Pacemaker for Afib any info

I'm due to have a pacemaker 7th April, my heart runs fast so how do they slow it down ? most people have have a pacemaker to speed it up or replace missing beats how do they slow it down ????

Ray

4 Comments

Hi Ray

by IAN MC - 2014-03-25 05:03:44

You are right , the pacemaker can only add beats if your HR becomes too slow ( bradycardia)

You will be given drugs to slow down your heart as it goes too fast some of the time ( tachycardia ) . If the drugs send your HR too low then your PM will kick in. The two treatments work well together

Best of luck

Ian

Slow down heart

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-25 05:03:44

Ray:

I assume you have fast heartbeats because of afib? If so, same for me.

Most of the time I have a regular heartbeat but when I go into afib I can go into a fast heartbeat with RVR. (Rapid Ventricular Rate). I went from 60 bpm up to 140 bpm with RVR. Needless to say, I didn't feel very good.

At the hospital they gave me Cardizem in the IV. This brought my heart rate back down into the 80's.

At the hospital they tried to control my heartbeat with Rhythm control. It didn't work so I don't know too much about it.

What they are using is Rate control. I can still go into afib but I have medications to control my rate. It doesn't feel very good while I'm in afib but I'm not "sick" enough to get an ablation yet.

I'm being given Cardizem (oral) and Metoprolol to control my heart rate. Prior to having the PM they had to worry about giving me too much medication and having my heart rate drop to below where it would sustain me. Post PM, they can give me more medication. If my heart rate drops too low the PM will kick in and bring my heart rate back up to 60bpm.

They also turned on APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) in my PM. If I go into afib the PM uses a complex algorithm and initiates a counter beat that helps stop the afib. They still aren't sure APP works very well, but I feel it has helped me.

In answer to your question, they won't use the PM to slow your heartbeat, they'll use drugs to do that. The PM can be used to regulate your heartbeat in case the drugs make it go too slow.

After they install the PM, they may not turn on APP (or the equivalent). They'll want to see how well your heart does with just the PM.

I can tell when I start to go into afib. The PM kicks in and most of the time it stops the afib. If the PM doesn't stop the afib I have a procedure to follow. I have specific medication to take at specific times. If the medication controls my afib I can continue with my life. If the medication doesn't help I know when to go to the ER.

Hope the PM will help you.

Theknotguy

How fast?

by Duke999 - 2014-03-25 06:03:26

When you say your heart run fast, how fast do you mean?

Keep in mind (as far as I believe), pacemaker can't help your Afib. Granted, it has some algorithms such as APP (atrial preference pacing) and ATP (antitachycardia pacing) to attempt to curb the afib episodes. To me, those algorithms don't help or prevent afibs. I have those features turned ON as well. If you're getting the PM strictly for Afib, I warn you in advance possible disappointments. If you're getting the PM because you're diagnosed with bradycardia or heart blocks, then PM will help you for those conditions.

Afib issues are complicated and are caused by many factors. There are different kinds of Afib. Again, if Afib is the only issue you got, I suggest you research only on Afib. Afib can be lone, paroxysmal, adrenalergic or vagal. Each type has its own possible remedy protocol, WITHOUT the pacemaker or even possibly WITHOUT hard core drugs.

I wish you well.

Duke

Me, too. . .

by SteveE - 2014-03-26 09:03:01

Like Theknotguy, I take a medication (beta blocker) to keep my heart rate down, and I have the pacemaker to ensure it doesn't get too low. The combination is a bit more trouble to get tuned in, but once it is working it is a big non-issue. I had a bunch of work done -- valve replacement surgery, a bypass and a pacemaker - and I still do OK in the gym 5 days a week. The only reason I went from running to a bicycle and power walking is that my knees won't take the impact any more. My heart, with all of its rework and repairs, is not the problem.

Stay with it and work with your EP and cardio to get the meds right and the pacemaker settings right and you won't even know it is there. Truthfully, I don't realize that I have a pacemaker unless I look in a mirror with my shirt off. The only way I feel it is when the car shoulder harness isn't adjusted right and rubs the pacemaker.

Life is good.

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