Pacemaker

[suzytoshoes]

Hi

does anyone have a pacemaker? I have just had one fitted over a week ago been healing nicely , then all of a sudden my AF has kicked in last few days on and off I am due to go back for check up soon and a Tweet on tablets, wondered if anyone else has had the same problem, Suzy

[Hidden]

Pace makers as far as i know will not stop the AF you will need an ablation for that my PM was fit to sort out my irregular heart beat then I had the ablation but you also will have to have the PM re set once it as all settled down after a week or so

[suzytoshoes in reply to Hidden]

Hi

I had a Cryoablation, over a year ago and its not worked so decided on the pace maker, they did say will have to go back to tweet my tablets, and PM but not heard anything yet! I take flecanide was also going to increase that, thank you hopefully I will hear something soon.

[Barry24]

Hi Suzy

Nice to hear from you. Sorry about the AF. I don’t know anything about pacemakers. I was under the impression that the pacemaker is set to a certain heart beat, for example 60bpm.

Are you saying that AF can override the pacemaker, and bring in a faster rate?

Best. Wishes

Barry

[suzytoshoes in reply to Barry24]

Hi Barry,

I have not had a check up yet! but I had a bad AF attack last week but I am ok now, I don't think it stops the fast heart Rate but the pacemaker controls it so it does not drop to low now, I believe when I go back to see them , I think they will Tweak the pacemaker and in crease the Flecanide for the fast heart Rate, I will find out more when I go back early Nov thank you for the best wishes,

Suzy

[Barry24 in reply to suzytoshoes]

Hi Suzy,

Thank you for your reply. Fingers crossed that the tweak will bring improvement to the symptoms you are suffering from.

My best Wishes

Barry

[Beehive1]

I had a pm fitted just over 6 weeks ago. I found my af was worse weeks up to week 4. Tweaked at 6 week check last Friday and all good this week. Generally I feel a lot better. I know it is not a cure for af but hopeful of reduction in episodes as heart rate not dropping do low.

[suzytoshoes in reply to Beehive1]

Hi

thank you yes I was told pm should help me regarding my heart rate dropping so low, I must admit I do feel better at the moment I did have a AF attack last week , but its settled down at the moment I go back in Nov for a check on things.

Suzy

[Hidden]

Had mine since Aug 2014 that and meds give me reasonable QofL

[farmerwalt]

Hi Suzy,

The pacemaker does not stop af, that still carries on. The pm is just to control your ventricular rate, i.e. you’re pulse rate. If you are still experiencing high heart rate due to the af then you will probably need AV Node ablation if that’s not been done. I’ve had my pm for just over two years now and didn’t require the AV node ablation since I have heart block and my heart rate was always below arbout 55. My pm is set to 70 bpm resting and during recent exercise test went up to 110. I apparently get very occasional burst of vtach abut my pm takes care of that with anti-tachycardia pacing, where it increases my heart rate above what it has detected and then brings it back down to where it should be, although I’ve never been aware of it doing it. I also have heart failure but recent echo shows that my heart function has improved since the pm was fitted. Hopefully your ep will get things adjusted for yours. I had mine fitted in The Golden Jubilee Hospital in Glasgow and haven’t required any readjustment. Mine also gets monitored from home and automatically sends results to my pm clinic if it detects anything unusual. It won’t do that just now since I am at my son’s in Toronto. Keeps us updated about how you get on.

Walter

[suzytoshoes in reply to farmerwalt]

Hi Walter,

thank you I go back on Nov 2nd for pm to be tweaked I think and I think will in crease my Flecanide, at the moment all things are good so hoping things have settled a bit now,

Suzy

[Sunshine89]

To suzytoshoes: I had a pacemaker implanted June 2017 and as soon as the meds wore off I went into Afib. On my first checkup 1 week later I was told I had been in Afib 100% of the time and must see my Cardiologist and he immediately put me on anticoagulant and beta blocker. Next check up 6 weeks later showed I had been in Afib 75% of the time. My first Afib attack was brutal, being unfamiliar with what was going on I thought I was having a heart attack so went to Emergency. Eventually things calmed down. My first anticoagulant was Xarelto but I still had chest pain, breathlessness, fatigue and a general feeling of unwellness. I was switched to Warfarin because the health care wouldn't support payment of Xarelto. (I live in Ontario Canada). At first I was unhappy about having to switch to Warfarin but after the several weeks it took to find the right dose to get my INR between 2-3 within 4 days of getting the right dose I felt better. That was end of Sep/2017 and I have felt much better ever since. Chest pain gone though I still have very little energy and easily get breathless. Interestingly, being rid of the chest pain relieved a lot of my anxiety. I have an appointment with an EP in a couple of weeks to discuss Ablation but at present, while I am feeling reasonably well I feel I'd rather not rock the boat. I share my experience because at the time this was all happening to me I had a hard time finding anyone else who had similar so I know how important it is to realize one is not alone. I would appreciate knowing more about your experience and I wish you well.

[suzytoshoes in reply to Sunshine89]

Hi

thank you for your reply I have settled down again at the moment, I go for my first check up in Nov so hoping things will sort them selves out then, hope you are keeping well now I will let you know anymore when I have been for my check up thank you for your good wishes.

Suzy

[nickibmobile]

I had my Pacemaker fitted in 2014 because my bpm was around 40 and I passed out a few times. I've been in AF for years and the pacemaker hasn't changed that but I'm relieved to know my heart won't beat slower and slower and stop which was my biggest worry. I take warfarin, Bispropol and Ramipril and everything seems to be stable even if not actually any better. It is reassuring to hear other peoples experiences and to know you're not alone

[suzytoshoes in reply to nickibmobile]

Hi

I was told it wont cure my AF but control the low heart Rate, but they are going to increase my Flecanide for the fast heartrate, I believe will find out more when have the check up.

Suzy

[Sunshine89 in reply to nickibmobile]

To nicckibmobile and suzytoshoes: Thank you for sharing your experiences. Although I certainly don't wish for anyone to experience similar I definitely appreciate knowing how others cope. I wish you both well...