Can My Pacemaker Stop an AF Episode?

[Mumursa]

I didn't think so! I've had my pacemaker for six years, to prevent low heart beat caused by the high bb dose I'm on. It's checked at the PM clinic every year. I went there yesterday.

I've been having a lot of AF and have been referred back to Cardio. In the meantime, the clinician told me she could adjust my PM to produce some extra beats when it detects an additional beat, and that this can deter the start of an episode. Apparently it's a feature on newer PMs.

I agreed to give it a try but I got into such a panic later that I was relieved to survive the night. My heart pounded all night so I'm not sure it worked! I suppose I can only tell if it's working if I have fewer episodes over a period of time and will have to wait and see.

I wondered if anyone else has any experience of this feature? Thanks!!!

[President2012]

my pacemaker does exactly what you describe. If it detects an extra best or a pause it kicks in with extra beats but also increases the rate for a short while. I can feel this happening. I was having an episode of PAF every week prior to getting my pacemaker. It’s early days as I only have it ten weeks but no episode in that time.

[Mumursa in reply to President2012]

Thank You. That's very reassuring. I'm pleased to hear it's working for you. I hope it continues for you.

I'll try not to worry and continue for a few more weeks - and hope that i can say the same as you.

Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

[bantam12]

I had that switched on and it was awful, I could barely move without it kicking in and my heart was speeding up when it didn’t need to most of the time, needless to say I got them to switch it off again !

[Mumursa in reply to bantam12]

Thank you! I'm sorry to hear it was a bad experience for you. I feel that's what's been happening to me since Sunday, and was thinking of asking them to switch it off before I got Presidents reply. I'm determined to be less stressed about it now that I know other people have tried it, and stress is definitely a trigger for me. I will give it a bit longer as I do want to stay off more medication.

Did you start medication instead?

[bantam12 in reply to Mumursa]

I didn’t know the techs had turned it on at one of my checks, only when I was having such problems with the increased rate especially when walking that I went back and found out, so they switched it off. There was no way I would ever have got used to the effect.

I’m already on Bisoprolol which isn’t perfect but other meds make things worse so I stick with that.

[Mumursa in reply to bantam12]

That was naughty of them not to tell you. I’m in a position where I need more treatment so it’s worth a try for me.

Thanks again.

[Sunny-fl]

Very interesting! My resting heart rate is 60 and last night while laying in bed I felt my HR increase and it had jumped to 80 and seemed be stuck there until I got up and moved around. This happens more and more. I have brought it to the attention of my doctor but don’t have an answer. I will see if the PM tech will explain it at the next PM check.

[Mumursa in reply to Sunny-fl]

I get a lot out of my PM checks, although they had never told me about this feature

[Quilter43]

Don't know.just got one a month ago..

[Mumursa in reply to Quilter43]

Thank you. I hope you get on with yours as well as I have with mine.

[Quilter43]

Have you found it gave you more energy? I did it ambivalently as had pauses.

[Mumursa in reply to Quilter43]

I don’t have pauses as such. My normal heart rate is just low and I had my PM so that I could have high levels of beta blockers to treat my AF. It mostly works at night. I’m very grateful for it!

[reinaway]

Glad to hear that other people have had problems after PM check ups because after my first one they told me they had turned something on that would make it follow my needs, I walked to the car got in and immediately felt like my heart had gone crazy. I went back into the clinic and they checked it said it was fine and that it must be something else and to go to A&E. I persevered with it and over the next week got used to the pacemakers behavior. It was very scary at the time though.

[Mumursa in reply to reinaway]

Thank you. You were very brave to persevere with it. I was going near the hospital this afternoon so I decided I would ring to arrange to go in and have the feature switched off. An admin person said he would have to send them an urgent email asking them to ring me first and it might not be today. He was right about that.

I am now in sinus for the first time since Sunday so if I have a good night I may persevere a bit longer! I’m glad that worked for you.

[Mumursa]

Update 25/5. I got a phone call from the hospital and arranged to go back this pm to have the feature switched off. I couldn’t persuade the clinician to really look at what had been happening. He thinks the feature rarely works and was only interested in switching it off. As I’m going on holiday on Saturday I thought this was the best thing to do

On the way out I met the person I saw on Sunday. She said she would look at my readings to see if it had worked at all and I can contact her when I get back.

As ever, there are clearly different experiences and different opinions.