And Cardioversion
PLEASE READ THIS FIRST – THIS POST IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
The following historical information is for interest only. It should in no way be thought of as medical advice applicable to any other individual. Medical science has moved on, and no two people have the exact same medical circumstances. I hope you find the information interesting, To see the “Introduction” to this series of posts, please click here.
Common abbreviations used by Trenna in this series:
AF – Atrial Fibrillation – (irregular heart beat that Trenna often got, and eventually was in permanently)
CVI – Cardiovascular Institute (where her cardiologist worked)
CVM – Canningvale Medical (where our GP worked)
C-V – Cardioversion (an electric shock treatment to restore regular heart rhythm)
There are numerous others, some are common medical abbreviations you can Google, others are Trennaisms (which is itself a Trennaism). If you get stuck on one either ask in the Comments section or use the Contact Greg form.
2012
GM: The first document is this series is simply called “2012“. I suspect it is a summary compiled from hand written “Doctors Notes” from several different visits.
This is what it says:
“ALL CONSULTS
15/8/12
ME: How often do I need LFT test?
DR: 3 monthly
ME: Currently do INR fortnightly
11/7/12
ME: If I go back into AF, do I take a higher Amiodarone loading dose?
DR: No! Have cardio-version
27/6/12
ME: Overnight Cardio-version AF 32 days. Fixed
26/6/12
ME: was on loading dose Amiodarone 200 mg 3 x p.d. in AF reduced to 2 x p.d. 1 wk ago.
23/04/12
ECG – CVI Dr Susan Kuruvilla. Good, Q T’s on upper end of OK. Monitor Medication & BP change. “
GM: Here is a document from the iPad listing the 14 cardioversions Trenna had. It is the same as the image at the top of this post but this version is machine readable and downloadable.
GM: And finally for this post, Trenna’s own account of her first cardioversion.
“RAMSAY HEALTH CARE HOLLYWOOD PRIVATE HOSPITAL
CARDIOLOGIST
Dr Susan Kuruvilla
SPECIALIST ANAESTHETIST
Dr Harmeet Aneja
TRIAL 24 HOUR INTRAVENOUS 300mg AMIODARONE
then
CARDIO-VERSION
ADMISSION 26/06/12 10.30am Tuesday DISCHARGED 27/06/12 Wednesday 7.30pm
AF 32 days. No department knows what the other is doing. I was moved 3 times, from ASSESSMENT to DAY SURGERY to THE CARDIO VASCULAR UNIT
What a complete balls up! We filled in forms I got my hospital bracelet then we spent the next hour being taken from one ward to another. Finally made it to the cardiovascular ward, where else would I go? The cardiology registrar had been waiting for an hour. Sam asked all the patient questions. Then I put on my new pyjamas & got into bed. A drip line infusion was put into my left arm, at my elbow. For the first hour, Magnesium was infused at half speed. The line was flushed with saline, then 300mg Amiodarone infused for the next hour, then reduced to 100mg for 23 hours. My private room had a shared bathroom, I could only open it’s door by using my whole body to push against it. Hollywood Hospital is very 1960s. I had a window view of a brick wall, rubbish bins & an alleyway that people walked along. Okay sleep considering bad pressure on hips & drip line had caused pain in my arm. Hourly blood pressure checked & change to second 12 hour infusion bag.
INR done at 6am = 3.4. LIVER function test good. Susan did her rounds I said clearly this is not going to work she agreed. At 10 a.m. Sam the registrar decided to stop the 24 hour drip. I agreed to having a cardioversion. It was scheduled for as soon as an anaesthetist could be found. He was fab! He was thorough & very gentle & reassuring.
I had to fast six hours no water, no food. I watched a bit of Kojak on TV – Who loves you baby? Funny as! I wrote a birthday card to Julie. Greg here with me, though he is trying to work. I couldn’t talk easily as my mouth was too dry.
4 PM, cardioversion 1 pad on chest 1 my back left side.
Cardioversion worked first time no AF yeah! Discharged 7:30 PM.
Changed Maravan protocol to 6 PM daily. Start taking 100 mg amiodarone each morning. Take 3 mg of Warfarin tonight then 4 mg tomorrow night.
Morning at home felt a bit hallucinogenic it was black panthers on the ceiling. I could also see pretty Egyptian light in geometric patterns. Greg took the day off to look after me. On couch for most of the day. I needed a hand to wash my hair.