Is cardioversion high-risk for atrial fibrillation patients?

Hello doctor,

I have been taking Atenolol 50 mg twice daily for atrial fibrillation over the past few days.

However, after drinking a glass of cold water, it seemed to trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation. Could you please explain why this might happen?

Also, would undergoing cardioversion be harmful if a person is already 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.

Hello doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

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 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.

Hello 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 the 50s 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 0.49 to 5.63 mIU/L. I have a 70 per cent chance that I have permanent damage to the thyroid and will need indefinite supplements.

Please help.

Thanks.