nine months later.

 

[Karlynn]

My brother-in-law is in a-fib all the time. He's had a heart attack (when they found he was in constant a-fib) and a small stroke which he completely recovered from. He takes Coumadin. He cannot tell he is in a-fib. My sister is a nurse and seems satisfied with the treatment his dr. is providing. I'm not sure why they haven't sought more aggressive treatment for the a-fib. He is a UPS driver and has been ok'd for driving each year.

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

Okay this is a chance for me to learn. I had some long stretches A-FIB on two nights after surgery. I never heard of being cardioverted. Is it used for tissue AVR patients too?
If you recall I was in the ER a few weeks ago for chest pain and arrhythmia that felt like an attack of A-Fib while exercising.
Tomorrow I go for my Thallium Myview stress test and get hooked into the long event monitor to see if there is any explanation for the arrhythmia

 

[RCB]

"I had some long stretches A-FIB on two nights after surgery. I never heard of being cardioverted. Is it used for tissue AVR patients too?"

Cardioverted is a general medical term for switching between any irregular rhythm and sinus(normal) rhythm by
natural, drug, electric shock or pounding on the chest.
Unless the rhythm is life threating (ie., Super V. tach.) most drs. take and wait and see approach. Then if one does
not revert to SR on their own, drugs are the next method
of choice. Then comes electoversion. Lastly, ablation and/or a Maze.
The type of valve one has makes no difference as to treatment. However anyone with a natural or tissue valve
better be on warfarin if they are in a-fib to avoid a stroke.

 

[jenny]

conversion

conversion

thank you all for answering me. I so appreciate it, I went into a fib today againnnnnnn ughhhhhhhhhhhhh for the third time in a month. I am on warfarin but my level is not up as of yet...I have been on this for 2 weeks, my level today was 1.6. The nurse at the clinic said not to take any greens this week and has increased the warfarin up. I am going to Boston to see a Dr. Couper August 3. He is a surgeon there. My cardio dr. said, he thinks (?) my mitro valve is leaking again and this is causing the afib. I am a mess, I guess I am just going to go to Boston the third and do whatever the surgeon says to do. The afib drives me nuts...

I lost a son a while back and since then I have had panic attacks and so when I am in afib..I just get so so bad with panic also. Right now I am in a fib, but they cannot convert me tomorrow for my warfarin level is not up ... I sincerely hope that my valve is leaking and at the same time they can do the maze proceedure. This has just driven me into a real depression. I get violently sick on the meds . they give me to prevent a fib. I just become so nauseous when I am on them. I feel so horrible with this. I just wish I could give up or get fixed. It is to much for me to cope with. Thank you all so much for answering me. Jenny

 

[Susan BAV]

Jenny -

We're all rooting for you and hope things get better for you soon. Also, I am extremely sorry to hear about the loss of your son.

And I was mistaken (again); I thought cardioversion was always done with the electric paddles. I didn't know that the term included medication-related treatment.

Again, hoping you get some answers and some relief.

 

[hensylee]

my brother is on coumadin, also had cardioversion that put him into right rhythm, but his cardio says he's in a'fib again but didn't mention doing anything about it. I take his pulse every now and again and I can tell he's messed up in there.

 

[jenny]

converstions

converstions

Thank you Sue, The loss of my son age 25 was devastating to me and it was right after that , that all my heart problems began..yes you were right Sue, I am talking electrical conversions, but my warfarin level is only 1.6 so they would not do it. I think the drs. are sick of me being in afib..which I am too, but what can you do, but rely on them and really they seemed almost stumped by me being in a fib so many times this month. Hopefully , in Boston , I can have my valve again fixed and do the Maze proceedure for these darn a fibs. Thank you , Sue for you kind words.,....Jenny

 

[bvdr]

I too am so sorry about your son. Since stress can aggravate any existing medical problem, it is no wonder you are having a rougher time with your heart.

When a heart is in atrial fib the contractions are so disorganized in the upper chamber of the heart that a good filling and emptying of the chambers is not possible. Just like water in a river, areas of still blood can develop and these areas are more likely to form clots. These can be loosely attached to the heart walls or the valve itself. Once a clot forms it tends to grow. Coumadin helps to prevent this. Of course a small clot is less likely to do devastating damage as a large clot would if it should become loose and travel throughout the circulatory system.

When rhythm is converted to sinus, the atrial contraction again becomes organized and is providing a cleaner "flush" through the atria. It is a time of concern since any loosely attached clots can break loose at that time and head out of the heart to do damage wherever they may lodge. It is because of this that it is important to be properly coagulated when a cardioversion takes place.

Many of the symptoms of atrial fib are rate related. A slower atrial fib may cause almost no symptoms but a rapid atrial fib almost always does. During rapid atrial fib, the ventricles don't have enough time to fill between contractions so the result may be a lower over-all cardiac output.

 

[Nan]

Jenny, I am so sorry to hear about your son. What a terrible loss for you.

Dealing with A-fib is very difficult. I know how you feel. I can't stand it when I have it. It brings me to tears. I am fortunate that I have been able to be cardioverted by drugs and can continue to take them to stay in sinus rythym. Just before the holidays last year I went into A-fib repeatedly over the course of just a week. So it can happen over and over again. But the anti-arrthymics (sp?) are toxic, and I had a lot of trouble with rythmol...made me very sick. So I know what you are saying.

I hope that they can help you in Boston.

Feel better soon.

 

[jenny]

Conversion

Conversion

Thank you Nan for your response, Yes I had a son that had an illness for a long time, not heart related. When he passed away, I started having terrible panic attacks. One month after he died I started going into a fib. Now a few years later the afib has become worse. I am going to the hospital tomorrow, for I just cannot stand being breathless like this. The cardio dr. is giving me a TEE test and will try and convert me. I had a mitro valve repair in 97 so I am actually ,( this sounds crazy I know ) but I am hoping the valve is leaking bad...This spring it was leaking moderately....but the reason I say I hope the valve is badly leaking for this could be causing the afib and while they are in there I can also have a Maze proceedure which is so much better than an ablation.
One year after my surgery in 97 the surgeon told me it was leaking again and more than likely would need another valve operation in 5 years. Well now it is 7 ...so we will see tomorrow.
My "baby" is in Lackland Texas, and will be on leave soon and I so badly want to be well before he is sent overseas. He is my reason for living right now. Thank you all for your responses. Jenny Please say a little pray for me that everything will be ok. My poor son would be a mess with his brother gone and if I get sick or whatever. Thank you all.
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