Elevated pacing

HIGHER HEART RATE AFTER PM IMPLANT

by Gemita - 2019-12-08 07:55:26

Hello,

Yes after my dual chamber PM implant I experienced several months of high heart rates, especially at rest, which made sleep very difficult.  I too felt over warm in bed.  My PM was set at a steady 70 bpm but kept climbing to over 120 bpm+, so slightly more than what you are experiencing.

I was very concerned that I had developed pacemaker mediated tachycardia or something like this.  It slowly improved (without any setting changes) after a few months as my heart settled down following the implant procedure.  It also improved as I slowly reduced some of my medication which was clearly having an adverse effect.

I do hope things improve for you quickly and that you will be reassured when you go for your 6-week check up 

HIGHER HEART RATE AFTER PM IMPLANT

by AgentX86 - 2019-12-08 20:15:14

Gemita,

Any tachycardia above 100bpm for an extended period (days or weeks) is quite serious.  It will lead to cardiomyopathy.  That's why it's essential for  those with Afib to be on either on a ryhthm control or a rate control treatment.

HIGH HEART RATES

by Gemita - 2019-12-09 00:43:09

Thank you AgentX86, it is good to be reminded of the dangers of running a high heart rate. Although I have stopped both Flecainide and Digoxin, I am, and probably will always be, on a beta blocker which calms my heart rates during my arrhythmias.  (And if I need to, I will take an extra dose during periods of high heart rates - as recommended by my EP).  Hope you are doing okay.  It is 0430 hours here and my heart is bouncing around a bit but it will pass !

Six week check

by McFlatters - 2019-12-09 13:15:51

Well I wasn't expecting that! I was told today that my elevated pacing of 80 bpm is being caused by Atrial Fibrillation. The pacemaker detects the AF and increases my pulse to 80 minumum istead of 55. If or hopefully when, the AF goes away then the minimum  will return to 55. Fingers crossed! I did have AF a few months ago but not since then.

Thanks for your earlier comments.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

by Gemita - 2019-12-09 14:33:16

Hello, thanks for letting us know how you got on.  It all makes more sense now.  Even at 80 bpm, this is still a normal heart rate, so unless it increases, I think you should be reassured that your pacemaker is doing all that it can to help you.

The biggest worry with AF is the potential for clots to form in the upper chambers of the heart because our blood flow during AF episodes can be extremely poor, particularly at higher heart rates.  I hope your doctors have given you an anticoagulant if you have risk factors, to protect you from an AF related stroke.  Additionally doctors usually like to give their patients a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker to try to calm everything down and to try to prevent Atrial Fibrillation from taking a firm hold, since it needs to be controlled.  I have AF but with a fast ventricular response rate, so things can get out of hand pretty quickly.

I was interested to see that your pacemaker detects your AF and increases your pulse to 80 bpm minimum, instead of 55 bpm.  I am wondering if this is due to overdrive pacing to try to pace you out of AF?  I am still learning what is set up in my pacemaker, so I am very interested in what is going on in this area.

I hope all goes well for you

AF

by AgentX86 - 2019-12-09 15:11:26

If (and it's a big if) your Afib goes away. Unless your AF is caused by dehydration or some (curable) disease, the only way  it's going away is with an ablation,  or more drastic measure. Since you had it a few months ago,  it's not an illness but it still could be dehydration (electrolyte imbalance). Get that checked. If that's OK, prepare for a bumpy road. BTDT. In my case, I had a full Maze procedure, which left me with permanent flutter. AF is no fun. It sounds like you're asymptomatic, which is good in many ways (not so good in others).

Gemita  is right. You MUST be on anticoagulants. Strokes are even less fun. A beta blocker or calcium channel blocker is usually prescribed,  as well.

It's kinda interesting that your heart rate is 80bpm, though. Most will push 150 or even 200bpm. It sounds like you have a slow AV node, as I did. Did they tell you what your atrial rate was?

Goodnight 80, good morning 55!

by McFlatters - 2019-12-10 05:35:18

Thankfully back to normal(?) this morning but under no illusions that the AF won't return - I'll enjoy my sleep until then. I woke once in the night and felt quite chilly so was hoping that the AF had gone for now.

Yes you are both right, I'm on 2 anticoagulants and a beta blocker. They didn't tell me my atrial rate and I stupidly didn't ask why my PM was upping my pulse to 80 when it detected the AF. Hopefully I'll remember to ask at my next check up in 3 months time.

Good luck