Rate problem

I had my Boston Scientific DDDR Pacemaker installed about a year and a half ago due to bradycardia. My low rate was set at 60bpm. Everything has been going fine since , then. Still a few episodes of afib, but my heart rate always returned to 60 when I returned to sinus rhythm (usually just a few minutes). About two days ago I had another afib episode and my heart rate spiked to about 105 for a few minutes.
This time however, something strange has happened. I seemed to return to sinus rhythm, but when I checked my rate and BP on my Omron pressure cuff, it shows my rate at 73bpm and my BP a lot lower than normal (around the 95/62 range). The strange thing is that my heart seems to be in normal rhythm but it is maintaining the 73 bpm (at rest) for the last 2 days. I have manually checked my pulse and it is the same 73bpm and I can feel no irregular heart rhythms, the Omron also shows a steady rhythm. It's almost like my pacemaker has reset the low rate to 73. Anyone ever experienced anything like this or have any ideas. I do have an appointment tomorrow, to have get a device check.

3 Comments

May be afib related

by Theknotguy - 2015-11-17 10:11:27

I have afib. Run about 10% of the time. Most of the sessions are less than a minute in length. Don't know if the afib is the reason or not but my resting rate is nowhere near the 60BPM my PM is programmed to do.

If you feel OK, I wouldn't stress out. My rate will jump up when I'm doing small things. Just taking a reading will show a jump when I do something simple.

I'd ask your EP and get his input. If he replies with only a shrug, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks for the comment Tkg

by awcraig37 - 2015-11-18 12:11:26

My problem here is that my normal SR has been at 60bpm every since I had the pacemaker installed, except for the very brief episodes of afib that I have experienced. It just seems weird that when I am at rest, I seem to be in normal rhythm even thought my measured rate is 73bpm. I have been on Sotalol for the past 6 years and that has done a good job of controlling my afib, but now I fear that my afib has returned since, like you, just simple activity will now raise my rate to the 90-105 range. Oh well, maybe I will find out something today.

Update

by awcraig37 - 2015-11-26 02:11:43

I went to my cardiologist and found out I was in and out of Atrial Flutter, so I had a successful cardioversion that put me back in rhythm. After a week I'm still in sinus rhythm at 60bpm except for an occasional short episode of afib. I made an appointment with an EP and may consider another ablation early next year,

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