Question about 'heart flutters'...

Hey there.. I normally hang out in the Arthritis Forum.. But I need your assitance.. My dad recently underwent surgery (hemorrhoids) on Wednesday.. and the surgery went fine.. HOWEVER.. he started having what I was told "heart flutters" since he came out of anesthesia.. What is this?  And should I be worried?  My dad lives in Arizona and I am in the Air Force and stationed in South Carolina, so I feel totally helpless.  The doctors seem to think that it may have to do with the fact that he ended up fasting for 3 days (due to delay in surgery, etc..)  My dad is 65 years old and I would say in Fair/Good health... Not Excellent, but Fair to Good... He does have high blood pressure.. They have called in a Cardiologist, but he hasn't seem him yet.. He says he feels fine after the "flutter".. he is eating and drinking regularly now as well.. He did mention that he has felt this way twice before, but it was because he hadn't eaten all day.. once he got something to eat, it went away... I am worried.. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated... 

---

Moderator of Arthritis Forum

Confirmed Diagnosis of - Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondylitis/Graves Disease/GERD/Scoliosis/Hiatal Hernia/Graves Disease of the Eyes/Chronic UTIs

Current Meds -  Enbrel/Prevacid/Synthroid/Nitrofurantoin

Past Meds - Inderal/PTU/Prednisone/Voltaren/Feldene/Mobic/Cortisone and Steroid Shots

Additional Supplements - Multi-Vitamin/Bromelian/Acidophilus/Green Tea

 

Hey Sarita, thanks for your reply.. He says he feels fine when he's not having the flutters.. and he is eating, but is still getting them.. He's had numerous EKGs and they don't show anything out of the ordinary... They are hesitant to release him from the hospital 'cause it is a 4 hour drive from the VA hospital in Tucson to my hometown..

So if the EKG doesn't show anything, then everything should be ok?

He also said his potassium and (I think) manganese (sp?) levels were off.. so they are trying to stabilize that as well.. could that have something to do with it?

---

Moderator of Arthritis Forum

Confirmed Diagnosis of - Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondylitis/Graves Disease/GERD/Scoliosis/Hiatal Hernia/Graves Disease of the Eyes/Chronic UTIs

Current Meds -  Enbrel/Prevacid/Synthroid/Nitrofurantoin

Past Meds - Inderal/PTU/Prednisone/Voltaren/Feldene/Mobic/Cortisone and Steroid Shots

Additional Supplements - Multi-Vitamin/Bromelian/Acidophilus/Green Tea

 

I'm not sure if the EKGs were done while he was having the symptoms.. I am "assuming" they were.. He is doing well, but still having them, just not as frequently.. I am hoping that it is the mineral dificiencies like you suggested.. and slowly but surely he'll be back to is old self.. thanks for your advice.. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

---

Moderator of Arthritis Forum

Confirmed Diagnosis of - Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondylitis/Graves Disease/GERD/Scoliosis/Hiatal Hernia/Graves Disease of the Eyes/Chronic UTIs

Current Meds -  Enbrel/Prevacid/Synthroid/Nitrofurantoin

Past Meds - Inderal/PTU/Prednisone/Voltaren/Feldene/Mobic/Cortisone and Steroid Shots

Additional Supplements - Multi-Vitamin/Bromelian/Acidophilus/Green Tea

 

Thanks Neurogurl.. I do appreciate it.. he is staring to come around now.. they have done more bloodwork, and they said that he's starting to stabilize.. so apparently it was the mineral deficiencies.. sheesh.. who knew our bodies would be so termpermental, huh? :) Is there anything we can do to ensure these don't happen again? Thanks for your inputs! You guys are great!

---

Moderator of Arthritis Forum

Confirmed Diagnosis of - Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondylitis/Graves Disease/GERD/Scoliosis/Hiatal Hernia/Graves Disease of the Eyes/Chronic UTIs

Current Meds -  Enbrel/Prevacid/Synthroid/Nitrofurantoin

Past Meds - Inderal/PTU/Prednisone/Voltaren/Feldene/Mobic/Cortisone and Steroid Shots

Additional Supplements - Multi-Vitamin/Bromelian/Acidophilus/Green Tea

 

Hey Elisha.. thanks for your reply.. Well.. as of right now.. dad is doing ok.. he's out of the hospital and home.. he hasn't had any today.. so that's good.. :) Mom is trying to make sure he eats so as to not through that into the mix too.. Dad thinks it's 'cause they took him off his toporal (sp?) for the surgery.. Do you know anything about that med? Could that be it? Thanks again!

---

Moderator of Arthritis Forum

Confirmed Diagnosis of - Psoriatic Arthritis/Spondylitis/Graves Disease/GERD/Scoliosis/Hiatal Hernia/Graves Disease of the Eyes/Chronic UTIs

Current Meds -  Enbrel/Prevacid/Synthroid/Nitrofurantoin

Past Meds - Inderal/PTU/Prednisone/Voltaren/Feldene/Mobic/Cortisone and Steroid Shots

Additional Supplements - Multi-Vitamin/Bromelian/Acidophilus/Green Tea

 

Hi Ducky,  I totally agree with Sarita here.  Perhaps you can call the PCP and see about getting it restarted.  Usually when you come out of surgery and had medications they told you to stop before hand they will tell you to resume home meds when discharged.  Maybe the hospital didnt have information on him being on Toprol before hand.

Here is a link on this med so you can know more about it.... http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682864.html

---

Elisha
Co~Mod: Depression
Moderator: Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
https://www.healingwell.com/donate