Does a pacemaker help with afib & strokes?

Hi all. So I have afib plus other problems with my heart. This year I've had 4 mini strokes. My last one was 8 weeks ago where I was put on Atorvastatin 40mg od. Which is okay apart from slight aching muscles. It's manageble and I don't really want to change them. I'm due to have a pacemaker after Christmas and a possible ablation which I will decline again as I'm having major problems with my blood. Has anyone found the pacemaker to work with afib?

At the moment I'm in complete bradycardia and my heart rate isn't going much over 50bpm, even with exercise.

My therapeutic range has been changed from 2-3 to 2.5-3.5 to try and stop my strokes. However this is now causing me to bleed from my gums and bruise more so I'm all over the place at the moment.

Has anyone else had strokes from there afib?

Thanks Sarah

[BobD Volunteer]

A pacemaker will normally ensure a steady ventricular rate but will not stop AF. It would have no impact on stroke risk. Has your doctor considered one of the newer anticoagulants? Stroke is a common complication of AF which is why anticoagulation is so important.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi, Bobd.

Unfortunately due to my other heart conditions I can only have warfarin. Which I've been on for many years. My INR is never stable so I'm hoping the pacemaker might help. I heard a stroke can be common. I'm lucky that I have gone 3 years with the afib before I had one I guess.

Thanks Sarah

[NickiC]

I have, Sarah but I had no idea I had AF as it was pretty much asymptomatic. I’d felt the odd bumps and jumps at night but put it down to very late menopausal palpitations. I also had at symptomatic T2 diabetes (got rid of that) and as a result of the AF heart failure as well (got rid of that also). I’d felt a bit tired in the weeks leading up but put that down to three weeks off work and destressing. Had been doing my thrice daily long dog walks, including up Moel Famau three days before, and swimming. Then bam 💥 . I was lucky to be thrombolysed within an hour and I have inconvenient rather than life changing consequences.

Make the most of your awareness of your body and its eccentric workings. You have the advantage over those of us who didn’t have a clue. And I mean that with heart felt empathy and warmth.

I was shocked to learn I knew nothing of AF and am eternally grateful to those, very much including BobD, who bang the AF drum. I try myself.

Be well and best wishes,

Nicki 💕

[Hidden in reply to NickiC]

Hi, Nicki.

Thank you so much for your reply. I know I'm definitely grateful that I'm aware of my bodies workings. Especially as of lately because otherwise the consultants wouldn't be half aware of it.

I hope your af isn't to bad of a night time. That's when mine loves to kick off.

Thanks Sarah.

[Polski in reply to Hidden]

I think that suggests you AF is of 'vagal' origin - Research the term on here using the box in the top right of the screen, and you should get more information about it. Also Dr Sanjay Gupta does a you-Tube video about it, which is very helpful.

[Hidden]

Sarah, I'm unable to give you answers based on my experience. But I would hope and expect the pacemaker will improve symptoms related to your low heart rate.

I have read your previous threads and I just wanted to say that you must be a remarkable woman to have coped with all your medical problems down the years.

On your first thread there was good advice about not being hesitant to use emergency services when you are ill. But sometimes, rather than having the discomfort and downsides of using the Casualty department, we just need to be seen at home by the right medical professional for review.

Does your location fall in the catchment area of more than one practice? Is there a way you could find a GP prepared to do domiciliary visits as they used to?

I wonder if local commissioners of services have the discretion to fund domiciliary medical input out of hours, and see the financial logic of avoiding hospital trips when such input might avoid those trips. A good GP would hopefully be prepared to discuss this at the practice management meeting.

[Teignfisher]

From personal experience I have suffered from paf for many years always starting at night while a sleep. After 3 ablations I was offered pace and ablate . I had a pacemaker fitted some 18 months ago and have only been in AF twice both times self reverting in 4 hours something not known before. In the last 12 months I have been AF free. I put this down to my pacemaker not allowing me to go into Bradicardia which I frequently did

However it was pointed out to me that pacemakers do not cure AF but fingers crossed I will not have to have the node ablation.

Good luck

[Polski]

Taking vitamin C (eg up to 500mg twice a day), providing your doctor sees no reason not to (eg if you have too much iron in your body, as Vit C helps you store iron), may help to strengthen your capillaries, so that they bleed and bruise less. CoQ10 is also known to be good for gums.