Atrial Fibrillation and Cardioversion

It is very difficult when one does not have symptoms to decide to do a procedure. I have been struggling with this for a very long time. I have afib. no symptoms until recently lightheadnesses maybe nothing to do with afib..and climbing stairs which I have had all along. When I stress myself exercise wise I feel it . sounds like your husband does not as he plays sports. All I can say is it is a scary thing to decide or not to decide as one never knows when something could happen either way. As for blood thinners been on them for a few years. I have fallen a couple of times and that is when I notice what they do..very bad bruising and takes a long time to heal..of course different blood thinners. I know nothing about cardioversion as I have never had one. I understand as if not for what I mentioned I would not think anything worng. It has psyschological effects in that has limited my traveling life. instilled fear and feel as if a sword is hanging on my head. Sought medical and psychological help but so far in limbo..not a nice place to be. There are those who somehow take the opposite road as I hope comments will foretell..Individual the way one looks at things. Good luck. 

Hello Carolyn, I take it that your husband is in permanent AF? An irregular heart beat such as AF can lead to blood clots so an anti-coagulant is essential to stop the possiblity of  stroke even if he scores zero for any other risk factor. AF itslef is enough. An aspirin  does not really hack it, especially if he is in permanent AF. The newer anticoagulants are good news.

A cardioversion is not a big deal. I used to end up having them, if the medicis in A&E could not stop the episode with the drugs but I had paroxysmal AF rather different. On two occasions I was cardioverted in A&E and released a few hours later.

Leaving a heart in AF can lead to all sorts of complications so its best to stop it if possible. A cardioversion is extremely unlikely to kill your husband! A routine procedure for most cardiologists.

Try looking up the British Heart Foundation for information  

I am 56 and in the past 3 years have had just 3 episodes of afib, resulting in various drugs at accident and emergency dept, to bring me back in rhythm. I haven't had an episode for 14 months now.  I take no blood thinners, no meds, just carry a pill in the pocket ( bisoprolol) around with me. To suggest cardio aversion at this point does seem extreme. I am in the U.K. 

PS.... mine is paroxysmal AFib

I am surprised that your husband scores zero on stroke assessment risk as I've always been told by doctors that there is some risk and that it is necessary to take a blood thinner (in my case Warfarin with paf).

 

sorry for my horrible typing. I have problems typing on this website, it keeps freezing my keyboard. Always does for some reason.

Cardioversion is easy - have had 4 ! Many have lots more - very safe proceedure . Don't worry!

Hi Carolyn - I am 61 and apart from the  AF issue otherwise in good health - like your husband I play a lot of sport - tennis, pickleball etc and do some jogging - for years I had occasional - what they call "paroxysmal" -episodes of AF which were controlled by drug treatment- beta blockers on a regualr basis and a " pill in pocket "- propefenone / Rhythmol for use on a one shot basis when I  went into AF which was not often but I was aware of it when it happened - this worked well and all incidences of AF "self corrected" within a few days or a week 

However 9 weeks ago I  went into AF and this time it has not self corrected - as such been told that also have to have a cardioversion- which will be the first time for me - I am now in what they call "persistent" AF ie it will  not self correct to normal sinus rhythm unless this is corrected by cardioversion

I dont know how long your husband has been in AF - and assume they have told him he is definitely in AF? but from what you say he is asymptomatic - ie it does not bother him - there are as far as I am aware quite a lot of people who have AF who are like this in fact many people don't even know they are in AF until this is revealed at a medical or other check up 

However the main concern with AF is the risk of stroke related to the build up of blood clots and unfortunately some people only find they were in AF after they have had a stroke as they were unaware of this previously 

As such they will be keen for your husband to be anti coagulated and indeed one of the conditions prior to having a cardioversion is that you have been fully and properly  anticoagulated - usually this will be for a minimum of 4 weeks on a NOAC drug or warfarin and I am currenlty going through this and awaiting a date for my cardioversion-usually you have to take the anticoagulant for at least  4 weeks continously pror to the cardioversion so not sure what is happeneing re the gaps in this?

Personally speaking I have a number of symptoms in AF  and cant play any sport etc and cant wait get back into normal sinus rhythm and as such have been chasing up a date for the cardioversion asap- - from all I have read  on this and other forums it is regarded as safe -many people have had numerous cardioversions- and is usually successful in restoring to sinus (NSR) in most cases - however this does not necesssarily last that long - am told that 50% revert to AF within a year -and some in minutes or days- variies for everyobody - so it is more of a "fix" and not a long term "cure" for AF  as such 

Appreciate if your husband is not symptomatic that you may wonder re the cardioversion and you may want to speak to his doctor re the reasons for proposing this in his case ie the pros and cons of this and other options   - if your husband is in persistent  AF  but has no symptoms you may want to review the alternate which would seem to be maybe remaining in AF but keeping him protected re the stroke risk with anti coagulation 

As far as i am aware aspirin is NOT  an anticoagulant but rather an anti platelet so again you need to check with the doctor re this 

All the best 

I am so sorry that u r going thru this. The only answer I think I have is the doc wants him off blood thinner for 3 days before a hockey game, is because if your husband gets cut and bleeds, it could be dangerous if he is on blood thinners.   The cardio version is usually done if someone is in persistent afib and does not get back into rythym on their own. Bottom line, get all your questions lined up for your meeting with the specialist and get them all answered. learn as much about afib as you possibly can (there are some very good utube sessions about it). Also ask the doc about ablation surgery as a possibility 

Even though a lot of people who have nt experienced afib think it isn't serious, it is. 

It's definitely changed my life and I've had to adjust to a 'new' normal. 

There are many different treatments and meds for afib and he'll probably have to work his way thru several of them to see what is successful. Good luck. 

 

Also, the longer your husband has afib, the less is the success rate of future ablation surgery.  I had my ablation to get off all the horrible meds and their negative side affects. Most people chose the ablation to ultimately get off the meds. 

 

Oops I meant to reply that back to Carolyn.