Atrial Fibrillation - Me Being Cardioverted

Getting cardioverted after an episode of Atrial Fibrillation - After having an episode, the doctors gave me a procedure called Cardioversion. It is given by injecting propofol (milk of amnesia), the same drug that was administered to Michael Jackson before his death. While in a sleep state brought on by this drug... the doctors would shock my heart until it would go back into normal sinus rhythm. I posted this video because I thought it might help people who are concerned about Atrial Fibrillation. 

My first episode occurred when I was 33, in 2003. It happened spontaneously and has altered the way I live my life. The doctors prescribed Sotalol and Coumadin -- one to regulate my heart rhythm, the other to prevent my blood from clotting in case I had another episode. 

When atrial fibrillation occurs, blood pools in your heart chambers which can cause clotting, which in turn can result in stroke or even death. No matter which drugs the doctors prescribed, it was not successful in keeping my heart out of Atrial Fibrillation. It happened on the average of every three months. The only way my to get my heart back to normal rhythm was to have a cardioversion each time. This procedure is shown in the video above. 

I had actually enjoyed the experience. It was a short euphoric feeling, then sleep, which seemed to last only seconds. By the time I awoke, 20 to 30 minutes would have gone by.

After having cardioversion 7 times, I asked a nurse to video the procedure. I never remembered any pain or yelling out. Seeing this video really upset me and I decided to have a cardio ablation (a procedure where doctors go in through your veins to cauterize the synapse nodes that regulate your heart beat.)

The doctors had told me about this procedure but recommended I wait until the technology was better. At the time this was all happening to me the success rate was 80 percent. However, I decided I wanted to take my chances.

I had the operation in 2007 and was one of the lucky 80 percent. I haven't had an episode of afib since. I'm glad to see all the interest this video stirred. I look back now and realize the experience was somewhat of a gift. I now live a much healthier life and have a deeper appreciation for the air I breathe. Please feel free to comment and share your experiences or ask me any questions about mine.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cardio ablation
• a fib
• Atrial Fibrillation
• heart problems
• heart surgery
• electric shock
• cardioversion
• cardioverted
• defibrillation

[Strupi37]

I am scheduled for a cardioversion in a week. I began getting afib around 7 years ago and it got more and more frequent. Then about three months ago, I entered a persistent afib where I had no normal periods. I was on Sotalol at first and then Amioderone. At 300 mg of Amioderone a day, my heart is still persistently in afib but with generally slow heart rate of around 60. I am skeptical about the procedure and expect to eventually get an ablation in order to get back to normal.

[freddyp321]

@Strupi37 hey good luck with your procedure.. it made a huge difference in my life.

[benbo21]

I'm a pharmacy student and just curious what meds some of you are on for a fib. Whether it is to control the rate or rhythm.

[freddyp321]

@benbo21 i tried Sotalol, Warfarin and also Coumadin to thin my blood. none helped in controlling my rhythm

[LadyNightOwl63]

For those of you that have commented and have Afib, do you mind sharing the symptoms you experience? The reason I ask, I have been having some strange irregular heartbeats and have a feeling I'm in Afib at times, but not sure....my heart will beat rapidly and it feels like very quick beats...like there is no pause between each heartbeat.  It's much different than when one experiences a fast heartbeat as to where it feels like a normal heartbeat - just faster. Thanks for reading!

[freddyp321]

@LadyNightOwl63 hey there...a a fib rhythm is fast but very irregular and you will feel adizziness

[fulishproductions]

barbaric. thank goodness for psychoactive sedatives, if it weren't for the anterograde amnesia...

but the scary truth is, the person still consciously experienced having lightning go through their chest. it happened.

it has to be buried somewhere in the brain.

but probably just as a motivator , to keep the whole works a-ticking -- hah! ;P

[mumtazchangezi]

@LadyNightOwl63 In my case AF symptoms are a light pressure and discomfort in the chest and increase in the frequency and quantity of urination. During AF when I check my pulse with my fingers, I can clearly feel irregular heart beat. The physical feel of irregular heart beat is enough to convince me to go to hospital right away as my doctor has told me the chances of stroke increase many fold during AF, which must be controlled as soon as possible.

[BENNYHAWKINS1000]

Had mine yesterday and fine apart from itchy chest burns. Back in rhythm for now. No symptoms for me as such. Picked up at doctor's mot. I'm 47. Have waited about 8 months since finding out. Been on warfarin for about 3 months, asprin just isn't good enough to thin the blood and reduce risk of a stroke. Probably be on warfarin for life now, as not being on it means high risk of a stroke. G/father had 3 strokes and Mother had one 4 years ago, not that it is inherited. Do feel better in rhythm.

[katyu16]

Thank you for posting this!! You look so YOUNG to be going through all this at your age. My father (76 yrs old.) just had this operation done today at the North Central Heart Institute in Sioux Falls, SD. It was a success.!!

[williamsfineimages]

Had mine yesterday. I watched this before going in so I would have a clue. Mine did not work.

Next on my list is some life changes. Getting off caffeine will be the hardest thing on a personal level and making my wife understand I can not keep up with her on walks or do the heavy lifting and such I use to do as part of work.

The burn marks are not all that bad now that I have put Aloe gel on them. My fingers are getting better at typing now, yesterday I could not type after.

[saelz8]

Looks pretty scary. 

[medicraze]

I'm an EMT and we're taught to administer Versed when we cardiovert which is an amnesiac, so that's likely why no one really remembers being cardioverted. We want to put you as out of it as possible because 100 joules coursing through your whole body is DEFINITELY not a good feeling lol