Heart Rate Drop

[Sabrina70]

Hi all, my heart drops to 39 or 40 once daily or so and I’m getting worried as don’t have cardiologist at the moment. I’m on Eliquis and Tildiem (60mg twice daily). Is this common? Also my HR went to 197 the other day then returned to normal. Confused. Thank you for any help.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Sabrina, how do you know that your heart is doing this? Are you wearing one of those Fitbit type watches? If so I'd disregard those high and low results. I believe it's fairly normal for our hearts to add or miss a few beats at times and of course in doing that a watch would record those figures.

However, if these are longer episodes and are making you feel ill, or faint then you may need to seek medical advice.

Jean

[Sabrina70 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean, thanks for replying. I wear an Apple Series 4 watch and it alerted me. Last Saturday I felt a flutter and looked at the watch. It was 39.

Sabrina

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Sabrina70]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about this, but I have no medical training. If you feel concerned, or it's making you feel ill, then I would mention it to your GP.

Jean

[Sabrina70 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you, I’ll see how I go on. Hopefully it won’t happen again, fingers crossed. I appreciate your help. x

[S11m in reply to Sabrina70]

I also have a Series 4 Apple Watch, and it is set-up to let me know if my pacemaker stops working. It should only alert if my pulse goes below 45 for ten minutes, or above 100 if I have been inactive for ten minutes.

My resting heart rate varies between 51 and 61, but it did (presumably briefly) get down to 33.

Did you feel faint or ill, and did you do an ECG while you had the symptoms?

I get postural hypotension every day, but I accept it as normal.

[Sabrina70 in reply to S11m]

Hi, thank you for replying. 33 is really scary. My HR didn’t stay low for long but it happened again earlier. I did ECG and in sinus rhythm. On Saturday when it dropped I felt a flutter but then got very anxious. I’m thinking of having a private consultation with a Cardiologist. I’m a nervous wreck all the time.

[S11m in reply to Sabrina70]

Before I had my pacemaker, and I was in persistent/permanent AF my heart rate was 30 at night, with an SPO2 of 75. I woke up some mornings not being able to move anything apart from my eyelids.

[Sabrina70 in reply to S11m]

I’m not sure if my reply posted. If it did I apologise for this second reply. That sounds scary. My HR drops in the day occasionally too. What is SPO2? I haven’t heard of this?

[goldey]

I for one would worry about this. Last year my heart slowed so much that it stopped four times -- fortunately I was in the ER when it happened. This is cardiac arrest, full stop. If I hadn't been in the hospital, I would have died. After the 4 arrests they put in a pacemaker and defibrillator, and I haven't had any problems since then. I have AFib and heart failure, but I never feel the Afib, and my pacemaker kicks in whenever my heart rate goes too slow. The last time I had it checked, it told me that it had been working 32% of the time. That means that 32% of the time my poor heart needs help to keep humming along. Please do not be afraid of a pacemaker everybody -- it is such a blessing. I am SO comforted knowing that it is there protecting me 24/7!!

[Sabrina70 in reply to goldey]

Thank you goldey. You’ve been thru a lot. I’m happy you are feeling better and reassured with your pacemaker. I’m going to my GP tomorrow and see what he says to do. My HR is ok most of the time (except low at night) but it’s the dips that occur occasionally in the day that bother me. I appreciate your reply and wish you well. x

[Sayer]

Good morning Sabrina. Why are you on Elquis? Your condition may require this particular dose but 60 mg twice a day seems very high. I have AF/heart block and a pacemaker and on 5 mg twice daily. Wrist worn heart rate devices are, I've read, dependent on air pressure (I don't know the details) , rather than blood pulses through veins. Thus, are not very accurate. I suggest you use the well tested 'two fingers on the wrist' method. Preferably counting for 60 secs. rather than 10 -30 sec. and multiplying up. If seeing a GP is a problem try a 'Walk In' at your local Chemist/pharmacy. Good luck.

[Sabrina70 in reply to Sayer]

Hi Sayer, Thank you for replying. I’m on 5mg Eliquis and 60mg Tildiem for Atrial Fibrillation, the latter has been increased by my GP today as he feels I’ve been having mini AF episodes recently. I see him again in a month to evaluate the meds. I hope you’re doing ok? Thanks again.