How can shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and headaches while suffering from atrial fibrillation be treated?
Patient: 60 yr old female, I have 2 ruptured discs in my neck, had an ekg 2 was ago & it showed I have A-fib. I’m feeling short of breathe, legs are swelling even with water pills Furosemide 40 mg & Spironolact 25 mg, blood pressure medication Losartan/Hct 25-6.25 & a new pill for the A-fib Verapamil 80 mg one twice a day. I also have a headache which is normal for me with the ruptured discs but this headache feels different. I can’t get to my blood pressure cuff but I can feel my heart rate is rapid which is also normal for me & usually controlled with Metoprolol 50 mg. I have an appt with a cardiologist the middle of June & if he clears me surgery on my neck 7/16. Any suggestions? Doctor: Hi,  If the cervical spinal cord lesion does not have any symptoms then it may not need any surgery, other cardiac elements can be managed with the help of medicine, that you are already on.   For the surgery clinical symptoms are the criteria else it all depends upon the patient surgeon's consultation, lower limb swelling could be due to cardiopulmonary disease, dose of the diuretic needs to be increased.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards,      Dr. Akhtar Husain