I am 60 years old, active, no health problems. I was diagnosed with sudden onset of afib on August 15. Prescribed Deltiazem and Eliquis. Only a couple days of feeling badly to the point it interrupted my daily activities and routine. I had a successful cardio version on 9/8/2016. I feel good but have feelings of lightheadedness. BP and HR are much lower than while on afib. Some "aching" in my upper left chest area. Is this normal? Has anyone else had these symptoms?
Exact symptoms - only I had 2 cardioversions since July and am now on Tikosyn which seems to be doing the trick . Hang in there - a bit of chest pain after cardio v is normal !
Hi there I too was on Diltazem. It can make you feel light headed for sure. I fact I came off of it because it didn't agree with me. I consider myself the queen of cardioversion as I've had MANY of these even 2 in one day! The areas were the cardio pads were for your cardioversion can be VERY sensitive to the touch and even burned in some cases. Use lots of aloe vera many times a day and it should help considerably. The residual pain/sensitivity will also be gone in a few days. All your muscles especially in the chest area contract severely when the shock is given. Therefore it sort of feels as though you have done some serious bench presses or upper body exercise lol. Hope this helps. Take care.
Great reply!
Based on my BP and HR, I am probably back in afib. I am going to try to think about it if I can until I see cardiologist in one month. I am already tired of it dominating my daily life. It hasn't even been a month. What are the risks factors if I am on medications to control HR and an anticoagulant?
Sandy , How many cardioversions have you had ? How long has longest worked ?
I had two - 9 days & 2 1/2 week .Thanks! Didi
Hi Didi, ya I've had a lot of them in total around 10. Last fall/winter I went through a bad spell and had around 5 between November and January. I had a lot of family stress at the time so I think this was a big part of it. Affecting my stomach /vagus nerve etc. The longest I've gone without a correction is about 3 years. And lately I've been having problems again due to stress (kids) lol. So I'm trying hard to avoid going into full blown a fib by watching my diet more, trying to reduce stress (ya sure) etc. The last correction I had was 9 months ago. That was when a had that series of cardioversions.
How close together can you get them ? If you don't mind telling me what drugs are you taking ?
I started Tikosyn 2 1/2 weeks ago after Cardioversion - seemed to work until last night . Now I'm fluttering like crazy !!
Thanks for answering , Didi
Well I've had two in one day from two different hospitals! And currently I'm on flecainide 50 MG 2xday. I refuse to go on any other anti arrhythmia meds and I will not go higher on the flecainide either. They are all too dangerous for my liking. I'm not on any blood thinners but have been in the past.
Flecainide didn't work for me so am on Tikosyn and Eliquis . I , like you , hate the meds .
Am going to consult with Dr Andrea Natalie in Austin in November .Am hoping to find THE ANSWER with him .
How are you feeling now?
Best, Didi
I'm feeling not to bad some good days and then some days when it's so friggin cranky lol. Those days I get frustrated. So I review my diet and stress levels and try to do something about them. You must live in Texas. I live in Ontario Canada just north of Toronto.
Sandy and Didi: I sincerely appreciate you sharing your experiences. I gain insight and perspective from your posts. I live in Concord NC, just north of Charlotte. The lightheadedness is irritating today. I want and need to work in my garden and flowers.
I live in Oregon -
I agree with you re meds - especially Flecainide - I hated that stuff - but and its a big one - reconsider the blood thinner because we are so at risk for stroke in AFIB .
Ya I've discussed this numerous times with my cardiologist and they tell me this all the time in emerg but my cardiologist says I don't need it as I know every time I go into A Fib. I am very symptomatic so I go usually fairly quickly to get cardioverted. The risk seems to be after 24 to 48 hours after the onset of A Fib after this point your risk goes up substantially for stroke. I think the longest I've been before being cardioverted is approx. 4 hours. I have no other risk factors, and I'm only 57. So ya it's a hard call.
I love cardioversions !!
Hahaha how many have you had? What's your Afib history? They are all so interesting and different from each other.
First AFIB last June in Palm Springs.
Returned to Portland and started Pradaxa and Diltiazem ( both 100 mg)followed by Flecainide 100mg .
Then Cardioversion a month ago .
Lasted 9 days only.
Next Cardioversion 2 1/2 weeks ago followed by Tikosyn ( hospital 3 nights)
So far it's ok .Fingers crossed .
Interesting. Have you had any ablations? I've had 2 a week apart for the flutter. I hear that the ablation for A Fib is a 6 hour procedure and is more risky than the 20 minute flutter ablation. I'm not so sure I'm gonna do that when the time comes. How does it affect you socially and mentally? It has definitely affected my ability to travel abroad even to the USA. And hiking and going to a cottage were a hospital is far away is now a thing of the past for me 
. I do really miss my total freedom.
No Ablations yet . Do you have AFIB _ or flutter ?
I have a consult set up in Nov . to see a prominent AFIB physiologist in Texas who does ground breaking forms of ablation . It's a long way to travel from Portland but I want the best opinion I can get about this .
I like my physiologist here but have read so much about Dr Natalie I feel I need to proceed and see him also . It's scary to say the least . Like you my whole life has been turned upside down by this thing.
I am an anxious person anyway and this has doubled the anxiety factor !
Doctors who say AFIB is no big deal don't HAVE IT!!
I want a magic cure NOW!!! I am never not thinking of AFIB always afraid it's going to rear its ugly head again .
I understand every thing you said - we are sisters !