Pacemaker

[CHRISAF18]

Good morning so for months I have had feelings of fainting and hardly left my home. Anyway I finally had ecg echocardigram and R test. Saw my cardiologist yesterday and he said that I am now bracycardic as well as having Af so will need a pace maker. Bit of a shock. Also to immediately cut my propanalol to half 60 to 30 x 3. I feel that might be a bit drastic as in consultation with him before I cut down to 40 60 60 and had some break through. So I am doing 40 x3 to start as do not want to go into af.Anyone else had a pm fitted and any opinions on cutting back to half

gradually. Thank you

[Rosie1066]

Hi, yes I’ve recently had a Pacemaker fitted back in June. It came totally out of the blue and I was certainly not expecting it. I was taken into A&E due to AF, very high blood pressure and dizziness. Next thing I knew I was admitted to CCU. Saw the consultant on the Ward who said they could do no more for me as I was Tachy/Brady and was not responding to medication, so he recommended fitting a Pacemake which I was not expecting but had really no other option, so I readily agreed with him. So far, so good except for a bout of AF three weeks after it was fitted but since then I’ve been fine. It’s a bit tender and uncomfortable but every day is better than they day before. I am now very pleased I took the consultants advice and had a Pacemaker fitted.

[CHRISAF18 in reply to Rosie1066]

Well thank you so much. I am still in shock but agree they know what the best outcome can be. Glad you are feeling better.

[Clarrie]

I had a pacemaker fitted in June 2020 as I was passing out when reverting to NSR. The pacemaker made no difference to my AF attacks but stopped me passing out.

[CHRISAF18 in reply to Clarrie]

Thanks Clairrie

[Tapanac]

Sometimes, like me, the reason for fainting lightheaded etc is because your heart rate is too low therefore not enough blood going to your head.

I take bisoprolol and flecainide for my afib and tachycardia and these were the cause of my bradycardia.

Anyway after being taken into hospital after yet another faint they stopped my pills and my heart rate went back to normal and no more faints. However then the afib and tachy started to make itself known

The upshot is they implanted a pacemaker and now back on the pills until a left sided ablation

I still don’t know why they didn’t do the ablation first then I might not have to take pills so then I wouldn’t have needed the pacemaker

I was told they were trying both ends of the spectrum !!!!!

BobD would probably know the answers to that

Most people I know who have had a pacemaker are very happy and new lease of life. I’m waiting for mine as only had it a week ago

Good luck to you snd hope you feel better soon

Pat c

[CHRISAF18 in reply to Tapanac]

Hi Pat feel better soon. Yes its all a mystery to me at the monent I always hear good things about them. My Af is well controlled but with lots of drugs so told to cut down and today no feelings of fainting. Just taking one day at a time. Good luck and thank you

[quanglewangle]

Propanalol is a beta blocker and is contra-indicated for slow heart beat so what you were told makes sense - fainting and blackouts (syncope) are scary and precipitated my pacemaker insertion when I was switched to Flecainide that is similarly contra-indicated and was prescribed for reasons I cannot recall (but was promptly stopped). I am now 7 years with a pacemaker, in permanent AF and wake up every morning to happily take my pills/capsules/tablets

[Murdy1 in reply to quanglewangle]

So pleased you are doing well nowI too have a pacemaker and never get syncope anymore. Blackouts are always dangerous. My pacemaker is set at 50bpm but my doctor feels I should have it reset at 60bpm... Any thoughts on this anyone? Tomx

[Tapanac in reply to Murdy1]

I believe 60 is the norm. The pacemaker only kicks in if it goes below 60 so if yours is 50 that is ok snd won’t let you go below that. It is thought 60 is best though. Presumably it depends on the individual and I guess your cardiologist knows best xx

[Murdy1 in reply to Tapanac]

Thank you for your reply Tapanac, Tom

[CHRISAF18 in reply to quanglewangle]

Thank you

[CHRISAF18 in reply to quanglewangle]

Thank you