EXTRAPULMANARY FLUID AFTER CARDIOVERSION

I am a 54 yr male who is a runner.  In May 2006 I was diag'ed with Afib and had my 1st Cardioversion &  treated with Wafarin and Flecaidinde.  In Jan 2007 Doctor took me off the Flecainide to determine length of duration of the episode.  In  November he determined that I was in afib constantly and recommended my second cardioversion which I had on Friday January 25th and I went back on 100mg's of Flecaidine twice per day.  The cardioversion was a success and I have been back in synos-rythm ever since. Two days after the carioversion I woke-up in the middle of the night because I could not breath accompined by a sharp pain in the middle of my chest that hurt when I tried to take a deep breath. The ER doctor ruled out heart failure but after a 4th day stay in the hospital with all kinds of tests they were not able to determine where the water came from in my lungs.  I was perfectly healthy with cristal clear lungs the day of the cardioversion.  The Heart Doctors have determined my heart is fine and there is no evidence of heart failure.  The pulmonary team is guessing that I had some water retention prior to the cardioversion and that the increased blood flow pumped all that water into my lungs.  I did have cold/hot, slight fever, and body aches while I was in the ER.  Also while in the ER I had to pee every 10 minutes which my wife even commented on since I was not on an IV and had nothing to drink.  
It has been over a week since the cardioversion and I am lying here with no clear anwsers as to what happened still short of breath but it has improved.  Have you ever heard of such a case????

Do you think I have long term lung damage as a result?

What other suggestions do you have?

I have follow-up visits this coming week with heart and pulmonary doctors!

Thanks for your assistance.

JIm in Pa.

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

You may have had pulmonary edema which can rarely occur after a cardioversion and if you have normal heart function this should not recur.  I don't think you have permanent lung damage.  Did they exclude a blood clot to the lung??

[bannockboy]

A related discussion, CGH Pulmonary edema after atrial fib was started.