CRTD and pacing

[Mollykin]

hi everyone, I had a CRTD pacemaker with defib inserted about 18 days ago as I had a cardiac arrest in hospital after being given a loading dose of digoxin whilst on Dronederone, following a cardioversion that initially worked but then put me into afib with high heart rate. I’ve heart failure now with an EF of 30% and LBBB. For the pacemaker to work I need to be paced at 98+% but I’m at 86%. I need to lower my heart rate more. I’ve increased my bisoprolol to 1.25 twice per day, morning and evening but suffering severe breathlessness and fatigue. I’ve also started dapafliglozin and on furosemide and Edoxaban. Just wonder if anyone else has been in the same position and how did they lower their heart rate further. Am incredibly scared by all this that I won’t get better and googled it which I shouldn’t have done. I’ve the pacemaker clinic in two weeks and they said if no improvement they will have to speak to my consultant.

[Buffafly]

Perhaps you could have diltiazem instead? Lowers HR and doesn’t cause/worsen breathlessness but I don’t know how you would manage a change of medication because I don’t think you can stop Bisoprolol suddenly.

[Mollykin in reply to Buffafly]

Thank you. I will ask about this at my appointment