Pacemaker nearly 3 years...

 Hi All,

          I had my PM fitted nearly three years ago, blacked out momentarily a few times over 3 days. When I was taken into hospital I spent the first day in resuscitation ward. During the two weeks or so I was in hospital, no reason could be found as to what had happened to me. I was a fit 47 year old. On admission, the consultant immediately took me off my prescribed blood pressure tablets and commented that they probably caused my problem.  I have been off the tablets nearly three years and my blood pressure has always been fine, have my own monitor.

   Right, getting to my point now,

   Yesterday I went for my PM check up. I had been advised previously that I was using lead 1 100% of the time and lead 2 , 16% of the time on previous visits.  Yesterday I was told I was only using lead 1 @ 8% and lead 2 @ 6%.  Basically not far from not needing the pacemaker now.  My question is, has my body slowly recovered from the blood pressure tablets which I was taking daily and my heart recovered as the consultant mentioned?  My GP surgery is in special measures at the moment due to lack of care and knowledge etc. Have I basically been taking drugs that I should not have been?

    Thanks,

                 Phil

3 Comments

Do you need a pacemaker?

by Selwyn - 2019-07-31 09:12:21

There seems to be doubt in your mind as to the need for a pacemaker.

It is sad that after 3 years you still do not have medical information as to why the PM was inserted. This should be a straight forward question to either your GP or cardiologist, or PM technician (perhaps). The indications for permanent pacing are well established

( https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0415/p1563.html).

It would be fairly routine on hospital admission for a ' collapse', to stop medication that lowers blood pressure, if your blood pressure was OK at the time. There are no long term effects in general on having stopped medication ( ACE inhibitors can cause renal failure if not monitored).

There are some arrhythmias that get better with time. Temporary cardiac pacing is indicated  when there are correctable factors eg, after heart surgery, injury, electrolyte disturbances, some infections, and yes, medication that cannot otherwise be stopped ( eg. my mother-in-law has  a PM as her dementia drug slowed her heart down too much - she is now too ill with dementia to take the drug, though still has a PM!)

Even if your venticles are only being paced 6% of the time, you cannot really be dead 6% of the time, the mortality of death is 100%. 

With regard to the treatment of blood pressure, is it for life? No, there are exceptions. Was your blood pressure raised prior to having treatment for this- only your GP records will tell you ( you can ask for a copy of these).  Hypertension ( raised blood pressure) can get better with a change of circumstances ( eg. stress, weight, heart conditions). Many people have had their blood pressure medication stopped, in general there are no long term side effects if the body has not been shown to be damaged by the drugs used in the first place (eg. renal failure, ischaemic limbs etc.)

I hope this helps answer some of the questions you  have raised. 

Kind regards,

Selwyn 

Doesn't compute

by Gotrhythm - 2019-07-31 14:39:35

Something in your story doesn't compute.

Blood pressure does not equal pacemaker.

1. If no cause for the fainting episodes was ever discovered, why were you given a pacemaker?

2. If your percentage paced has gone from 100% to 8%, why is your first thought a drug you haven't taken for 3 years? My first thought would be there's been some kind of equipment malfunction or error in interpretation.

not explained clearly

by PhilUK - 2019-08-05 11:24:52

  My fainting episodes were down to my heart beat dropping to 30 bpm etc. What I was trying to say was the Cardiologist put the blame for this on the blood pressure tablets, IE , I had been prescribed them several years ago but did not need them. He immediatley took me off them.

   I was thinking that maybe my heart rate has slowly recovered after coming off the blood pressure tablets.  When I went for a check up around August they noticed my heart beat trying to come through rather than it being paced. They then told me they were turning it down slightly to allow my natural rythem to come through and see me again in 3 months. Thats when I was told I was now 8% and 6% reliant on the PM as opposed to 100% and 16%.

      Hopefully thats a little clearer?

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