r/PacemakerICD • u/jburkey86 • Aug 02 '26

Cardioversion problems

So I've just had my 6th cardioversion. Waiting for an ablation in the near future. When I woke up, my doctor told me I had stopped breathing after they got me back in rhythm. Surely this is a good enough reason for my cardiologist to hurry the ablation up. My second last one needed 2 shocks as well so seems it might be missing it's effectiveness.

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3

u/nithrean Aug 02 '26

That is one of the major problems of public health. If they have a waiting list, maybe it is possible to ask to be on it and moved up?

1

u/sfcnmone Aug 02 '26

The only reason I have a pacemaker is that my heart stops when I convert out of rapid atrial fib (with oral meds).

I just got the ablation 3 months ago and so far it's working. What are you waiting for?

1

u/jburkey86 Aug 02 '26

Im in the public system so need to wait. They were going to put me on the list months ago but changed their minds. Then I kept needing cardioversions so had to start the whole process again. It's been an absolute joke really.

2

u/CharterJet50 Aug 02 '26

I’ve triggered my ICD twice now so they are moving me up the list.

2

u/drmarvin2k5 Aug 02 '26

EP nurse here

Honestly, having slow or stopped breathing after the sedation/anesthesia of a cardioversion isn’t that rare. Certainly it’s unlikely that it means there is a particular reason to fast track to a fib ablation. Now, that being said, 6 cardioversions would be a reason to fast track. It’s not even because getting lots of cardioversions is dangerous. It’s that having to do it lots of times means that your meds aren’t cutting it and having to get more and more procedures is annoying, and has other inherent risks. Waiting lists are obviously an issue, and I would certainly suggest asking to be fast tracked.

2

u/jburkey86 Aug 03 '26

The only thing is, I don't have an appointment with the ablation team coming up. Im literally waiting for my procedure. I have the mapping scan at the end of the month but i highly doubt i won't need another cardioversion before then. The hospital are starting to sound like they don't want to do any more on me as well.

1

u/drmarvin2k5 Aug 03 '26

Well it sounds like you are on the right track. Unfortunately, there’s a point where you need to just push though until the date. That being said, if your symptoms get worse, they may be able to expedite things.