ARRHYTHMIA AND THYROID

[LINDA CAROLEO]

Hi:

I have slight mitral valve prolapse with no reguritation and was diagnosed with SVT's and PVC's (also I remembering being told I had extra beats -- not sure if this is the same as PVC's) about 2 years ago. Per the doctor I was taking 200 mg. sectral but was still getting the arrhythmia's every 8 days.  After an unsuccessful try at ablation on 6/30 120 mg. of verapamil was added to my daily intake.  By 8/1 nothing had changed so I started taking 200 mg calcium citrate, 200 mg magnesium and 500 mg taurine (to help magnesium absorbtion).  By 8/15 the arrhythmia's stopped (got maybe 1 every 2 months - 5 seconds long).  On 10/20 because nodules were found, I had the left lobe of my thyroid removed (so far don't have to take thyroid meds).  Today is 11/14 and I've had 4 arrhythmias since the surgery all lasting about 30 seconds.  Since it appears my thyroid is working okay without meds, could this just be from the disruption of the surgery and if so, do you think it will subside?

Thanks, Linda

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Generally, verapamil will have an effect in the first several days.  It would be unlikely that it would take this long to see an effect although sometimes in rare individuals it might take this long.

[LINDA CAROLEO]

Would verapamil take 5-6 weeks to start working? It you look at my original question, it was only about 1 1/2 weeks after I started that calcium, etc. that they stopped meanwhile I had been taking the verapamil for 5 weeks before that and it didn't seem to work.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

Dear Linda,

This could be from the surgery and may very well subside.