Hi I have had Paroxysmal AF for about 5 years and had a rocky ride meds wise with betablockers and calcium channel. To cut a long story short I was placed on Digoxin 125mg last year by GP which initially worked well but worsened over time. In March 22 Hereford Cardios reduced Digoxin to 62.5mg od and added in Flecainide 50mg bd with the choice of this or ablation, I also have a leaky mitral valve which was an 'incidental finding'. I havent felt the best on this mix but can't really put my finger on why. Review appt last week different Cardio wasnt pleased with Digoxin so stopped that with a view to inserting a pacemaker in 6-8 weeks. My HR falls to low 40s overnight and resting is usually 45-50. I find it really difficult to get going in the mornings. Would love some advice please re pacemaker - I am 68 female average weight and active (later in the day)
Many thanks
Written by
Aikonbizz
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Apart form the faff of not being able to wave your arm abou for six weeks, its a bit of a non event. Mine is shiny and only 8 weeks old!
Hasn't made any difference to me to be honest other than I can now take more drugs to lower my HR from around 90 which it has been for the last two years or so to a slightly better 70-75 without getting pre-syncope and feeling faint when it did drop too low. Currently set at 60 bpm.
I was surprised in the change in tack from ablation as the next option tbh but the more I think about it perhaps it is the way to go. I accept low 40s is very low. Many of the AF episodes have been when I have been rather sedentary assuming HR falls might kick it off and began in a stressful sitting work environment. Anyway, my concerns are recovery period getting back to my interests of yoga, no dig allotment, grandkids and quality of life. I have been hoping to try bell ringing but obvs that would be out initially but is it possible after recovery ?
I take xarelto daily ,blood pressure normal but hr is 45 to 55 .Im told its because I did a lot of sports when I was younger,and not to worry about it.
Hi there. I am also a 68yr old female, average weight, like to be active. I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a leaky mitral valve and have been in permanent AF for 2.5yrs.
I couldnt take Digoxin at all, it made me feel so ill. Ive tried lots of different meds and currently take Diltiazem.
The Diltiazem has kept the AF largely , bouncing around under 120bpm which has been tiring and also unpleasant and unpredictable.
The only thing left for me is a pace and ablate procedure , which is not a decision to take lightly, im going in to have the pacemaker fitted tomorrrow. 🤞
Had a Dual one installed 9 months ago and it does work. It stops my dizzy spells and prevents me from passing out. It is set at 60 bpm and it cuts in when my heart rate goes past at 150 and brings it down to 80. My rate was low 40s and after wearing a 7 day tape they discovered that my dizzy episodes was my heart pausing, so a success for me. Still on the blood thinners as the AFIB has not gone but I do feel that the episodes have reduced. This was all after 2 Ablations. Don't worry, the worst part in the uncomfortable feeling you will have for a few weeks, then you will forget it is there.
every case is different. I have paroxyl Af with no known cause they say a perfectly healthy heart, normal bp, thyroid fine etc etc. my heart rate is in the forties during the day but can drop to 33 in the night but I am fine with that no breathlessness or feeling faint. I too over the years have worried about this & have had numerous monitors. They say because my heart rate goes up when I move around it’s fine. I once mentioned a pacemaker and they said no way, basically. They tried various meds for the afib but my heart rate was too slow to tolerate them. So other than apaxiban I can’t take anything. I still worry though. But every case is different as I said at the beginning
Hi, My pulse used to be around 55, and I thought I was reasonably fit for 72. However, docs said my pulse was low due to leaking mitral valve. Had that repaired and pulse still low so they inserted pacemaker to stop it going below 60. I'm surprised on these posts when people say about low pulse rates. My docs were more concered about it being low than it seems some docs are. Have you had your heart scanned and a stress test to find out if there is a heart problem. As we get older the 'normal pulse' is usually higher. Down side of pacemaker is hassle over driving licence and lots more equipment that you have to be wary of eg apple watches, dental equipment, induction hobs, Iphones etc. So far 10 months, pacemaker fine with regular local checks.
I have had every test possible I think and this very slow rate is normal for me. Both my son and daughter are exactly the same. They also record night time pulse rates in the 30’s. I do wonder though if there is a link between that and my Af
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