Slow pulse

[Kendalghost]

Hi Folks,

I've just been for my second part of the heart stress test as the consultant wanted to know if I could take flecainide whilst I wait for my appointment to get another ablation. The resting test was last week but today I was told (after the canula had gone in) that my pulse was too low. It was 33bpm then went up to 40bpm and then down again and irregular. I didn't feel as if I was having AF but the ECG said that I was. So, they wouldn't continue with the stress test as it could have put my life at risk. No further appointment was made, and the info will be sent to the consultant. Has anyone had anything like this before?? I know that my pulse is slow, usually around the low 40s but not the low 30s. I was advised to go to A&E if I felt unwell but as I seem to feel like that most days now I didn't comment.

[BobD Volunteer]

Normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 although very fit athletes may be lower. I once tested a very fit old chap who's rate was 36 and he had been a lifeboat coxwain all his life and was quite happy with it that slow. He didn't have AF mind.

[secondtry]

I think a lower pulse may make you more susceptible to AF but as BobD pointed out if this is right it does not apply to all. My bpm is 50-60 and my feeling still is that I have to be careful at relaxing completely (greatly missed) as it may make me susceptible to AF and although I haven't had it for many years that anxiety is still there and I don't want to go back there, so don't take the risk.

[Jock68]

My resting rate was low 40s and AF took it up to 170, after 2 Ablations and a Pacemaker installed my rate sits at 60 and when the AF gets over 150 the pacemaker fights with it and bring it down to 80. I do expect to go on to medication soon. It is critical that you get the doctor to request a 7 day tape to see exactly what your heart is doing over the week. After the two Ablations I still had problems and passed out twice with a low rate. The 7 day tape caught my heart pausing for up to 9 seconds along with many other pauses. Get back to the doctor and get the 7 day Tape, do not accept a 1 day tape.

[Kendalghost in reply to Jock68]

Thanks Jock68, I'll give the cardiologist a week or so before I call the surgery. He might push me along the queue a bit. I feel tired so much now and things that I used to do are an effort so I think that a Pacemaker would improve my quality of life.

[Desanthony]

I have low rate permanent AF now my resting rate is in the low to mid fifties. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers - any rate control medication at various doses and combinations took my rate too low to mid forties and once to 36 in the middle of the night so now only on apixaban.

[2learn]

I had pulse around 55 thought I was reasonably fit, had exercised all my life. But doc said low pulse due to leaking heart valves, so had to have pacemaker which stops it going below 60. So have you had heart scans etc to see if anything else wrong

[Kendalghost in reply to 2learn]

Hi 2 Learn, I've not had any scans lately, well apart from the resting heart rate one prior to the one that got aborted yesterday. I'm going to give the cardiologist a week or so to respond and if I don't hear I'll get on to the surgery. I am now tired a lot more and things that I used to do can seem like an effort so I think that a Pacemaker would improve my quality of life.

[2learn in reply to Kendalghost]

forgot to add that after ablation my heart rate was 40 and had to stay in hospital until it recovered. thelast year same happened after mitral valve repair, so they wouldn't let me out until pacemaker fitted