Pacemaker

[Tinker2015]

Are pacemakers only for a slow heartbeat only was just wondering what happens if you get a fast heartbeat but cannot take medication for it. Do they treat it other ways

[bantam12]

I don't know the technical bits but my Cardio is talking about a pacemaker for me and I don't have a slow rate 🤷‍♀️

[Hidden]

I to have a fast heart rate & yet nothing is being done about it as I have various other heart problems as well, they have appeared @ various stages in my life, some I was born with, some later on & a couple more this yr

[Lezzers]

That's true of the ICD. It will recognise an abnormal heart beat & try to correct it. It will know in seconds if this hasn't worked & will deliver a shock to restore a normal heart beat. Some ICD's also pace the heart.

[siouxbee19]

I have an ICD/pacemaker. If rate gets outside set parameters, I think high rate of 140 and low 60, my device will adjust accordingly. It will pulse for a few seconds, and if arrhythmia is sustained, it will give a jolt. If it continues, a much more powerful jolt.

I've been paced back up to 60 countless times over the years, and pulsed a few times for higher rate. It thankfully only lasts for a few seconds, can't be felt, and I've never been shocked.

But knowing it could potentially save my life overrides any fear of needing a shock. I've had 2 ICD'S since 2009, 40+ years old, and I haven't once regretted my decision.

I also take beta blockers and anti-arrhytmics, so I know those have probably prevented some ICD therapy, but everyone is different.

Wishing you wellness...

[Marie1212]

I've had a pacemaker inserted because my heart stopped on me. My brilliant cardiologist worked out that I had sleep apnoea after the switched on nurse at the hospital mentioned that I snored. I didn't realised that I had snored, so now I have a CPAP machine. Sleep apnoea can cause your heart to beat irregularly. But getting back to your question, you can have what is called an ablation for a fast heart rate but it may not work. I too am looking into this, because I worry because my heart can go flat out at times too, and my current cardiologist wants to put me on beta blocker medications. I don't like the fact that meds. have side effects and I am bad when I am too busy I cannot remember sometimes if I have taken my tablets or not. I also worry that the meds. may not work too and that is why I am seeing another cardiologist who specialises in ablations. I don't want to wait til I am 70 or 80 to possibly see about an ablation because they may think I am an anaethestic risk.