Bradycardia

[Martharose03]

New kid on the bloc!!

Recently in hospital with AF first time!(such a surprise!) Then UnstableTachy/Brady Syndrome diagnosed . Prescribed Apixiban 5mg twice daily and Bisoprolol 1.25 daily.

An angiogram showed no heart damage slightly enlarged left atrium. A mention of a Pacemaker was mumbled!

After two weeks my GP took me off Bisoprolol as my HR average 42. I have been off 2weeks and my HR averages about 46-50 happier with that. (Although I did ten minutes ironing and my HR increased to 80 maybe because I don’t like ironing!)

I am seeing the Consultant who performed the Angiogram (NHS) tonight in a clinic. (privately) as I need to know what the outcome of my 10 days in hospital meant? Need to talk Bradycardia and his views/plans for the future?? I need to know when I can return to my my many sporting activities! It feels sad that to get answers re my hospital experience a month ago I have to pay!!

Has anyone views on Bradycardia and Pacemaker,?

[JudiHalf]

I have AF and after an episode of fast AF has finished I will then get Bradycardia, hr goes down to 34bpm, this feels worse than the AF! It usually lasts a few hours and the will go higher on its own.

I am waiting for a pacemaker to be fitted as my hr goes so low and it can happen at any time but usually after an AF episode, I first went to my GP nearly a year ago about this and I’m still waiting so I guess not classed as urgent.

I can’t take beta blockers because of this just on anti coag.

[KootenayTrails]

I also have natural bradycardia (RHR 48-50 for years) from longtime fitness. AF suddenly in Feb. Angiogram clear. Diagnosed Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Brady/tachy. Put on Apixaban and recently amiodarone as AF progressed quickly to almost daily, needing 6 cardioversions so far. Have had to stop all exercise, just this week have been able to do one trail walk and putter around house/yard if not in AF. My EP though is hopeful my May 31st ablation will allow me to return to my active lifestyle albeit recommended more moderate intensity. I’m 65 yrs old this week, I can do that 😊. We have found our EP Team to be amazing with excellent phone follow up weekly (6hrs drive away, BC Canada). All the best to you!

[Martharose03 in reply to KootenayTrails]

Thanks for your comments, I am busy trying to make sense of my ‘sweet-heart’

[bantam12]

A pacemaker is a game changer if you have Bradycardia, no more dips below whatever it is set to, mine is set at 60bpm. The procedure is fairly quick and easy although I had loads of bruising so found it very painful for a few weeks after but very soon you forget it’s even there.

[Martharose03 in reply to bantam12]

Thanks for comments, useful

[secondtry]

Did you discuss the option of 100mgs Flecainide?

Sounds a bit early for a pace maker.

Future exercise half what you normally do & moderation elsewhere as well.

Follow improved Lifestyle choices as discussed here frequently.

[Ppiman]

A two-week monitor showed I had bradycardia at times and now I take 1.25mg bisoprolol to stop ectopics and AF, it is often in the late 40s. I was told that when a beta-blocker works to calm the heart, sometimes, to allow an effective dose, a pacemaker is fitted to speed up the heart.

It is surely very wrong that you have had to pay and I have gone down the same route. The NHS is in a mess - but thanks to what? We'll never know as the information is clouded by political interests. Let's hope some future government finds a way to improve it.

Steve

[2learn]

Hi, I always had heart rate around 50-55 thought that was good and due to exercising all my life. However, docs said it was due to leaky heart valves and bradycardia was making pulse too low. Had heart valves repaired and then needed pacemaker to stop pulse going too low, now its set at 60. PM ok but you have to be wary of all kinds of things eg induction hobs, iphones etc. So my advice is get your heart thoroughly checked, mine needed a TOE for proper diagnosis and a cardio prof who said the consultants had been mistaken when they'd told me my heart was working well. good luck

[Czech_Mate]

Hi Martharose

The first thing they did to me here was fit a pacemaker as the heartbeat was very low. (On a 24 hour holter the longest gap was 4.9 seconds). It also showed tachycardia so I was put on metaprolol, a beta blocker, to try to stop the heart beating too fast. The pacemaker does its job perfectly so the heartbeat is never less than 60 per minute. However today the cardiologist confirmed that I am in permanent afib, so to try to slow that down he's increased the metaprolol dose, but it's still a low dose compared to what some people take (I was on 12.5mg per day, now 25mg). I am also on 5mg apixaban twice a day.

Exercise is important for me, but I'm pretty weak and slow. I walk every day, potter in the garden and some very slow cycle rides. It's frustrating, but I look for the positives as well. Maybe the change in medication will help.

The whole thing was also a surprise for me, most likely due to a family tendency to this.

Well that's my journey, everybody is different so I wish you well with the frustrations of your journey.