Questions

more than even odds

by The real Patch - 2017-09-08 16:18:01

Yeah, I'd say they'll prescribe pacing, but they may go with an ICD, which you probably know includes a built in pacemaker, due to the Tachycardia. Keep us apprised and good luck

Bradycardia

by zawodniak2 - 2017-09-08 17:46:14

 From my experience a slower than normal heart rate can cause one to feel fatigued due to insufficient blood supply to the entire body---it takes it's toll after awhile and sometimes so slowly we try to adjust.  In my case a pace maker brought me back to my original quality of life.. It's been 10 years and am glad I have "Sparky" to keep me zooming along.

                         Good luck,

                         Rodger

pacing should help

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-09 11:38:26

If your symptoms happen when your rate is low, then pacing should get you feeling your old self again. Things like this do not go away on their own, they stay the same or get worse. If you feel bad enough you can't do what you want to do, if you have a solid diagnosis of a slow heart rate, then pacing is for you. 

Tachycardia is treated with medication, but since it brings the rate down they aren't going to want to give it to you before you are paced. 

Questions to ask... 

discuss your activity needs. If you will be using the pacer to get your rate up on exertion, there are several options for how the pacer does that. 

discuss placement. Some put it just under the skin, just under the collarbone. Some put it lower and deeper. Some put it under the pectoral. Discuss your build and your lifestyle and what will be most comfortable for you. 

fast rates

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-09 11:39:06

Any chance you were active at those times? Had had too much caffeine? Not all fast rates are random and bad, and it wasn't that high that it can't be explained otherwise

Your replies

by Rae - 2017-09-09 14:24:03

Thanks so much everyone, those replies are really helpful. Thanks TraceyE for those questions too - they never would have occurred to me to ask. 

Re the fast rate - definitely not active. It's the one time I sit (Sat pm) and I had been out for the morning which was 3 hours prior. No caffeine as I only drink caffeinated drinks 1st thing in the morning. Stopped it when I kept waking up with a stupid heart rate suddenly in the night. Wish there was some identifiable reason -  the bradycardia is trouble enough on it's own isn't it! :-) 

Will let you know how my cardiology appt goes, keep your fingers crossed that it's successful for me and not a long wait if it's approved - not sure how long the waiting lists are for it in the UK. 

fast-slow

by Gotrhythm - 2017-09-09 19:02:01

I don't know whether 33% would be high or not, but when I got my pacemaker my stats were very comparable to yours. Initially I was paced about 34 %. (meaning that without the pacer, I would have been bradycardic 34% of the time.)

LIke you, my main complaint was that I felt terrible so much of the time. I was thrilled and amazed at how much better I felt, even just a few hours after the surgery.

About the occasion fast rate that comes on for no reason. It sometimes goes along with Sick Sinus Syndrome. Ask your doctor about it. I have it from time to time, but as the years go on, less and less. ( I suspect as my sinus node works less and less.) It rarely lasts more than a couple of seconds and doesn't affect the operation of the pacemaker. I can ignore it. It doesn't make me feel terrible--unlike the bracycardia.