SpO² of around 91 no problems but headaches often and resting hr of 40bpm

[jointpain]

Hi I used to have a resting hr of 30 and used to go dizzy when standing up quickly, then three years ago my HR went up to high 80s while resting, called 111 and told to go to a&e by the time I got there it was back to normal. Since then at rest it rarely goes slower than 39.

I do not get breathless and because my wife was recently in hospital where her spO² was in the low 80s I bought a oximeter to keep a check on her. I tested her and she is fine at 98% myself I found is at 91% unless I hyperventilate deeply when it rises to 97% the hyperventilating also causes my HR to rise to nearly 50bpm.

Should I be having a pacemaker and if so would it help? I am now 64 not on any drugs other than naproxen for a cervical spinal stenosis.

Thanks for reading.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Hi jointpain. I’m wondering if you have discussed your measures and query with your GP recently?

I’m afraid we don’t give medical advice here (like ‘should I be having a pacemaker’), though I’m hoping someone will be along soon who has had somewhat similar experiences as you, and will tell you how it went for them.

[080311]

Hello jointpain

Reading your post, you don’t say what your cardiologist says about you having a pacemaker. As Kristin1812 says we are not qualified medically to give you an answer, that is for a discussion between you and your cardiologist. We are a peer to peer group who try to support each other going through our heart issues.

You don’t say what your BP is, from your post your not on any heart medication.

Hope you can get the answers you need from your GP/Cardiologist.

Take care Pauline

[jointpain in reply to 080311]

Hi, I haven't seen a cardiologist for over a year, the Dr seemed to think I was some sort of an athlete, and wouldn't listen to my denials! My worn out knees prevent any athletic endeavours!

My BP is more often quite low at around 105/60

[S11m]

Before I got a pacemaker my pulse rate was getting down to 35.

When I was an endurance athlete, a pulse of 30 was OK, but, with Atrial Fibrillation, my SPo2 was getting down to 75 at night - I was waking up paralysed from the eyelids down!

[jointpain in reply to S11m]

Hi did the pacemaker make a difference? When my pulse was at 30 resting I was diagnosed with AF which is why I now see the heart consultant every two years, since it has been 40 I do not feel any fluctuations in heart rate.

[Palpman]

I can't give advice so I will give you my opinion.

Your age and the fact that you have bradycardia makes you a strong candidate for a pacemaker.

The most important fact and is mostly not mentioned is the fact that while asleep your pulse will go lower than you think.

This low pulse rate could probably cause TdP or the bad ventricular tachycardia as the QTc duration lengthens.

Have an ECG done and check the QTc duration. It should not be longer than 440ms.

If this is long then only beta blockers will lengthen it but it would also decrease your pulse rate by another 8 odd points.

This leaves a pacemaker as the only option.

Do you take beta blockers or Flecainide or both?

[jointpain in reply to Palpman]

Hi I don't take any medication other than naproxen. From what I can tell looking on the internet a pacemaker may be the way to go. I don't think my heart is in too bad a shape as when I was cycling I could take my pulse up to over 200 and recover quite quickly.

[Palpman in reply to jointpain]

Good. So you don't take the 2 QTc lengthening drugs I mentioned nor does the Naproxen have a LQTS warning assigned to it.

My EP has told me that I would need a pacemaker in the near future as my HR is now 42 and slowly dropping and my QTc is rather high at 480ms.

[Andrew_A]

My medication causes me to have a lower heart rate. My ICD was programed to start pacing me when my heart rate dropped to 40 but this has now been changed to 30 and my heart rate regularly drops to 30 while I sleep with no problems

[Ianc2]

Knackered knees + bag of money = electric bike and a good map of local cycle paths. One my neighbours swears his knees are getting better..