PVC's have arrived

[Melleray]

Having had three wonderful months being AF free - having opted recently for 'Pace and Ablate' procedure - I was thrown into unsettled confusion last week by frequent bouts of what felt like PVC's. My first thought was that a wire had come out. So I phoned the arrhythmia team and given an emergency appointment with the device clinic.

Saw them yesterday and after doing the horrible test of lowering the heart rate, the PVC'c appeared. The good news is that it is not a pacemaker problem, thank goodness, but yet another game my heart has decided to play.

I am still taking Sotalol as it has never been a problem for me and I think it keeps my blood pressure under control and keeps permanent AF at bay. But now I am to be given new meds so that may change.

The technicians have told me that since I had the AV node ablation in March, I have unknowingly had about three episodes of AF, lasting between 4 seconds and 4 minutes. As the pacemaker does not control the AF, just bypasses it, it seems amazing that these episodes have been so short, as in the past AF episodes always lasted many hours. It makes me wonder if my own reaction to pre pacemaker attacks of AF exacerbated it and made the episode longer. Interesting.

[jedimasterlincoln]

These hearts do like to play games! Quite an interesting update nonetheless

[Shepheart]

I still have what feels like short runs of pvcs. Haven’t noticed them much in the last few weeks though. It’s five months since the av node ablation and I’m feeling better and get out for long walks now that the weather is better. I feel some Afib at times but now I just try to ignore it as it’s not an issue. Glad to hear you are basically feeling better.

[Melleray in reply to Shepheart]

Glad to hear you are improving and that you can get out walking in the fresh air again. The biggest life changer for me was the utter relief of knowing that I would not have an AF episode and have to go to hospital. These PVC's are a nuisance but not to anything like the same degree. Where do you feel the Afib when it happens?

[Shepheart in reply to Melleray]

My Afib feels like a fluttering in my chest/heart area. At least I think it’s Afib. I go for my pm interrogation in late July. I’m very interested to find out the details. I’ve had my pacer for six and a half years. Now that I’m 100% paced I’d like to know the new rate of battery usage. Also how much Afib, perhaps I’m not even detecting some of it.

[Melleray in reply to Shepheart]

Yes - it will be interesting to find out what has been going on. Will look out for your post.