Heart Pounding

Hi everyone! I wanted to post this positive information, hoping it might help someone else who is having issues with their heart pounding. I had my PM installed in July of 2012 and ever since, I've had this incredibly uncomfortable pounding of my heart. Not all the time but off and on. Of course, it was really noticeable at night when I was trying to go to sleep. I was taking a Xanax every night otherwise I would not have been able to sleep. I went back to the PM tech a dozen times. I had my EP and another EP in this office changing the settings to try to bring me relief. Nothing. I got tired of taking Xanax because I know it's addictive so I stopped taking it because the tech told me to prop myself up on pillows and it might bring relief. It worked fairly well. It was still pounding but was slightly less annoying. I managed to go to sleep drug free. However, sleeping sitting up is not the ideal situation!
Anyway, I finally changed EPs. Not just for this reason, but many other reasons. I love my new doc! He told the tech to lower the voltage on the atria and wow! No more pounding!! It's really unbelievable! One little change and voila! I am still aware of my heartbeat occasionally but I haven't had a pounding episode yet. I have also had headaches for months which my new doc instantly diagnosed as allergies, put me on Allegra and.....no more headaches.
Moral of the story.....if you are not completely happy with your doc and have the option.....please get another opinion!!
Cheers! Carol

4 Comments

Amen sister

by Zia - 2013-05-22 02:05:00

I can add nothing to your conclusion except to say you're absolutely right. My first cardiologist was a guy I just couldn't relate to for many reasons, but he did get me to an EP who implanted my PM on an urgent basis. After my cardiologist retired I didn't look for another since I was feeling well, but the PM techs who did my semiannual checkup kept nagging me to follow up so I finally did. What a difference! This guy is actually human and not only did a thorough first exam but answered my questions and didn't reach for the Rx pad before suggesting other ways to keep things in line. So my conclusion, like yours, is if your doc isn't satisfying your needs, get another one.

Thanks Ladies

by Matabar - 2013-05-22 09:05:26

Sparrow, a special thanks to you for your kind words of encouragement when I was having a hard time. Your support during that time meant a lot to me! Carol

Pulse rate

by janiebor66 - 2013-05-30 07:05:38

I need some comparisons.....My pulse rate is around 100....93 up to 120.....apparently, on pa said it looks like it is normal for me......but, a different dr....cardio....put me on some blood pressure meds....I took them in am and went to work....about 11am I bottomed out with bp 90 over 60.....ambulance drivers told me my pacemaker kept my heart going at 90 over 60, otherwise i would not have lived through the meds.....emergency dept kept me long enough to make sure the meds were out of my system....
the cardio doc actually said they over medicated me....I am home today and extremely tired, but not able to just sleep.....stopped all the meds.....concerned about the cardio doc saying they wanted to get my heart stronger with the meds.....any feedback ???

Pulse Rate

by Matabar - 2013-05-31 12:05:42

Hi Janie,
I don't know if you meant to post on the recent messages page or not. Your question seems unrelated to this post and you'd get a lot more responses on the main page. However, I had the same experience as you when I was put on BP meds. My BP went down to 88/54 on one occasion. I kept trying but finally gave up on these meds. They just don't work for everyone. I have a PM with two leads. A Bi-ventricular. The lead in the left ventricle has made my heart stronger without BP meds. My ejection fraction went from 40 to 55 in only 6 months. I wanted you to know this so you can ask your cardiologist about it.
Best of luck, Carol

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