V Tach

Hi Eveyone,

i am a 70 year old male with a St Jude biventricular CRT implanted in July of this year. After the initial recovery period and once the SOB subsided, I started making good progress in cardiac rehab. I started rehab back in April after a stent, but due to other heart related issues it’s taken me 6 months to complete a 3 month program. Without going though my whole back story, my diagnosis has evolved from CAD (reason for the stenting) to cardiomyopathy and chronic systolic HF (reason for the Pacer).

As I stated, I felt like is was making very good progress in c rehab. I was doing 30 min on the treadmill, 30 min on the stepper and 15min on the hand bike. About 2weeks ago, I started going into ventricular tachycardia briefly while excersizing. It was sporadic at first, but has become more frequent and the duration of the episodes have increased. The rehab nurses have been in touch with my cardiologist and the treatment has been to increase my metroprolol ( I’m at 100 mg currently).

My question is, has anyone experienced v tach brought on by their pacemaker? Perhaps I should be talking with my EP and not my cardiologist.

Thank you!

3 Comments

Congratulations!

by Bionic Beat - 2017-11-11 19:13:12

I just want to commend you for doing so well at Cardiac Rehab.  These programs really help people get back 'onto their feet' or increase their stamina.   

I'm about 2 months into a 3 month program and you are doing much better, time wise, than I.

Must admit, I feel tired after the work out but am getting considerably stronger after a long episode of heart failure and some surgery.

Are you going to join a gym or use a Community Centre once the program has ended?

Im joining the local CC, where they have a drop in gym and have committed to an hour per day......maybe add some swimming as well.  Depends on how things go.

I dont have any answers for you re the V tach.  I also get short bursts of it but as long as it self corrects, I dont fuss about it.

If you feel you need to speak with the EP, give them a call.  It certainly cant hurt and might set your mind at ease.  That would be my 2 cents worth.

 

Best Wishes,

Bionic Beat

Just remembered......

by Bionic Beat - 2017-11-11 19:19:19

When I had a somewhat longer than normal episode of V Tach last January, my EP fellow saw it on the print out and called me to double my beta blocker.  Im on Bisoprolol, he said to take half the dose in the morning and the other at night so that it would stay in my system for the full 24 hours.  Seems that once a day and its out of your system at about 18 hrs.  (Half life of the drug).

That was about 22 seconds of V tach and if it were much longer, my drivers license would be at risk, as well as myself.  If Im staying, I need to drive......lol

 

Best Wishes,

Bionic Beat

V Tach

by Beagle - 2017-11-12 16:02:36

thank you for the feedback. I would like to think that all my doc’s are in the loop, but o don’t think that is the case. I plan to call my EP tomorrow and will look into a nutritionist... interesting!

thanks again, to both of you!

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A pacemaker suddenly quitting is no more likely to happen than you are to be struck by lightening.