2nd degree Heart block?

[Bigdan]

Hi all, any tales of second degree heart block? (With a happy outcome!)

I've been signed off work for a few weeks now after a few faints and am awaiting a loop recorder to be fitted. Cardiologist thinks second degree heart block morbitz 1.

I'm feeling generally fine but have spells of lightheadedness mainly but also nocturnal nausea, missed beats while at rest and fatigue.

I'm still active out biking and walking as I hope this will aid longer term recovery. Off driving though which is frustrating as I often feel like nothing is wrong.

Anyone else experienced this?

Thanks for reading,

Dan.

[boxted]

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[Hatchjd]

My daughter (34) has similar and has occasional episodes of second degree Type 1, Wenckebach. . She has occasional “palpitations” and had a 24 hour EKG halter monitor. The cardiologist (she lives in Germany) decided it was a benign arrhythmia that needed no treatment.

[Bigdan in reply to Hatchjd]

Ahh, interesting, all my symptoms are very mild which sounds similar and my faints have all been accompanied by 24hr sickness. I've had the 24hr ECG which showed occasional nocturnal bradycardia.

Thanks for the reply, hopefully shes over it now?

[Hatchjd in reply to Bigdan]

My daughters 24hr ekg monitor showed nocturnal bradycardia. My sleeping heart rate is 40-45 so the same, possibly a familial heart issue.

[Kimkat]

Yes I have 1 and 2 degree HB, had a loop recorder fitted in the summer of 2017 then a pacemaker in May 2018, my symptoms were the same as yours. Still get the odd flutter and feel tired more but I’m hoping that when I have my check up in December, they will ‘tweak’ the settings. Hope this helps.

[Bigdan in reply to Kimkat]

..and were you unable to drive all that time?

[Kimkat in reply to Bigdan]

Yes, I carried on driving as I didn’t suffer huge dizzy spells and no loss of consciousness, thank goodness. My loop recorded quite a big ‘episode’ that should have at best made me feel like passing out but I was totally unaware of it, so the decision was taken to fit a PM pretty quickly.

[Bigdan]

Hi kimkat, hope you you are feeling the benefit of the PM. Do you still suffer symptoms?

Regards, Dan.

[Kimkat]

If I’m honest I didn’t really feel that different for quite a while, in fact I felt more tired than before but I have now returned to my fitness regimen and I feel more energetic, however I also have a thyroid problem, so that could be contributing to the way I feel in general.

[Bigdan in reply to Kimkat]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, its a great comfort knowing others have gone through the same process and had a successful outcome.

I am still a bit in disbelief that there is anything wrong as most of the time I'm fine.

I'm still exercising as I hope it'll promote a better recovery once I get to treatment stages.

Regards,

Dan.

[JCMartin in reply to Kimkat]

I have a heart block and just been diagnosed with Hashimotos (under active Thyroid). Wtg a loop recorder - 6 month wait. Tricky as Thyroid meds could cause havoc

[Kimkat in reply to JCMartin]

I have been on thyroid meds for 10 years now. My loop was put in within 6 weeks, luckily the NHS wasn’t as bad as it is now

[JCMartin in reply to Kimkat]

Do the monitor it closely? What it like to have it put in? I dont understand why they dont give me a Pacemaker if they are goung to put a recorder in. Most of my family have died of heart problems. I would pay for one if i had the money.

[Kimkat]

Yes I agree with keeping fit but I was told by my cardiologist not to do hiit sessions until they had sorted me out and found the exact problem, walking, swimming, light cardio was good but I’m pleased to say I’m back at the gym and doing 2-3 hiits a week at home 🙂

[Bigdan in reply to Kimkat]

Fantastic. Do you think back and realise now that you were poorly? Cause I feel now like I could probably just crack on without it..

Just home from pre op, loop recorder gonna be fitted but no timescale yet.

[bantam12 in reply to Bigdan]

I have Mobitz 1 type 2 and my Cardio has suggested either ablation or pacemaker, seeing the EP next month so will see what he says.

[Bigdan in reply to bantam12]

Are you suffering symptoms? How has it been diagnosed? Loop recorder?

[bantam12 in reply to Bigdan]

When I'm getting lots of pauses I get very lightheaded, had a few near faints. Mine was diagnosed with ECG's, Echo and 2 week monitor.

My Cardio initially wasn't going to do anything about it but I refused to accept that when its something that impacts on daily life, so hopefully the EP will come up with a plan.

[Bigdan in reply to bantam12]

Hmmm, wondering if that's going on with me? Get lightheadedness for no particular reason. I actually thought it was my eyesight going but that was wishful thinking I think! I'm getting a tilt test also to see if it brings on symptoms.

Thanks for the replies bantam.

[bantam12 in reply to Bigdan]

You will feel the pauses if you are getting them, that's what causes my symptoms, I usually get them every 2nd or 3rd beat. I also have PAF and orthostatic hypotension but that feels very different. Good luck with the tilt table, I don't think I could manage that !!

[Kimkat in reply to Bigdan]

No I actually thought it was my thyroid making me feel so horrible and if I’m honest I still think it’s my main problem but the fact is that without looking into that problem, I wouldn’t be over a year post op for my Pacemaker. I had radioactive iodine to kill off my thyroid activity , exactly a month after my PM was fitted, so the jury’s still out for me. I have an appointment with cardio in December and also with the endocrinologist about my thyroid (unless they put it back AGAIN!) so I’m hoping to get some answers, however I have to say I do feel much better since I restarted my exercising, I’m damned if I’m going to grow old(er) and unfit. But the answer to your question is, I did think at the time that I wasn’t ill enough and I could carry on without the PM but as I don’t feel a huge difference, I can’t say whether I would be feeling like this today, I would imagine that my palpitations and anxiety would be worse without it.

[JCMartin in reply to Kimkat]

Be carful your Thyroid doesnt get worse. It can make you feel awful if left. I have not been able to breath if i walk a few paces. I was very active. Now have a diagnosis of Hashimotos - i also have a heart block. Now on Thyroid meds.

[Kimkat in reply to JCMartin]

I don’t have a thyroid now, I had two ops and then RAI. That was almost 7 years ago and I still don’t feel that the endo takes enough notice of symptoms caused by being over/under medicated. I’m still trying to get myself optimal, endos either go down the thyroid route or the diabetic route, you’re lucky these days if you get one that is interested enough in your symptoms to listen to patients.

[Kimkat in reply to JCMartin]

Are you on the thyroid site on here? If not get yourself on it, there’s some interesting information that you can find from some lovely people who are well learned in the problems with the thyroid.

[Bigdan]

Yeah I'm getting the missed beats which I notice when feeling pulse which is irregular, generally through the night which is the only definate thing which is happening, all other symptoms are so mild its difficult to pin it down and describe when asked.