Medtronic Azure Dual Chamber Pacemaker and no other medication

Yes, normal

by Persephone - 2023-05-29 16:24:46

HI Malya - I hope you're feeling well with your PM, despite the thin skin aspects. Great that you found a community of people to share your collective experiences. I don't know your history but if the reason for the PM was heart block, then medications may not be necessary. I'm assuming that your associates have AFIB or Aflutter and need meds to control it. High blood pressure is very prevalent in general, so a lot of people take BP meds.

Please take your concerns to your medical team and ask them if you need to do more. 

Best to you.

No meds, sounds good to me

by Gemita - 2023-05-30 04:23:09

Hello Malya,

I am glad you find this site helpful and have made many friends.  Me too (and also my husband who has a pacemaker).  We both live in the UK too.

Persephone has given good advice.  Sometimes a pacemaker alone can correct a problem and therefore the need for medication can be eliminated completely.  For example if we have Sinus Node disease or Heart Block which can effectively be treated with a pacemaker, we may not need any further treatment once the pacemaker is set appropriately to treat these conditions. 

Medication might only be needed should heart block or Sinus Node problems come with other electrical disturbances like an arrhythmia causing a fast heart rate.  A fast heart rate, as you may know, cannot be controlled by a pacemaker so therefore  medication would need to be prescribed to bring the heart rate down to a safe level.

I see you have severe asthma for which you take monoclonal antibody omalizumab, but I am assuming that otherwise you are well and your pacemaker has effectively treated your bradycardia, lightheadness and fainting?  I hope you continue to do well without the need for any additional meds.  Sounds perfect.  I am on minimal meds too following my pacemaker implant

Perfectly normal

by Tracey_E - 2023-05-30 10:03:41

If the only thing wrong with our heart is it goes too slow, then there's no need for meds because the pacer fixes what's wrong. Some have underlying conditions that require meds, but simply having a pacer doesn't mean we need to be taking anything. I wasn't on any meds the first 25 years I was paced. Now I'm on a few, but still nothing heart related. 

Do statins count?

by Echoplex - 2023-05-30 11:43:14

They gave me a half dose of a statin to take - and when I asked "Why?" they said "Just in case" ... "But I don't have high cholosterol" ... "Exactly, so, let's keep it that way" ... 

Echoplex

by Tracey_E - 2023-05-30 12:05:01

Sometimes they get a bit aggressive with us in order to prevent additional problems.

I would be very hesitant to take a statin unless my numbers were creeping up. My cholesterol numbers are slightly elevated and neither gp nor ep has pushed a statin. But we are all different. I'd at least have a conversation about importance of prevention vs potential long term effects and side effects of a statin. 

Thanks Tracey

by Echoplex - 2023-05-30 14:55:19

Thanks! That's in line with my hunches.

Yes, I would rather do what I can lifestyle changes than taking meds long term, so... I admit - I haven't been taking it :-) 

Because of the year long bloodwork journey I've been on to prove that I can control my A1C with diet and exercise (and losing 50lbs) I have actually watched my cholesterol numbers dip - and again - they were never high!!!

So, yah... I think I'll keep on keeping on until I see the numbers creep in the wrong direction.  

Reassuring feedback thank you

by Malya - 2023-06-03 10:04:52

Thank you for the feedback and support. My heart problem is or was  related and confined to a 'sick sinus node' lack of electrical  signal. That has been fixed (touches head).

Most of the people I've talked to do have problems with their heart rate being too fast or erratic so hence the extra medication?
 

I also suffer from severe allergic asthma hence the reason for non heart related monoclonal antibody medicine. It's 'interesting' to witness the complete lack of interest from both specialists; cardiology and respiratory concerning the existence of the other,  and of any possible connection or impact of treatment/medication. C'est la vie.

Thank you again.