Pacemaker and Mammogram

[Jomaur]

Hi I have Atrial Fibrillation due to having a very low heart rate from time to time which caused me to feel I was passing out I had a Pacemaker fitted last June which ensures my heart rate stays above 60 bpm. Earlier today I had a mammogram done as routine and about an hour ago felt I was going to pass out. It was the same feeling I had as before my pacemaker and have not had it since then. Checked my heart rate and it’s now OK but worried that the mammogram may have damaged my pacemaker. Has any other lady with a Pacemaker experienced having a mammogram and then feeling lightheaded or near fainting please?

[BobD Volunteer]

Did you check first that it was alright to have the mammogram? I know that some are OK but others may not be. I have one and am not allowed to be too close to an induction hob (we have an Aga anyway) and not aloud to use my electric welder as both can affect them.

[Jomaur in reply to BobD]

Yes I did check with the Clinic which is at the hospital where I had my Pacemaker done and was told it was fine and the radiographer knew I had one. Just seems a very odd coincidence so will ring tomorrow and see if I can have it checked.

[CDreamer in reply to Jomaur]

I would, just to be sure.

[Jomaur in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks I’ll ring in the morning and ask if they’ll see me. Had a lot of bad things happening lately so nothing would surprise me!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Jomaur]

Yes if you have a bedside box they can interrogate it remotely. I have had mine checked even though I still have to go to the hospital every so often.

[Jomaur in reply to BobD]

No I con’t have one of those in fact I’d never heard of them until someone posted about theirs. Wish I had it woukd be reassuring now. Or not!

[SlothOnSpeed]

Hi Jomaur, there is no contra indication. As far as I understand, often the quality of the images are compromised because of the pacemaker and may lead to under diagnosis in breast cancer. This was just a cursory google so you may need to do your own research.

[Jomaur in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Yes I’ve read that as well but this seems too much of a coincidence and I need to know as I take Flecanide as a PIP when I have an AFib episode and it’s dangerous to take it if my Pacemaker isn’t working properly so don’t want to take any chances.

[bantam12]

I’ve had 2 mammograms since having my pacemaker and not had any problems at all.

[Jomaur in reply to bantam12]

No I’ve read that it is safe but this is the first time this has happened since I’ve had my Pacemaker and shouldn’t happen as my heart rate shouldn’t go low enough to cause it that’s why I am worried.

[bantam12 in reply to Jomaur]

Despite having a pacemaker I still occasionally get the same feeling of being lightheaded as I did pre pacemaker, I’ve had it checked numerous times and all working ok, they have put it down to short runs of ectopics which the pacemaker either doesn’t detect or kick in because the rate it normal.

Maybe call your team for a check to be sure.

[Jomaur in reply to bantam12]

Thank you for your reply. I am going to ring the Pacemaker Clinic when they open this morning and ask if it can be checked.

[baba]

I've had a mammogram since pacemaker insertion, no problems, I had made radiographer aware.

Recent dizzy spells were due to high heart rates, felt similar to low heart rates pre pacemaker.

[Jomaur in reply to baba]

Checked my heart rate as soon as I could after feeling faint and it was 62 so just above my Pacemaker setting which is 60 but is allowed to go down to 50 during the night.

[opal11uk]

I have had Mammograms with my pacemaker in place and all was ok but my advice is to have a pacing check just in case and to put your mind at rest. My Pacemaker is now 10 years old with a battery change scheduled for next week......

[Jomaur in reply to opal11uk]

I have rung them and am waiting to hear back from them.Thank you.

[Whataperformance]

I am a NHS Cardiac Physiologist who specialise in Pacing. If your Pacemaker was fine prior, it should be fine now.

After your first schedule check, the team would check everything especially check your Wires are firmly in place, you would know about it if there was a problem.

Also are you sure it's set at min 60 bpm?

We set ours at 50 - 120 bpm so patient has a resting HR which is more Physiological normal.

I have never in my career had a patient who has had any issue having a Breast Screening. Our Trust on the appointment letter has a commitment that if you have a Pacemaker let them know, it's to do with angles I believe

Don't worry, it will be fine, but I am sure, if you ring your Pacing team, they can advise you.

Also remember if you have Home Monitor any issues, that would have picked it up and whizzed it in as an Alert.

[Jomaur in reply to Whataperformance]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t have a Home Monitor, I don’t know if our Hospital uses them, so will give the Pacing Clinic this morning. At least if all is fine with my Pacemaker I will feel reassured and can then see my GP if it happens again. I believe mine is set to drop down to 50 at night but this happened early evening so should still be 60. In the past when it went low I was going down into the 30s and I was admitted as an emergency and the Pacemaker implanted the next day.

[opal11uk in reply to Whataperformance]

jumping on to your professional expertise, I am due to have a change of battery next Friday after 10years and will have a newer small version they tell me and connection to the Hospital, this will also enable me to have MRI should there be a need....my question is why did I not have the connection/hospital with my original Pacemaker, they said at the time it was due to my having had a stroke. Having gone from many years of P/A/F am now in Perm.A/F and heart failure so had there been a connection this would have been picked up earlier. It obviously makes no difference now, it is what it is, but just curious as to why it can be done now. I had the stroke in 2000. My Pacemaker was set at 60 and now it goes down into the 30's

[Whataperformance in reply to opal11uk]

In brief.. "Box change " is quick and you will only be in probably half a day. I'm not sure what you mean about "connection" are you getting a 3rd wire? That will take longer. Or is it Home Monitoring? 10 years ago it was only available on ICD, then Bivents, now all Pacemakers are Bluetooth..

Also, I doubt your Pacemaker drops to 30 bpm? as a failing Pacemaker eventually goes to a fixed rate of 65 bpm, and turns off all the knobs and whistles, to save Battery.

Chat to the team when your there, ask questions they will give answers that will put your mind to rest.

Pacemakers these day last a good 10-15 years depending how they are set up and your personal demand.

[Whataperformance]

They will always talk to you, all Cardiac Physiologist's are the best!!! Shame they don't have Home monitoring, it's a good Psychological boost for the patient.

Sure you are fine.

[Jomaur in reply to Whataperformance]

Wish I did have one but don’t know if they do this at the hospital I attend. Would be very reassuring.

[Tapanac]

my husband had an MRI scan and he had spasms. If you have a monitor beside your bed, that monitor goes straight to pacing clinic. Please give them a ring and they will either confirm all ok or ask you to go in to tweak the pacemaker. Don’t worry though

[Jomaur in reply to Tapanac]

Thanks I have rung them and am waiting to hear back from them.

[Tapanac in reply to Jomaur]

Great. Those monitors are very useful and I thought they were provided for everyone. Only small like a mobile phone but keeps a record of pacemaker. Hope all well

[Lizty]

Hi Jo..... I don't have a pacemaker.... yet..... but suffer from hypotension and have done sporadically most of my life. I think there is now some consideration that such a [benign] condition might later lead on to atrial fibrillation. I now have atrial fibrillation and worsening hypotension... ie, if I get up too quickly, my systolic bp can drop down to the 80s. I have had mammograms in the past and of course, they are not very comfortable. On at least two occasions I suffered a sudden drop in bp after the X-ray. At my last cardio visit the doctor said that this is an 'ageing' thing - so may be a separate issue from the usual heart rhythms. I can totally empathise with your distress!

[Jomaur in reply to Lizty]

Thank you but my low heart rate has been confirmed on an ECG as was low 30s. I had gone to A&E as had a very prolonged AF episode and that was where it was seen. I was kept in and had a Pacemaker implanted the next day as it was treated as an emergency.

[Twosumsmum]

hi Jomaur

As long as you told them you had a pacemaker they adjust their technique for the scan . Yes I do sometimes feel dizzy after , I think it’s more to do with the standing and the position of my arm during the scan .

I did initially had problems with failure to capture by the pacemaker, so I was still having dizzy nearly passing out symptoms, the pacemaker clinic increased the rate and response time so the flipping thing acted quicker to sudden heart rate drops . So mine is set 80 -115 . So much better .

Also remember to tell your dentist and oral hygienist. As the equipment they use can confuse the pacemaker.

I have the habit of not leaving the pacing clinic until they get the settings right for me , and then cross my fingers they haven’t cocked up settings as I am so very sensitive to changes . Pacemakers are brilliant bit of kit when working well , a real nightmare when they are not .

[Jomaur in reply to Twosumsmum]

Thank you for your reply. I do not feel dizzy but have a ‘dropping’ feeling and this went on for a couple of years before I had my pacemaker. At that time I was seeing a Cardiologist privately for my high blood pressure and he really dismissed the symptom but it was on,y when I went to A&E with a prolonged AF episode and had a number of ECGs taken that a Dr picked up the fact that my heart rate was going into the low 30s. I was admitted and had the Pacemaker implanted the next day. Since then I have not had this feeling at all until yesterday. Anyhow I have rung the Pacemaker Clinic and am waiting to hear back.

[Twosumsmum in reply to Jomaur]

That’s either failure to capture or a run of ventricular pacing or extra beat

[Jomaur in reply to Twosumsmum]

After an echo I was diagnosed with Junction Escape Rhythm and that’s why I have the Pacemaker it steps in when my heartbeat is delayed. This now means I can take Flecanide as a Pill in the Pocket if I have an AF episode.

[Tombob]

I would call the pacing team at your local hospital just to be sure all is ok.

[Jomaur in reply to Tombob]

Thank you I have done and am waiting to hear back.

[chesson]

Pacemakers are not sensitive to xray fields, so it shouldn't be affected by a mammogram. However, a breast xray requires the patient be up tight against the mammo machine so it's always possible that there was some mechanical contact with the pacemaker. So, not to be dismissed and worth having it checked.

[Jomaur in reply to chesson]

Thanks just waiting to hear from Pacemaker Clinic to see if I can get it checked.