Heartblock

[Weejenny]

Does anyone else have heartblock. I’m not due to have my pacemaker checked till July next year. I had a holter monitor fitted a while back the results were fine and it turned out the “palpitations” I was feeling were either me exerting myself or my pacemaker working. But now I keep having this feeling of being overwhelmed. I’ve been trying to think of a way to describe it. If you can imagine getting a fright (phone ringing in middle of the night) that sort of fright.. but the feeling lasting for several minutes. It’s exhausting I get this at least five times a day 😞

Jen xx

[pnokio]

Hello Jen,

I have first degree trifascicular block, and a pacemaker is recommended if my heartbeat falls too low, if I become dizzy, or if I faint - but so far I have no symptoms. As a matter of fact, I'd like to have a pacemaker fitted right now. Just to be on the safe side. But what you describe is very similar to, or actually is, a panic attack, although the feeling exhausted afterwards is, in my experience, not the same. It may be just good old-fashioned worry. A heart condition is likely to cause the patient to worry, of course, the heart being what it is. But I can tell you, from what I've heard here and there, and from my own experience, there usually isn't anything to worry over. I'm not a doctor, but from here it does not seem to be anything to cause added concern. Have a chat to your doctor about it Jen. Sometimes, when several years' ago I was prone to panic attacks, a stiff whiskey would settle my nerves. Although if you're having these symptoms several times a day, that probably wouldn't be a good idea. But perhaps of an evening, when you're settling down.

Best Wishes, and good luck with it all, Patrick

[Weejenny in reply to pnokio]

Thanks pnokio, I think you’re probably right about stress/panic attack. Between family visiting, bad weather my son leaving home and Christmas shopping .. 😜 I’d like to hibernate for the winter I live in the north of Scotland it can be awful road conditions which petrifies me now as I’ve got older.

I hope you get sorted too I know what you’re going through, lack of sleep was a big problem for me almost constant palpitations but nothing like that now. Im so grateful i have my pacemaker

take care

Jen x