pacemaker + Ventricular tacycardia

Ok- I have a question. I have had a pacemaker since 2002- yes its still ,my first pacemaker. My battery has less than a year so we are just waiting it out. Within the past six months my pacemaker has started to pace the bottom of my heart, I have also started having pretty bad ventricular tachycardia. I am taking metroprolol and ditalezem. I am still having chest pain and it feels like my heart speeds way up at times and beats so hard it hurts. Does anyone else have these two issues. I am in a rural area and have to drive almost 100 miles to get to dr.

3 Comments

same

by rossjackson01 - 2015-06-19 07:06:36

Hello voylesronda

Same as you. Just been for the 6 week check after insertion Informed that my Atrium line is operating at 94% and the Ventricular is less than 1%. I have had . heavy 'thumps' every evening from about 1800hrs. Heart speeds up to bpm of 90+ to 180+. Feels like being kicked from inside. The Bisoporal Beta blocker works for the day but not the evening. 1.25mg 0900/1400. Maybe a few thumps. 1.25mg 1800/2200. Does not seem to have any effect. Heavy thumps make life unbearable for the evenings. Only had 3 evenings free of thumps over a 34 day period.

Without doubt it is the medication that we need for relief, but it needs to be in a way that can help. My hospital is close, but they are not Specialists. A and E say to contact my doctor who will arrange for the specialist. Well, would you believe it, the appointment is for June 25th 2016. Yes, 2016. I year 2 weeks to wait.

I have been told my the secretary of the specialist that he will phone me. I'm never put though to him. Can you contact your specialist by phone? Perhaps that is the way to go?

It does seem that those of us with tachycardia are doubly cursed.

You Need To Get Proactive

by TICKYTICKBOO - 2015-06-19 08:06:38

Granted traveling a hundred miles for medical treatment is a disruption.

Having a cardiac emergency is more of an intrusion into your life.

There are a lot of scenarios, you need a Cardiologist and a EP to have a look and see what is happening. You might need a different device or you could have a lead problem or something unrelated to your heart's rhythm. Maybe a change in drugs, diet, activity? Maybe you have something else happening. The only way to know is to have an exam and perhaps some sort of testing. Better now than after something happens.

Respnsw

by voylesronda - 2015-06-19 08:06:55

I got my pacemaker in 2002 for severe sss. I didn't even know you could have sss and vt together. I have a good cardiologist its just a drive. I have been on metropanol for about abyearvand have been placed on the ditalezem a little over a month ago. I still have the rapid beating bit I don't seem to be as out of breath when I have the episodes like before. My question is when I should go to the hospital. I have a good 45 minute drive to a small hospital. I just never know if I should go when I have the episodes. I try to wait them out but I have had a few really bad ones and it seems it takes me a few days to recover. I am really tired and have really bad headaches afterwards. I just want to know if this is usual.

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