Extra Heart Beats

Hi. Im new here, so forgive me if this post is in the wrong area!

My husband recentlyt had his pacemaker battery replaced, in August. He noticed some "pauses" in his pulse, i.e. 2-3 beats, then pause, then 2-3 beats. He had it checked with a phone check and they told him they were benign extra beats, but have his electrolytes tested, just in case. All lab work was fine. He's going in on Monday to get the pacemaker checked, but over the phone someone told him it's not the pacemaker, and they want to give him a stress test, etc. He swims a mile practically every day and gets his heart rate up to about 155. So he told them that.
He says this never happened with his old pacemaker. A different surgeon operated this time.

Can something have gone wrong with this replacement which could explain the extra beats?

Could heavy swimming , maybe too soon after the replacement, have caused something to go out of whack?

Id like to, if possible, get your feedback and knowledge before his appt. on monday.

thank you all so much.

2 Comments

mess with the heart

by Theknotguy - 2014-10-18 10:10:35

Every time they mess around with my heart, all sorts of wacko things start to happen. I dread going in and having them check my PM because I'll go into afib the next day. They always do a PM check by speeding up my heartbeat and my heart responds by going into afib. I can't stop the check and I can't stop the afib sessions.

These new PM's are truly magnificent machines. Mine has APP - Atrial Preference Pacing which counteracts my afib sessions. Over the course of a year the APP has knocked back my afib sessions and they have almost stopped. I got that fluttery feeling that I was going into afib last night, but the APP kicked in and it never started. So, for your husband, I don't feel it's the PM that's causing the problem but more that his heart has been messed with.

Like your husband, I exercise a lot and get frustrated that people who don't exercise, don't watch their weight, and don't take care of themselves seem to sail through life without problems. Illogical I know but it's frustrating sometimes.

Natural progression of his heart disease may have exacerbated problems and brought them to the forefront. So the problems may have been there, hovering in the background, and putting in the new PM and messing with his heart may have brought the problems out.

If it's any consolation, I moved 2300 pounds of wood on Thursday, walked the dogs 3 1/2 miles on Friday. While walking the dogs I collapsed on the pet trail then woke up six days later from a coma. Because I had exercised so much and was taking my heart medication, if you would have told me I was going to have the problems I did I would have looked at you like you were stark raving insane. But, unfortunately that's what happened.

Best case scenario for your husband is the premature heartbeats will go away on their own. Worst case is more heart medication along with the new PM.

You can also look at it that the PM switch out uncovered a problem they might not have found any other way. Frustrating I know, but something to think about.

When I get them, those extra heartbeats drive me nuts.

Hope your husband starts to feel better.

Also

by Creaky - 2014-10-20 10:10:05

possible some setting was changed, or the new settings were not exactly the same as the old settings that worked for you.

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

I'm a runner, mountain climber, kayaker, snow skier, bicycler and scuba diver. The only activity among those that I'm not yet cleared to do is scuba diving, and when I am cleared, I'll be limited to diving to 50 feet.