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Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion

Thank you so much for sharing........ Everyones stories appreciated.  


@ScrapHappy wrote:

@stargazergal wrote:

After Echocardiogram,  EKG, Blood Tests  a Cardioversion was odered as

treatment.   The Cardiologist after 3 tries was unsucessful in getting the

heart to beat back to regular.    The Cardiologist then sent him to a

specialist who now wants to treat him with another Cardioversion.   He

says he will be more agressive with the Cardioversion.   I am on the fence

about this treatment somewhat.   Still doing our homework.

Does anyone out there have any stories to share ?    Please do tell.   Thank you !


My Mom has had AFIB for many, many years.  She's 79.  Many years ago, a cardioversion was done and it was a success.  But she eventually developed AFIB again and had a pacemaker inserted.  She went on a blood thinner but unfortunately had terrible and life threatening side effects.  She went off it for many years and refused to go back on.  Her doctor wanted her to consider the Watchman procedure.  It's mostly for those with AFIB who can't take blood thinners but my Mom didn't want to do it.  When she would go in for her PM checkups, she was in AFIB more than she was not.  She ended up on a blood thinner again, but a different one.  My MIL was diagnosised with AFIB about a year ago, she had the cardioversion but it didn't work on her.  She's also now on a blood thinner. 


 

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion

[ Edited ]

@151949 wrote:

@hckynut Exactly. If a car mechanic or a HVAC guy or an electrician came to my home to repair something I know that I don't have enough skill or knowledge to question what he says needs done. I have to trust him , maybe get a second opinion. However, people who have no idea what they are talking about will refuse a necessary medical procedure, or second guess a doctor. If this OP doesn't trust the doc she & her hubby need to go to another doctor for a second opinion - not a shopping channel message board.


Thank you ALL for your health journey stories and well wishes   I came

here to read about your experiences to help us to find out

if there were any questions we could be asking we might not be aware of. 

 

My husbands Heart Specialist and Staff have been AMAZING !

In explaining procedures, outcomes and future treatments.    Coming

here in addition to reading about Afib on other sites helped us

to understand more about Afib and questions to ask.     Thank you All !

 

Thank you all for your Afib journey and for sharing your views.

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion


@katte wrote:

@stargazergal wrote:

After Echocardiogram,  EKG, Blood Tests  a Cardioversion was odered as

treatment.   The Cardiologist after 3 tries was unsucessful in getting the

heart to beat back to regular.    The Cardiologist then sent him to a

specialist who now wants to treat him with another Cardioversion.   He

says he will be more agressive with the Cardioversion.   I am on the fence

about this treatment somewhat.   Still doing our homework.

Does anyone out there have any stories to share ?    Please do tell.   Thank you !


Hi - I developed AFIB in 2006.  I had a cardioversion in February of this year.  I went back into normal sinus rhythm and so far have stayed there.  Wishing the best for you and DH.  Smiley Happy


Thank you for sharing !   My husband did have another Cardioversion a

couple of days ago.   It did not take.   The heart specialist feels hopeful

because of my husbands age and health that an Ablation should be

made in the near future.    The specialist and staff have been supportive

positive and helpful.    It is nice to read about everyones journey .....  Everyones

replies Thank you all !

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion


@harcon wrote:

I have Afib.  I had a  radio frequency cardiac ablation which didn't help then months later had a Cardioversion, again it didn't help.  A year later had a Cardiac Cryoablation and thank God that one helped seal all the little problem spots in the heart.

 

After years of feeling lousy I finally got my life back.  My electrophysiologist and his team were super.

 

If the Cardioversion's haven't helped the problem I'd be looking at other options, like an ablation.


 

That is Great news that you finally got out of Afib  !   The second Cardioversion

performed did not do the trick.   On a positive note the specialist is hopeful

that through Ablation he can turn things around.    He stated that his age and

health are on his side.   The specialist explained both Ablations procedures in

short to us.  Many people might not have heard of the procedure.   Thanks to

the Internet and going to different health forums it is still educating to

hear about everyones own health journey and in turn get us to ask a

question we might not have known to ask.    

 

Thank you again for sharing ~  Wishing you the best in your continued

good health !

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion

Thank you all for your responses ~   The internet has been a treasure

trove of information ....  sometimes too much information - is just that.

Upon reading about Afib I understood much of it to be a short term

treatment for most.   With that said...... I and my husband had

asked about those statistics and they gladly answered our question /

other questions.     I can report back to all that the specialist is

hopeful with my husbands next treatment choice , Ablation. 

In addition we feel Confident in his Heart Doctor and Staff ~   Thank

you all for your replies and well wishes too !


@151949 wrote:

When a person is in a fib the top chambers of the heart do not beat but actually just quiver. For this reason blood doesn't all get pumped out of those chambers and blood clots form there. Those clots are potentially fatal.They can - and usually do cause large embolitic strokes.The treatment to prevent this is a lifetime of anticlotting meds, which are not without their own sets of issues,including potential for hemmoragic stroke. If a patient can be cardioverted that is the very best possible treatment. If it doesn't work there are other treatments but cardioversion is by far the best & easiest.Since I've been retired a long time now I'm no longer totally aware what all they are doing these days or what meds are available. But saying you are "on the fence" about cardioversion - trust me , it's the best option. I Hope it works for him this time.



  

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion


@Mom2Dogs wrote:

DH has afib....he had the cardioversion 2x...never worked for him.

I think that is what is was called.....it was out patient and did not take long, done by his cardiologist.

 

He takes Eliquis daily as well as another med to 'help' keep his heart in rhythm, but at times he knows he is out of rhythm.

 


Thank you so much for sharing........ fast

forward to now..... he had his second Cardioversion......

Long story short...... An Ablation is in the future.   He has

an amazing Heart Specialist and Staff   All of them have

made us feel comfortable asking questions and making

us feel hopeful !!!

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion

Thank you for your post and well wishes.    It is interesting to hear of everyones

journey with Afib.    I appreciated hearing about your friends.  

Sincerely appreciated ~   it looks like an Ablation is in the future.   I will

keep you all posted !


@Coquille wrote:

@stargazergal A friend of mine had 4 Cardio version procedures and then, 1Ablation.  She is still not in rhythm. She saw another doctor, a big wig at NYU and he wants to do another Ablation. She was going to but then she decided to see her Internist again. Her Internist told her not to do anything else right now. So, she isn't. She's on meds. We both did lots of homework. We have heard a lot of stories like this. It's tricky but common. Is that ironic! Nothing seems to be unusual when it comes to this problem or the procedures. Every doctor has their own opinion and unfortunately, one has a hard time knowing who to listen to. It's scary, not knowing how to proceed but these are common procedures and are done everyday, all day. One would think, it would be clear but it's not. I, have had a lot of big surgeries but it was always clear what had to be done.This situation is not easy. Sending you good thoughts and prayers.


 

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion

[ Edited ]

@butterfly123 wrote:

@stargazergal

I don’t have AFIB, but another diagnosis. I see a cardiologist electrophysiologist due to the extra training they are required to complete. 

 

Positive thoughts for your DH and family. 


His Heart Specialist  is just that.   An Ablation Procedure is in the future.

One of his medications adjusted.    We are all hopeful for a positive results.

Super Contributor
Posts: 474
Registered: ‎02-18-2016

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion

Thank you for sharing all of your stories everyone.   Helpful in learning more about

Afib and what questions to perhaps ask.   The new doctor and staff were

all helpful in providing us with unanswered questions and they also were appreciative

and understood why we would ask...... Fast forward to now since the

second Cardioversion was unsucessful,  an Ablation is in the near future.


@KonaKat wrote:

I have AFib.  I tried the med route which was not successful as it quit working for me. The cardiologist referred me to an electrophysiologist who said I would benefiit from an ablation. This is a procedure in which the offending cells are destroyed after they map the heart to find the 'bad' cells. This was a 3 hour procedure in which only one side of t he heart was done because of the length of time.

 

Because the other side of the heart could not be done, as well as some cells near a valve, the electrophysiologist changed my meds which required me to stay in the hospital three days because of the requirements for that med.

 

So far, so good after 3 years with the ablation, the med change and xarelto for blood thinner. Had it not worked, they would have gone back later to do the other side of the heart.


 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,913
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Husband diagnosed with AFIB and Scheduled Cardioversion


@CelticCrafter wrote:

My m-i-l had it done twice.

 

The first time, it worked - the second time it did not.

 

She takes Xarelto for it - or so she says.

 

The doctor had also prescribed a BP medication for her to take and according to her, her pressure has always been normal so she had no intentions of taking it.

 

Fast forward to a recent appt. and it was dangerously high.  When questioned by the nurse about whether or not she was taking the BP medication she out and out lied to her that she was.  I still don't know if she's taking it.

 

I don't get into her medical conditons with her anymore because I'm accused of being Doctor Armchair or Nurse Crachit.


 

 

 

@CelticCrafter

 

In my opinion, there is no such thing as "normal blood pressure". My BP, for many would be way too low, but for me it is "just where I want it to be".  I function well without any light headedness, or other types of reactions many have when their BP is in "my normal range", as opposed to "A normal range".

 

As for your m-i-l, it's her health and her body. If she chooses to not tell her doctor and/or staff the truth?  Unless she suffers from some form of mental deficiency that effects her memory of these details, I would bow out. Just my opinion and what I would do, for what it's worth.

 

 

hn

 

 

hckynut(john)