Questions about Cardioversion for my Dad

[djexec]

My father is 75 years old and had open heart surgery about 10 years ago to correct an ascending aortic aneurysm and he had his aortic valve replaced with a St. Jude valve. ALthough he is in excellent health and shape, this past fathers day, he went into the emergency room with congestive heart failure and atrial fibrulation (arythmia). His heart has been "outta sinus rythym" now since May "05. Medication (altace & amiodarone) has not helped this time and is now considering Cardioversion. My question is what are the pro's & con's of this procedure and the risks. Although, I know this is somewhat outside the realm of VR but I know there are probably people on here that have experience with this condition. Thanks in advance for any thoughts

 

[geebee]

Deane,

I would think that anytime an electric shock is delivered to the heart, there are risks involved. However, since it is done in a very controlled environment, I am sure the risks are minimized. Keep in mind that cardioversion doesn't always work and, if it does work, it does not always last.

I take it your father has limitations due to his a-fib? I have been in a-fib now for almost 2 years and have gotten used to it. Since I am on coumadin, the danger is minimized. We have tried all kinds of meds without luck. We decided against anything more "invasive" since I am not bothered by the a-fib other than not being able to run up stairs. I don't feel it and can only hear it if I listen very carefully.

I wish your father luck no matter what is decided.

 

[Cooker]

Are You Kidding????

Are You Kidding????

Hi,

This is the first I have heard of folks being in a-fib and living with it!!
My cardio has had me on Toprol XL with no luck and now amiodarone which scares me to death.

Is it better to take thinners and live with a monthly a-fib flair up or is it better
to medicate even with amiodarone?? The a-fib that I have had leaves me very tired. There must be a differnet degrees of a-fib but I might want to deal with it if it will get me off amiodarone. when my valve is replaced I will have to be on thinners any way.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[djexec]

Gina,
Thanks for your quick reply. My dad has had bouts of a-fib since his surgery but most of the time they would only last a few weeks or so. This is the first time its lasted almost a year & although it seems that the medication has given him some of his energy back..it is still bothersome and therefore he's considering the cardioversion. Thanks again for your insight! By the way, an ex-girlfriend of mines sister used to live in milford on a huge old farm, her name is Holly (husbands name vick) & her maiden name is Jurgensen..Know her?

Deane

 

[MikeHeim]

Gina-
A little off the original topic, but your post left with a couple questions. You said that you cannot feel your A-fib? What's your resting HR? I thought the main symptoms of A-fib was a super rapid heart rate, dizziness, etc. Like cooker, I have never heard of anyone "living with" A-fib. Thanks for the insight!

Mike

 

[RCB]

Living with AF

Living with AF

AF is a very complex condition that affect people differently. Some don't know they have it and some it can be very debilitating. Cardioversion can be be done many different ways- auto, manual, chemical, electro. Some EPs
treat it by rate control. It is too complex of a topic to cover in this forum. There are many good forums on the web. I have lived with it since my third surgery in 1982.

 

[Ross]

AF is a very complex condition that affect people differently. Some don't know they have it and some it can be very debilitating. Cardioversion can be be done many different ways- auto, manual, chemical, electro. Some EPs
treat it by rate control. It is too complex of a topic to cover in this forum. There are many good forums on the web. I have lived with it since my third surgery in 1982.

Thank You, I was sitting here thinking, "How do you answer this with a short, to the point answer?"

 

[geebee]

I really can't make recommendations on whether someone should go off meds and just live with a-fib. That needs to be a decision between you and your doctor. Also, just because I am on coumadin I am not immune to clots, just protected. However, since I do not feel the a-fib, I am unwilling to add another powerful drug into my system. Only time will tell if I made the right decision.

A-fib is not a fast heartrate, it is a very irregular one. A-flutter is a very rapid (and I believe) irregular beat. I have experienced a-flutter and it was very difficult for me. However, I was able to use little tricks to get the rate back to normal so it never lasted long (except for a couple of times). Since my heartrate is around 80, the fact that it is irregular does not bother me.

The only time I get dizzy with a-fib is when I try to do a lot of aerobic type activity so my exercise routine is usually swimming, pilates, walking, etc., activities that do not increase my HR too quickly but still give me the muscle tone I want. I do have a few pounds I would like to disappear but I think they will be around for awhile.

Hope this helps answer a few questions.

Deane, whenever someone's life is really bothered by a-fib, all options need to be examined. I wish your father luck with his decision.
Also, I do not know your friend but it would have been cool.

 

[George]

I was zapped 3 times

I was zapped 3 times

After my PVR surgery, I went into A-Fib 3 separate times within a week during my recovery in the hospital. I was cardioverted each time. I don't remember much about the first one, as I was still pretty groggy from the surgery. The second time, they gave me "light" sedation, so I wouldn't anticipate the shock. I DID wake up with a start when they zapped me! It wasn't really painful, more like if somebody gives you a hard shake to wake you up The third time, I requested they give me a little more "sleepy juice", & that time I woke up without being so freaked out. It's certainly not a pleasant experience. But, if needed, it is tolerable.
After the third A-Fib episode, the Drs. put me on the "dreaded" Amiodarone. I was on it for 3 months. So far, I seem to be doing ok without it

 

[twinmaker]

I have had electrical cardioversion (the shock) twice. It was for A-fib. The doctors had tried all the medications and after working for quite a few years, we couldn't find any more meds that would work. My doctor refused to put me on Amiroderone which I was really happy about. That's when we went with the electrical cardioversions. I slept peacefully through both of them. They worked for a short time but didn't last, so I finally went through an A-V node ablation to keep from feeling my A-fib. My doctors said that the ablation doesn't really cure the A-fib, but I just don't feel it (if that makes sense). My doctors seemed to think my A-fib was from scar tissue from two OHS. Because of the ablation, I'm pacemaker dependent. I have a defibrillator/pacemaker because of Ventricular Fibrillation also. I guess just some of the stuff that goes along with certain valve problems. LINDA

 

[hensylee]

my brother is constantly in atrial flutter and sometimes it becomes a-fib (not a whole lot of difference, I think). He's on medicines to help control it, but it fails at times. He had cardioversion and it helped for awhile, but cardioversion often doesn't hold for too long. It was not a very awesome procedure. I was there right outside the room while they did it (outpatient), he woke up and we came home. He had a bit of a burn on his chest from the electricity, but not bad.

 

[JeffO]

Deane -

I got afib about 9 days post surgery. It was a surprise because I didn't feel it, but it wouldn't go away on its own. After two months, I chose Cardioversion.

I remember just before the "lights went out", about 9 doctors and nurses standing around the bed, prepared for any contingency. They even had a manual breathing bag and a shot of atropine at the ready. When I awoke 10 minutes later, all but one nurse were gone. It was a very controlled affair. And it worked for me.

My mother has been living with afib for several years. She has been cardioverted 3 times without lasting success. She finally chose to just live with the afib. It doesn't affect her mostly, but last year she did go on oxygen for a month or so.

I don't know if this is a pro or a con, but if they don't convert you at a low voltage, they go to medium, then high. On the bright side, you have three chances.

One more thing - I've read alot about Coenzyme Q10 for treating CHF. In the runnup to my surgery, I had a low (35%) ejection fraction from my left ventrical. I have been taking a "theraputic" dose of CoQ10 of 150-300mg per day. In Japan, CoQ10 is a prescription drug and is their drug of choice for CHF patients. My own ejection fraction bounced back to 58% by my next EchoCardiogram.

I wish you the best of luck with your father.

Jeff