Q. Is cardioversion a high risk procedure for atrial fibrillation patients?

Hello doctor,

I have been on Atenolol 50 milligrams twice daily to treat atrial fibrillation for the past few days. But when I drank a glass of cold water, it appeared to trigger atrial fibrillation. Why so? Also, will cardioversion be detrimental if one is in sinus rhythm? Please help.

Thanks.

Hello doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

It appears my atrial fibrillation episodes are becoming fewer. I have a blood blister on one of my toes. I have lost weight, and my stress levels have also increased. Please help.

Thanks.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the response.

My frequency of atrial fibrillation is decreasing; however, when atrial fibrillation occurs, my pulse is in the low 80s. But when I am not in atrial fibrillation, my pulse dips into the low to mid-40s. I do not have any apparent symptoms, but yesterday I did not take 50 mg of Atenolol. I took 50 mg plus 25 mg. Today, my pulse is 50 beats per minute late at night. Hence, I will only be taking 50 mg. My thyroid hormones are almost normal. I remain at 50 mg of Flecainide. If I do not remain in persistent atrial fibrillation, I shall skip the cardioconversion. However, I shall now consider ablation if I can find an electrophysiologist in this stressed land. I do hope my atrial fibrillation will diminish further. I have lost 25 lbs and will still aim for another 15 lbs. Also, can too slow of a pulse, caused by the level of beta-blocker being too much, cause an irregular rhythm on the other spectrum? I woke up with an atrial fibrillation pulse of 83 beats per minute. I will try to balance this with 50 mg plus 25 mg of Atenolol. But there were still events even with the 50 mg plus 50 mg. As you might recall, I had briefly taken 50 mg of Flecainide four times daily, and atrial fibrillation persisted. That was still at a much higher thyroid hormone level. The cardiologist became all dramatic, though. My only symptom is interference with sleep. Please help.

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

My atrial fibrillation has been in remission now for about six weeks. The Atenolol was weaned from 100 mg to 25 mg by my cardiologist. As my pulse continued to drop in the 40s, I reduced the Atenolol to 12.5 mg daily and still 50 mg Flecainide. My pulse is in 50 to 60s now. I have gone from a hyperthyroid state to what appears now floating into a hypothyroid condition. Both my t3 and t4 are in the acceptable low range limit, but my TSH has increased in those two weeks from .49 to 5.63 mIU/L. I have a 70 percent chance that I have permanent damage to the thyroid and will need indefinite supplements.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.