rapid beat despite pacemaker

Hi
I don't have a pace maker but my elderly mother does, I just received a call from her nursing home informing me that despite her pressure being normal her heart is beating at 120 a min, which is definately not normal for her . The PM is 18 months old and this is the first instance of this. Any suggestions? Does this happen often, she is 95 and failing healthwise .

2 Comments

rapid beats

by Tracey_E - 2013-12-11 03:12:30

The pm will only add beats when the heart goes too slowly on its own. When the heart goes too fast, all the pm can do is watch. Sometimes the pm report will give them an idea what is happening when she had the racing, if it was afib or something like that. I think she should be seen. 120 isn't dangerously fast, but it's not normal either.

A-fib

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-12 08:12:28

I had the PM inserted and it was working OK. Then went into a bad a-fib session. Heart rate went from 80 to 140 while I was lying in bed. As TraceyE said, all the PM can do is watch when you go into fast a-fib.

It was a very scary time. Had to take an ambulance to hospital and get a Cardizem drip. Then changed to oral Cardizem. Cardizem and Metoprolol are now being used to keep the heart rate in check.

I'm not a doctor so this isn't medical advice but it sounds like she's going into a-fib. Should be checked out at hospital or with cardiologist. Hopefully it can be kept in check with not too much medication.

Hope you can get help quickly.

Theknotguy

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