Anyone NOT on Meds & Have a Device?

Anyone not on beta blockers and have a device (ICD) for tachycardia and are you active regularly and doing well?

I had a sustained vt in April 2014, which docs believe to have been caused by a bout of Myocarditis. I have an ICD and on Sotalol 80mg. I have been running regularly and monitoring my HR with a HRM. I no longer run intensly nor race, just go out for easy runs of 3-5 miles a pop. My pace is slow, endurance sapped and fatigued from the damn things. Regardless, my docs think I will do well in general. They want to wean me from the meds in a few months, and hopefully begin the process next month.

I would love to hear from others who are NOT on medication and doing well - no shocks, no events. Hope to hear from you!!

Natasha

5 Comments

None

by gleesue - 2014-10-22 02:10:05

I have a PM for Bradycardia. I also have A-fib, tachycardia and flutter. I take no meds unless I go into an arrhythmia, then I take Flecanide to see if it will knock it out. If that doesn't work I get cardioverted.

I am very active. Try to work out 5-6 days a week. I lift weights and bike for work outs. I also coach soccer, hike, kayak, jet ski, snow ski, golf and play tennis. When I work out or exercise in other ways I go hard. I have even done some personal bests in biking since I got my PM.

So the machine keeps us going and can even make us better if we work at it.

Will be taking it easy for a while though. Having Ulnar Nerve transportation surgery November 4. Not looking forward to that.

Jerry

No meds

by COBradyBunch - 2014-10-22 11:10:13

Since mine is SSS that was creating 'heart naps' of up to and beyond 30 seconds the pacer has resolved that issue and doc sees no need for meds.

none here now

by chip j - 2014-10-22 12:10:40

My PM was not implanted for the same reason as your's, My implant was for a RBBB, 2nd degree. I began having more frequent PVCs and SVT/ANVRT for about one year after the implant. I was taking Verapamil, not beta blockers, to control the PVCs. My EP said PVCs often are a trigger mechanism for my SVT/AVNRT. Fourteen months following the PM implant, in March 2014, my EP recommended an ablation for the SVT. I haven't had SVT since June '14 and now, very infrequent PVCs- am taking no meds now and jogging nearly every day. My endurance is better than the last 3-4 years and heart feels calm. Good luck with your recovery and getting off the meds.

No meds

by Carrie - 2015-02-22 01:02:19

I have a st Jude pacemaker because my electrodes are all used up. Before I went to mayo I was on so many meds! Cardiologist I my town had no idea what was wrong and it took mayo 2 weeks with tons if testing to find out way I had 6 heart attacks in 4 months. Finally the electro cardiologist wanted to do a simple surgery to implant a heart monitor. Well that was at 330pm for a 20 min surgery. I woke up at 1230am with a pacemaker! It's genetic and he said it would have never showed up on tests. I'm lucky. Yea I'm tired, fatigued but no passing out and I can feel my fingers and toes! I do not do meds. Every med has a side effect and I know my body. I eat Heathly and work out and if I'm tired I lay down. I trust no dr or er in my town. We drive to mayo for the best! Vitamin e and tea tree oil on ur scar once healed makes the scar invisible! Truly works!

Had first event!

by natlat - 2015-05-10 08:05:24

So I was doing very well - no events for a year, I have an ICD, and take 40 mg of Sotalol am/pm. I tried to lower my dose last Saturday from 40 to 20 mg, it is a 12 hour med and I normally take it 9am (after I workout) and 9pm. On Sunday last week , while running, I had my first event - sustained vt. My ICD was able to outpace me, thankfully. My doc now put me on an HR restriction of 130 and I am back to my normal dose of sotalol 40 mg at 9am (after I workout) and 9pm. I ran this morning, very slowly and kept my HR under 135.

Doc thinks the reduction of meds (which he said was like having nothing in my system) and the running caused the event.

Could a one day reduction of my meds cause an event the very next day? I find it odd that it did happen the very next day.

Hope to get some feedback!

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