About this slow heart rate

[fairgo45]

I've been a long time sufferer of persistent afib I've had the usual ablations anti arrhythmia drugs and settled quite well with rate control meds till about 8 months ago

My worry is that my heart rate dips down into low 40s even 30s day and night as soon as I start doing something it will rise a bit into the 50s although a good walk or gardening shopping etc makes it go up to 110 briefly but as soon as I stop it drops back down to 40s

My overnight resting rate was in the 60s till a few months ago then every night it gradually went into the 50s and the last week 40s.

I'm concerned that it's getting slower and slower so that one morning I won't wake-up

I was taken off beta blockers in case that was causing it but no change

Does anyone have any experience of this happening to them if so I'd be grateful for your advice

Thanks Janet

[CDreamer]

Hi - a slow heart rate is concerning when it drops into the 30’s and 40’s. Do you have any symptoms such as light-headed, syncope or pre-syncope (fainting or feeling as though you’re going to? If you do then you need to see your doctor immediately. If no symptoms I would suggest you see your GP (insist!) as soon as possible for referral.

I am assuming you are tracking with a smart watch? If so please know that they are notoriously unreliable as when you move in your sleep they can shift position and record spikes of either very high or low readings. If the readings are consistently low however, it is likely. I was given a wearable pulse oximeter to wear which recorded accurately my HR and O2 sats. Mine dropped low at night but was not thought to be dangerous - mid 40’s - as I have high HR during the day but obviously that’s not the case with you.

It needs to be determined what is causing the low HR. Often the treatment will be Pacemaker and all I can say is that changed mine and OH’s QOL more than anything.

Hope you get seen very soon. Best wishes - CD?

[fairgo45 in reply to CDreamer]

HiYes I am tracking with a fitbit and noticed my overnight heart rate had gradually got lower and lower .

I feel ok in the daytime not dizzy or about to faint but breathless when doing a lot of ordinary things.

I have seen my cardiologist and been put on a 48 hour monitor today but before that I also had tried an oximeter where it also kept falling down into the 40s beeping away I never knew there was a wearable one

I've had a stent fitted last May and also recently got diagnosed with Hyperparathyroidism which I believe causes arrhythmias so could be that I don't think my cardiologist knows what to do with me and he hasn't mentioned a pacemaker if I get that far I will be back to you for advice

Thanks for the reply and sharing your knowledge and experience

Janet

[Hidden]

I monitor my heart rate but occasionally cross check with my bp monitor or, if my heart is regular, take my pulse.

Because my resting hr was low I was given a pacemaker when first diagnosed so that I could take beta blockers. It’s been a great reassurance!

I’d say get it checked out again to see about a medication review or a pacemaker

Good luck

[fairgo45]

Thanks I'm having a 48 hour monitor today and hope it will give some answers it certainly doesn't feel right to have such intermittent low rates and afib at the same time Thanks for sharing

Janet

[Hidden in reply to fairgo45]

Glad to hear you’re getting some attention. Let us know how you get on 👍

[wilsond]

HiHow long have you been off beta blockers? They can take a while to exit body xx

[fairgo45 in reply to wilsond]

I've been off beta blockers 3 weeks but this has caused breakthroughs of tachycardia of 120bpm lasting 3 hrs or so

I'm due to get the report through from the 48 hour holter any day now but as far as I can tell it's brady/tachy do you know if this warrants a pacemaker?

[CDreamer in reply to fairgo45]

Do let us know how you get on.

My guess would be that a pacemaker could help if you have Sick Sinus Syndrome ie: when your heart rate swings between too slow and too fast.

The monitor will give the information required to know what treatment is best fore you. In my book pacemakers are the best at improving our quality of life when the electrics in our hearts go wonky. Bless all that invented them, those that implant them and those who regulate them

[fairgo45 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for asking how I got on my cardiologist said to stop taking metoprolol but hed forgotten he had stopped that months ago then said stop diltiazem but without it I went into 3 hours of tachycardia which hadn't shown up on the holter because the diltiazem controlled it.He's been my cardiologist for years and the holter said completely in afib and a lot of bradycardia among other things but he just said what did I want him to do .

If you know how to read the holter I can pm you the summary I was so disappointed as life is difficult with all three things going on