At what heart rate is a pacemaker recommended?

Hi Gang,

From your experience, when did you know you had to opt for a pacemaker?

My heart rate has been declining steadily for three years now that I'm aware.  I'm wondering when I should know to make the decision?  My electrophysiologist has said I'm ready, and I'm resisting. I just don't want to concede I need it, I suppose. His response was telling: you'll decide when you're uncomfortable enough. 

I'm an active 63 year old male, on my feet long days and enjoy working and athletics, but dealing with a darn failing sa node.  In 2015 my hr was bottoming out in the mid 50's  in 2016 I was in the mid 40's.  Now, at night, I'm often at 40, some nights dropping occasionally to as low as 38. During the day, when I'm inactive, like working at my desk, reading, etc, I often feel weary, heavy, unmotivated.  Some mornings I wake up wishing I could just go back to bed.  So I wonder, how much is my age playing a part in this, am I just feeling age appropriate tiredness?  Or can I expect a significant improvement from taking the plunge?

I should add that I started experiencing pvc's this summer, which led me to investigate my heart issues.  They are intermittent, sometimes just for a few seconds, sometimes for 20 seconds or so. Some days I don't have any, so from what I can tell they are not severe, but they are scary, stop me in my tracks!

I'd be grateful for your guidance.

kind regards,

JP

 

1 Comments

numbers

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-15 20:42:31

Under 60 is, be definition, bradycardia. Some feel good when it gets in the 50's, most do not do well once it gets below that. If you have symptoms, if you can't do what you want to do, then whatever your rate is is too low for you, be that 55 or 45 or 35. Once it gets much under 50, you're doing damage to your body no matter how good you feel. Most of us find after we are paced and have a normal heart rate again that we didn't feel quite as good as we thought we did before. 

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