Blood pressure drop

Hi all,

i am new to this site and my first post so I am hoping to receive some feedback. I had a St Jude dual chamber pacemaker implanted in December 2015.

I had my first alblation in June 2015 due to AF. After the surgery and follow up it was advised that I required a further alblation this took place in October after this I was advised I required a pacemaker due to Sick Sinus Syndrome.After a short time following the implant I noticed I was very lightheaded all of  the time .i had this checked and my blood pressure was dropping significantly following the  implant.I have always had a very slow pulse given I am a very fit and healthy 49 year old

I still was not feeling great with constant shortness of breath and a racing heart with the smallest amount of exercise. I recorded every time I felt my heart race and when I saw my cardiologist it showed nothing had been recorded on the interrogation machine . A holter monitor was then  fitted which came up normal but a magnet that was supplied to me showed I also now had developed  SVT   I had and was now treated for all 3 arrhythmia. I had another alblation for the SVT early January this year. All this since June  2015. I have been on Sotolol 80mg for 8 weeks following the alblation for SVT in January.

i had a follow up yesterday and it appears that I have no further issues however I am still suffering from shortness of breath and blood pressure drops.

my cardiologist advised that my pacemaker is not the cause I'm confused as I honestly felt fine before all this started prior to my first alblation in June 2015.

i look forward to hearing if anyone else has had these problems and if so what treatment was sort

 

thanks

Warren

4 Comments

Blood Pressure Drops

by Ileen - 2017-02-25 09:57:30

Hi Warren, I am sorry you are having so much trouble. I do not have any reall answers for you, as I am new here. Just wanted to write that someone with real experience will answer you soon. Try not to worry. The only thing I could advise was to get your electrolites checked. They can really through your blood pressure and heart beat off. I know I was vey low in Magnisium and feel better when I am suplementing it and use the lotion. I hope you are feeling better soon. I know some wise people on this site. Donr is one and Gotrythem and TracyE they be able to help you! Take care and hope you feel better soon. Ileen

complex

by Gotrhythm - 2017-02-25 12:48:10

It's obvious that you have some very complex arrhythmia issues--way past my pay grade. But as I understand pacemakers and how they work, I reaaly don't see what a pacemaker could do that would cause your blood pressure to drop.

All a pacemaker does is add a beat anytime your heart fails to provide one one its own. The net effect it that it would be more likely to help keep your BP up than cause it to drop.

Since your heart issues are so complex, it might benefit you to be seen where doctors have more experience with unusual conditions --like a university teaching hospital. I too had a very rare combination of circumstances and the local medicos had written me off as an attention-seeking nutjob. I'm pretty sure a trip to Duke saved my life.

Sotalol

by Artist - 2017-02-26 15:28:21

I am also taking 80 mg of Sotalol twice daily and am having problems with side effects such as weakness that did not exist until my doctor prescribed that medication.  I have experimented with taking only a half pill in the a.m. I ran this by my doctor and am not suggesting that you do that without your doctor's approval.  My rationale is that at night I am resting and sleeping and will be less affected by the medication.  I have been on other beta blockers, and right now my doctor is refusing to change my medications. Since you were only recently prescribed that medication,  I suspect it could be contributing to your symptoms.  Perhaps a change in medications would help.  I hope you get some answers and feel better. Also, I was told that the heart takes at least 3 months to heal after an ablation and the irritation to the heart can cause arrythmias until the burns form scar tissue and fully heal.  Arrhythmias also cause feelings of weakness and shortness of breath.

Blood pressure drop

by WarrenW - 2017-03-01 15:10:21

Thank you for everyone's comments.

i am awaiting results to day regarding blood tests and have made inquires regarding getting a second opinion at a university teaching hospital. I have also been doing some research on catheter alblation and blood pressure and from what have read there are other people who also have experienced low blood pressure following surgery I should mention without taking any beta blocker medication . I have had blood pressure drops since my first alblation in June 2015 I was only recently put on Sotolol but have had the issues beforehand so I'm concerned this have all stemmed from the alblations or pacemaker  .

thanks again I will post again once I have more information and some direction on how to have these issues fixed.

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