Pacemaker and higher BP?

[PamJN]

I had a pacemaker and ablation on Feb. 28th of the this year. All went well but I tend to have lower blood pressure and recently my BP has gone wacky! It is very high one day especially in the morning and then the next very low. I am seeing my cardiologist regularly for him to get my meds right after the ablation but this has happened 5 months after the pacemaker. I read somewhere that a pacemaker can make your blood pressure higher so asking if anyone has had this same experience. So far no more A-FiB which is a blessing! Thank for any help.....

[CDreamer]

My BP is now higher after Pacemaker implanted 2018 but as my BP used to be very low, rarely over 90 systolic I am quite pleased as my BP is now constant 110-115 systolic and I feel so much better. I don’t take any meds.

I don’t get any variations but hard to judge what you call whacky? Quoting numbers help as one person’s idea of high BP is another’s normal.

[PamJN in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the info. This started one morning when I woke up feeling extremely nervous and took my bp which was 190/85. Called doctor he told me to take another pill........he & I have been back and forth with adding and subtracting meds....I have been 154/73, 181/77, 133/61,143/65 two days ago in the am 112/48 and today 155/70! That's why I said whacky!

I used to be like you low and under 120 for systolic was normal for me. No one told me that the pacemaker would make it higher....otherwise it's doing its thing and working for me.........

[CDreamer in reply to PamJN]

Have they actually said this is because of the Pacemaker? Interesting that your first symptom was extreme nervousness, that would indicate an ANS - autonomic nervous system issue which would then push up your BP.

Have you always been someone who suffered with anxiety (nervousness) or is this completely new? IF completely new consider the impact that receiving a Pacemaker has had on you psychologically and perhaps talk to a counsellor specialising in health issues.

In case you are not aware, a very brief explanation of one part of the ANS which regulates BP - The ‘sympathetic nervous system’ or Fight or Flight response - sympathetic activity is a mechanism for both initiating and sustaining the blood pressure elevation. It is important that this is controlled in the moment but it would be good to discuss with your doctors some longer term solutions and treat the cause. I would stress that is physcial response and not ‘all in the mind’. Sometimes and for some people mind relaxation, meditation and breath work can really help. Persistent and long term practice does help soothe SNS - you have taken the first step by identifying your first symptom was extreme nervousness.

Breathing techniques are the best way for most people to get immediate relief for the anxiety - which is physical by the way. I found after practice I can reduce my HR by 10 and my systolic BP by 20 points just by adopting breathing techniques for about 5-10 minutes.

Other very useful techniques are walking in green nature, cold water bathing (I can no longer do that so I use cold showers), humming, singing Tail Chi or Yoga or any exercise that teaches breath work - like some Marshall arts or free diving.

Hope that gives you some pointers, Best wishes

[Tapanac]

no my BP has stayed the same roughly on the low side.

Been great and no more faint and light headed feelings

[DawnTX]

Pam I had the AV node and pacemaker also in fact my first anniversary was Valentine’s Day my doctor was over the moon with my numbers, etc. just so you know. It is long time healing and can take almost a year for whatever the reason. Now that does not mean you’re going to be in pain and have a fib it just means some days are good some days kinda. eh. most of it is lack of knowledge on our part and when you find out what is normal, it will feel better. One thing if they did not tell you, you can still feel a fib or flutter, but the difference now is it can do no damage. Your heart no longer listens to the natural pacemaker because it has been ablated. That is the AV node FYI. usually, if I feel it, I have triggered it somehow and I’m pretty much on point as far as how. Ice cream, a very cold glass of wine. I love sangria, but even a few sips at the wrong time can do it not always. Getting extremely upset or stressed will definitely triggered it. Just so you know, I have heart failure that has actually improved since I got my pacemaker. My ejection rate was in the 40s. It is now in the 70s, which is very good at my age. I will be 72 on the 14th.

once again, you have to let it go again not meaning if you have a horrible pain, etc., but once you get used to the little things because there’s nothing that can be done except maybe take Tylenol by the way aspirin is not the cure for pericarditis not only that if you are on an anticoagulant you definitely don’t want to mix the two. Take that little pill you don’t like you will soon feel a difference.

you are going to have ups and downs and funny feelings. It doesn’t hurt to ask us out here if we have had it but if the pain is bad, don’t call us call your doctor.

everything involved with a fib is learning process just know they are working on new things every day for us, but there is no cure however I will tell you for me. My pacemaker was the best thing ever I wish I could’ve had it sooner most of the time my heart rate is around 71 or 72 unless I’m extremely active or sedate and then it changes accordingly as low as 60

be careful in the hot weather. It will possibly make your blood pressure drop to the point where you could drop with it. I have not had that happen for quite a while because I’m usually smart but a few weeks ago combination of things put me down on my back.I am in Texas for the most part. We have been breaking records with temperatures and with the feels like it was 118 today. I do not perspire, which is bad because that would tell most people get out of the heat, but I enjoy the heat. I really triggered it not only did I stay out in the heat doing errands, but we went to lunch and I ate my whole lunch with a glass of icy sangria. I really did it to myself and it took about two weeks for me to get back to normal. Yes, I had flutter almost constantly.

my device clinic did two transmissions and found that my pacemaker is perfectly fine. I also had an echo and everything is in place as it should be. It is those phantom fillings that we can get you will be fine. I pray that you have the same luck that I have because I am so happy with what was done.