pacemaker and ectopics

[Auntyp62]

My husband had a pacemaker fitted 4 weeks ago, due to a very low heartbeat 40 bpm and ectopics, and was doing well. His low heartbeat is now set at 60bpm and all was well till the ectopics started again 2 nights ago. We were under the impression that the pacemaker would control the ectopics and are a little concerned. Anyone have any knowledge of this please

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello! I am afraid I don't k ow very much about this but have two friends thar suffer ectopics. One has completely eliminated them and come off medication by avoiding triggers. The other thinks Total avoidance is too much so needs daily medication.

So what are these triggers. Generally they are food. Which ones vary between people bit the main ones are caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and spicy food. Other triggers are tobacco, stress and fatigue. Depending on personal circumstances the latter two may be particularly hard to eliminate.

[Auntyp62 in reply to MichaelJH]

thank you for your reply, he eliminated these foods 10 years ago so not that, the only thing we can think of is that since the pacemaker has been fitted he has not taken his low dose of magnesium. Started again today, hoping it helps

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Auntyp62]

You could also try posting in HU's AF Association forum as there are quite a few with pacemakers there.

[Tigger_2 in reply to MichaelJH]

As I've reported before, I get confirmed PVCs at the rate of 100 per hour and am under investigation.I'm sure that food could be a possibility, but it has never been mentioned to me.

I think it's a progression of my already dodgy heart condition (CHB, pacemaker).

I always notice when ectopics are going on and my paced rate drops below the set minimum.

It's always when I relax, sit down or during sleep and wake up.

I had no trouble for 18 years so something has changed radically this year. I'm not doing anything different than before.

The bottom line is that the pacemaker isn't controlling the heart rate.

If it was, the ectopics wouldn't matter.

[Rhinos67]

I don't know the answer I'm afraid. I have a pacemaker but also have a monitor that downloads the data to the pacing clinic, who would contact me if they spotted anything.I'd maybe suggest ringing the pacemaker clinic

Also think about joining Pacemaker UK Facebook group. Lots of knowledge and experience there 😊

Joanne

[Auntyp62 in reply to Rhinos67]

Yes he has the same but not a monitor, it’s an app on his phone. He is due to see the technician next week…….just assumed the pacemaker would stop the awful ectopics. Thank you for the pacemaker group we will join and see what info is on there. Thank you for replying

[Tigger_2 in reply to Rhinos67]

You have more confidence in the pacing people than I have.They never had much to say in the F2F clinics and despite 9 months of paced heart rates dropping well below the minimum, they never contacted me.

In fact, the bedside monitor failed and the pacing people didn't involve themselves at all.

It ended up with my having to call Medtronic in the Netherlands, them diagnosing the problem over the phone and sending me a new one via UPS.

The pacing people have never explained even what the monitor does.

It's a poor substitute for the now closed clinics.

[HedgehogHero]

I had a pacemaker fitted in August and in my 6 week appointment with the pacing team they have adjusted my pacemaker to reduce these episodes. The nurse told me it may take a few time to adjust so please make the pacing team aware. It feels much better just knowing what the process this to eliminate these episodes and has settled my mind somewhat. ❤️‍🩹

[Tigger_2]

I can throw some light on ectopics and pacemakers as I have both.Pacemaker 18 years for heart block (complete Mobitz)

All was well until this year when I started to get heart rates below the set point of 60 BPM. Not just one or two, but sometimes down to 30 BPM.

The falls and blackouts followed.

After some fraught attempts to get anything from the cardiologists, it was revealed that I was getting an average of 100 PVCs per hour.

The cardiologist handed out a one word diagnosis of ectopy.

I am due to see an in clinic cardiologist in two days time and I shall attempt to get an answer to why with a pacemaker am I getting low heart rates again, like the original symptoms?

My theory is that the ectopics are interfering with the pacemaker timing and it can't distinguish between real pulses and the ectopics.

They are trying to control the ectopics with the maximum dose of Bisoprolol 10 mg daily but they still break through.

I noticed it was bad again for several days after having the Covid and flu jabs last week.

Getting as far as seeing anyone has taken 9 months.

It's hard having to deal with this after a bereavement.

For anyone wondering what erratic and slow heart rates feel like, it's scary and at 3 AM in the early hours, it feels as though you are going to die.

My confidence in the cardiology department was already low after they let the first pacemaker fail on depleted battery and closing the face to face clinics.

Sending me a bedside monitor through the post without any explanation didn't help.

So first F2F in 18 years is going to be interesting.