Can't Sleep At Night

Hello,

I have had Ablation 1 year now and had a PM installed 6 days after that. The surgery was not successful so I have had to take medications and it seems like I have been having to take more due to symptoms I have been experiencing at night when I am wanting to go to sleep.

I am on Sotalol 120mg in the morning and on Sotalol 80mg at night. For the last 3-4 months I have chosen to take in the evening 120mgs of Diltiazem HCL as well to help me with a heart beat that is irregular and will not let me sleep.

My PM has not indicated that the irregular heart beat is anything...in fact it does not seem to be picking up this rhythm at all. Mean while I have talked with my Dr's Nurse and she and my Dr. has no clue as to how to fix this problem.

Has anyone else experienced this problem at night where your heart will speed up a few beats and the miss a beat and then repeat this cycle over and over again only when you are lying down or reclined and wanting to rest?

Am not getting help at all from my Dr. on this issue because they can't see it on the Pace Maker reading. These symptoms are real and I am having much anxiety every night just trying to get to sleep. Thanks,

3 Comments

Holter monitor

by golden_snitch - 2014-07-20 11:07:09

Hi!

These episodes are probably too short and not fast enough for the pacemaker to detect them as an "atrial/ventricular high rate episode". Also, the heart rate trend that the pacer report usually includes, only shows average heart rates over a period of 24 hours, and if you have short runs of tachycardia, they are ignored in this trend.

Why not do a holter monitor for at least 24 hours, but maybe even two or three days? This is the best way to diagnose any rhythm abnormalties, especially when they happen at rest. You can write down when you don't feel well, and then later when the holter results are printed out, one can see exactly what happened at the time when you noticed something.

I have had episodes like the ones you describe. In my case, they are atrial runs - a few faster beats originating somewhere in the atria -, followed by a PVC. I get them at rest, but very infrequently; more frequently when I move.

What kind of arrhythmia did you have the ablation for? It sometimes takes more than just one ablation, especially when your arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation. But there can also be other atrial ectopic tachycardias that are a bit tricky to ablate. If your cardio can't help, you should seek a second opinion at a center where they really specialize in ablations (doing at least 1000 per year).

Best wishes

Inga

What Good Advice ,ThankYou

by scarheart - 2014-07-20 12:07:47

Hello Inga,

You have really helped with your quick response! I now feel as though I can take some measures to diagnose and take appropriate actions.

I had the Ablation surgery for A. Fib. When he got in there he said that he found other rhythms as well. Tachycadias, and flutters.

I am very sensitive to rhythms and medications. My goal was to not have to take medications, This is why I chose the Ablation. I do realize that it is not always successful the first time around. What has got me frustrated is the need for even more medications.

Your advice to put on a monitor for 3 days sounds like a good one. These symptoms I am sure would show up on a monitor. I will be calling my Dr. on Monday and get myself set up on one as soon as possible.I am surprised that my Dr. would not have suggested such a plan.

Your advice of a second opinion is also good. I am in Kansas City MO. do you know of such a clinic in my area? I guess I could do my own homework on this too, and I will.

I can't tell you how good it is to talk with someone that gives my symptoms some legitimacy. Thanks again

Mary Ann

You're welcome!

by golden_snitch - 2014-07-20 12:07:54

To find a specialist, you could try the Heart Rhythm Society's search engine:

http://www.hrsonline.org/Find-a-Specialist#axzz381ZVCxQU

Inga

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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