AF

Had my St Jude pacemaker inserted six weeks ago with everything rosy till Sunday night when I had an attack of AF with the highest pulse reading of 242 and the lowest 23 :(. It is like WTH what's going on? I thought the pacemaker would stop my pulse from dropping below 60!!!! I know it cannot prevent the high PR. I am on Sotolol for that. Does this mean ablation as the next step? Have an appt with the doc this week.
Cheers
Baz

6 Comments

A Fib

by Many Blessings - 2013-03-17 07:03:01

Hi Baz,

I have a CRT-P with an AV Node ablation due to numerous heart problems and heart damage, including uncontrolled, chronic A-fib. Mine is set at 80-150 bpm.

The AV Node ablation did not stop my A-fib. It is at a more controlled rate now, which is good, but it's still there 100% of the time, just like it has been for 26 years. From what I was told by my cardio doc, EP doc, and surgeons, PMs, CRTs, AV Node ablations, etc., will not stop A-fib.

As for your rate dropping and rising, mine has gone as low as 50 and up over 150 as well. I, like you, thought it wouldn't do that now, but it does, even with an AV Node ablation. I hope others can give you an explanation for this, as I have no idea why it does it either (I too, thought when I was set at 80-150, it would stay there.)

I'm sure one of the other regulars out there will have an answer for you. I'm interested in hearing what they say as well. I know my cardio doc and tech aren't very concerned that mine is doing it, so I'm sure it's "somewhat" normal for this to happen.

Good luck!



AF

by Bas - 2013-03-17 08:03:19

Thanks Tammy I appreciate your input.
Cheers

Afib

by Jax - 2013-03-18 01:03:26

My set pt is low 60 and high 150 ...I took my pulse a few times and had a low hb of 50 and I questioned my EP. He said that when you go In to afib it's hard for these monitors to count up the hr due to the quivering of the heart. He said I shouldn't worry it will always stay at the low set point. Now I don't really know enough to argue with him and I've been feeling fine however I read that it may take a pm a few seconds to receive a message to pace. I'm also interested in hearing from others who know more than I do about this.

dittto

by lubro - 2013-03-18 01:03:31

I would also like to know/understand the actual role of the pacemaker in reference to a-fib. So many different stories of people with different settings having different reactions and expectations...Gosh, Many Blessings... 26 yrs? wow, It's almost like that song... whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm in new territory here, but somehow knowing that you are still with us after 26 yrs gives me hope & strength. I have not looked at actual statistics on this, but one cardiologist at the hospital told me that studies have been done showing that some people can control the afib with meds...other cannot and just live with it. he also said that , as far as life styles and life expectancy,both groups show no difference. So that's encouraging...Each day is a new adventure now...

Thanks Lubro and Many Blessings

by Jax - 2013-03-18 01:03:44

Thanks for sharing ... That really helped me as well.

AF

by Bas - 2013-03-19 01:03:13

Well a visit to the doctor seems to indicate that I might have sleep apnea :( When one stops breathing the heart chucks a spas and can go into AF. Have an appointment for the sleep lab in a couple of weeks!

You know you're wired when...

You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

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