New to Pacemaker Club

I had a pacemaker implanted on February 22 after having an ablation for afib and another for atrial flutter. While sitting, my heart rate is perfect--72-76 bpm. When I do something as simple as walking from den to kitchen, it may run to 88 bpm, sometimes in the 90's.  I had my first check with cardiologist Monday and he says all is fine, but this seems a little fast to me. My rate before surgery was 45--maybe I haven't adjusted to the faster rate. Is this normal? Thanks for your input.

6 Comments

Normal

by AgentX86 - 2024-04-27 17:32:53

Hi Lynn, Welcome to the club. Wish you didn't have to find us.

What you describe sounds perfectly normal.  Why do you have a pacemaker?

PM with fast hair rate

by Lynn B - 2024-04-27 19:31:40

I had to have the pacemaker afte having 2 ablations and various medications which did not control my atrial flutter. I had an extremely fast heart rate which lasted for days at a time. This surgery, so far, has been a blessing, although I am not quite my old self yet. I am back to walking 2 miles a day which I think is good. 

Why?

by AgentX86 - 2024-04-27 21:22:11

Are you currently on these medication?  I understand the AF/AFL issue, all too well. I had a maze procedure for AF, but that just traded for a nasty atypical AFL.  I then had three, failed, ablation for flutter, then a pacemaker because one of the antiarrhythmia drugs damaged my SI node.

I ask because a pacemaker can't fix Afib or Aflutter. All it can do is speed up the heart, which can be useful if high dosages of antiarrhythmic or rate control drugs are used. I'm wondering if this is why you have your pacemaker, or if there is another reason.

Flutter

by Lynn B - 2024-04-27 21:54:08

I, too, have atypical AF. I was put on Flecainide to try and control it. It did not. I had the PM put in and am still on Flecainide twice a day. I still have my AV node, but if the PM doesn't control this, I will have it removed and be  100 % dependent on the PM.

Atypical AFL?

by AgentX86 - 2024-04-28 01:10:46

You mean atypical flutter, not fibrillation, right?  A pacemaker isn't going to do anything to stop flutter.  It can't.  Pacemakers are accelerators.  There is no brake. Often some heavy drugs or high doseages of drugs (like beta blockers) are used to control the rate, which usually causes the rate too low.  This is where the pacemaker can be useful.  It allows the rate to be depressed, a lot, then the pacemaker takes over where the rate would get dangerously low, because of the drugs.

As far as an AV ablation goes, I had that also.  Before you do it, research it, then do more research, and then more. It will almost certainly relieve all of the symptoms of AF and AFL but comes with its own baggage. It's a one-way street and isn't without its problems. I'm trying to fight though some of them now, after six years (I've seen my device tech five times in the last two months). I think I'd do it again but YMMV. Make sure your eyes are wide open! There is no return.

Lynn B - Welcome to the Club

by Good Dog - 2024-04-28 15:41:06

I assume that you do not have rate response turned-on? Correct? I would think not, but just checking......

Again; welcome, I hope you find this a great place for support and answers to some questions you may have along the way. We all have at least one thing in-common!

I wish you the Best!

Dave

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