Brainfade

[Alphakiwi]

Over the last year i have been getting a heavy thump in my heart which causes me to suddenly suck in. It seems to start suddenly when sitting quietly during the day or at night which wakes me from a shallow sleep. Some days its regularly about 15 mins or so apart.As soon as this happens i have an onset of a short term head ache which as the day progresses turns into a semi permanent one.

The scary and annoying part of this is now iam getting memory loss like names of things and procedures etc. I was told by a doctor once that it was palpatations ,but i think its serious especially when it comes to my memory at 82. Panadol doesnt help the headaches at all.

I do have Paf and have dual chamber pm. Can anyone here recognise what this may be etc. Thanks all Colin. At least i can still remember my name LOL

[Chinkoflight]

Hi , I have recently had an ICD fitted with dual leads including a pacing lead in the atrium. The first device fitting failed on day one and I had occasional, often postural related heavy thumps and I could also feel occasional runs of pacing taps. But I felt awful, was having dizzy spells, breathless, awful doom feelings in the chest and headaches. I reported this immediately but was told I needed to get used to it. However after three weeks they called me in following remote monitoring reports because they recognised there was a problem. A lead had detached, so I needed to have it replaced. Since then normal life has returned.However, about a week ago I was woken in the night with more noticeable series of pacing taps, not enough to describe as thumps. I was previously SR Bradycardia with ectopics for years and a resting HR of 40, but since starting bisoprolol my typical resting HR is now around 36/37 and have measured 35. My ICD first time was set to pace me all the time at 60, but after the problems they decided to set me at a 'failsafe' of 35. I expect my HR fell below this, maybe with the impact of ectopics and I was kicked off. When in hospital before the ICD was fitted my HR was very low at night and on one occasion a panicking nurse woke me by shaking me and shouting at me because my HR had fallen below 30!

My suggestion would be to have your device checked and at least have the reassurance that is not the cause of the problem.

Hope this helps.

[Alphakiwi in reply to Chinkoflight]

Wow quite an experience for you. I am being given a home monitor onfriday. I paid for one and bought it from the U.S. it wouldnt work much to the amusement of my pm tech. However she is providing with a legal one. I get it on friday.Im hoping that will help get the answer. I still wonder if AV Node would be the wayfor me since i am so drug resistant. That wasthe original intention when the pm was put in 3 yrs ago !!! Colin

[Megams]

~Sorry to read of your situation Alphakiwi - understand and identity with your memory/word finding process. Extremely frustrating indeed when your brain just won't find the right word midstream sentence.

I too have noted this more since my dual lead pm implant Feb 2024 followed by av node ablation March 2024.

My lung function has deteriorated since then too (prior it was fine) and am noting my oxygen saturation levels are not what they should be.

Tonight my h/r dropped to 38 beats a minute for short time which would have thought my pm would have stopped.

I have Sjogren's and whilst it was mild earlier this year, it has flared since my 2 heart procedures.

Hope you get some answers - would be interested to know~