Hi everyone!

I was born with complete heart block and a few years ago I developed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (an autonomic nervous system disorder). I am 100% dependent on my pacemaker in my ventricle and 30% in my atrium. The upper limit is 180 and the lower limit is 60. However, during my last pm interrogation, it showed rates of over 200!! My EP nurse at the time said it was "normal for someone my age," but I can't believe that it is due to the fact that I have complete heart block and the pacemaker won't physically let my heart go faster than 180! I have asked my POTS doctor about it, and he never really gave me a straight answer.

I have been put on a beta blocker, but I still have tachycardia. My...

 

Hi fellow PM people.

I had my PM (Boston Scientific) implanted at the end of January. It is on my left shoulder just under the skin. I got a reminder today to book in for a mammogram/bread screen. The Breast Screen people think it is OK but because my PM is so close to my left breast I can't imagine how they could do it. I am going to a PM information day before the mammogram date so I will ask questions then. I'll let you know the answers. This is in Melbourne Australia on April 13. Just thought I would mention it now though.

 

Following up on my last post....Saw my electro physiologist and he read my nuc. med stress test results and told me that I may have suffered a minor heart attack at some point in the past. Both he and the Bost. Scie.rep who happened to be there that day agreed it would be prudent to do a electophysiological exam and determine if there is a specific area in my heart that might benefit from an ablation. Further more an angiogram is scheduled for the same time that day. My thoughts are that I should consider pharmaceuticals before a somewhat invasive undoable ablation. any thoughts or comments welcome as I will consult with my cardiologist tommorow on Wednesday.thanks for listening,Finkelbeat

 

My report from a recent routine interrogation indicated the presence of Atrial High Rate Episodes, (AHRE) and Atrial Arrythmias. This is the first time, in the 21/2 years since my PM was inplanted that I recieved this type of report.

Details:

(1) AHREs

All previous reports indicated 0 or 1 AHRE.
This report indicated 149 AHREs.
The fastest was 231 bpm
The longest duration was 26 minuites

The AHREs were spread out over 7 months,and clustered
during two speperate months, (September) and (December).

(2) Atrial Arrthymias

The previous report indicated 16 Atrial Arrthymias lasting
less than 1 minuite. The current report listed 580 Atrial Arrthymias, 79-...

 

Well, I'm not sure if the recent information was unknown to me bc of neglect or stupidity due to my youth. But evidently I am 100% paced, 100% av block, PSVT, with re-occurring A-fib 2/3 rds of the time, Atrial Flutter, Underlying heart desease Tachy Brady Syndrome. FOR THE LOVE OF PETE! WHO KNEW???

 

I have been on same meds for 2 years. Doctor decides to put me on new med called " LISINOPRIL ". What side effects is anyone else dealing with if you are also taking this? Thanks.

 

Hi everyone,
This is a followup to my post "Complete Block Resolved?". For a brief background summary, I am 23 years old, and was hospitalized with a complete block this time last year. I was released and it was decided that as long as I could function normally, we would put off a pacemaker. A holter monitor a few months later showed I had gone down to 1st degree block, with 10 periods of Mobitz II during the day.

I have had no symptoms since I was hospitalized, until last week. I started getting the same "pounding" sensations that indicated my last complete block. This scared me, especially when it happened a few more times for a couple hours each. I really didn't want to go to the ER, since I was sure they would say it's ...

 

Today was my first pm check everything is 100%. So relieved.tomorrow will be 3 weeks post op. I am feeling great. Better every day. I am so glad to have the support of this group. You all are great!

 

Any one taking this, what side effects do you have if any.
Avril

 

I went to the emergency room a week ago wth rapid heartbeat and Afib. This was only my second Afib episode. The first one resolved on it's own while I was in the ER. But this time it wouldn't return to normal rhythm so the ER administered Cardizem by IV, after which my heart paused several times for 3-5 seconds. The upshot is I now have a pacemaker because the docs said the cardizem did not cause the problem but only revealed a condition that could surface later and cause me to pass out without warning. The docs made it sound as if it would be dangerous for me to leave the hospital without a pacemaker, so two days later it was implanted. Has anyone else gotten a pacemaker under similar circumstances? I hope I haven't rushed into an unwis...

 

My nurse when I was in the emergency room told me that people with pacemakers tend to develop fluid around the heart and lungs which causes pressure. Is anyone familiar with this or has any info? My family doctor said it's congestive heart failure--hope she's wrong--help!!

 

I just had my implant put in on valentines day and I feel a lot of anxiety! I wish I knew how to relax anyone with some words of wisdom! Please help me ease my mind!

 

I recently had a second opinion (after my first doctor recommended a pacemaker because of bradycardia caused by sinus node modifications that seems to correlate with symptoms according to monitors -- dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath) ... this second doctor does not think my problem is cardiac, even with the testing in front of him. I'm so confused and feel like I took ten steps back.

Do I get a third opinion? a tie breaker, so to speak? I mean at this cardiologists office my heart rate was 45, my chest hurt, I was dizzy when I stood up, and that didn't seem to be a problem to him. At least not one that he connected to my heart. I don't know if it is because of my age (under 30) or the fact that I'm a woman, but he ...

 

Hi everyone :)

I've been on beta blockers since this past summer for tachycardia associated with my POTS, but they don't help much. So my doctor ordered a month-long even monitor (3rd in the past 4 years! But at a different hospital and through a different doctor). I sent it back on the 4th and am STILL waiting on results! I've never had to wait THIS long (although I did have to call the doctor because wasn't considerate enough to call me)! The doctor still has not received anything either. Has anyone had this problem before? I'm sort of losing my mind - I need to know what's going on and how we can fix it! Any input would be wonderful!

:)

 

I have had this for probably a year or a couple of months now it comes on and off, sometimes it doesn't bother me for a couple of weeks or months or sometimes i get it like 3 or 4 times a day. (It didn't suddenly come after I got an ICD, this existed before)

It's basically this mild squeezing/pressure right in the middle of my chest that comes with a light throbbing feeling and makies me want to take a breath in, it kinda feels like my airway is really mildly blocked for a few seconds. It lasts about 3 seconds and goes away. It's in the same place every time too.

I found something on the internet (I'm a control freak and search every symptom up lol) that said it's something to do with blood pressure or drinking coffee...

 

Need a 2 lead extraction + bi-ventricular pacemaker.
very nervous. Will the bi-v help with fatigue and shortness of breath ? I also have muscle fatigue. It feels like my arms and legs get very tired when I walk or do work around the house.

 

Ok. I am starting to freak out a little. I have been on betablockers for about 8 years now for long QT, Mitral valve pro laps and arrhythmia. Everything was fine till after New Years when we were in Tahoe and I got lightheaded when I laughed and sometimes there after. MD upped my atelonol to 25mg to see if it would help with the PVCs that showed on 2 week heart monitor. But he also said that maybe my SA node was wearing out. Now I am freaking out over possibility of a pacemaker--especially since I am still having symptoms.
Did I do anything to cause this? How will life be if I have a pacemaker? I am still young--can I going on rollercoasters and jet skis with my kids? The thought of a pacemaker makes me feel old and disable...

 

Thanks to those of you who responded to my post about left arm pain. The info all makes sense and I'll see what happens with some therapy. I guess my problem is a small price to pay for the benefits I receive from the pacemaker. I'm anxious to return to playing tennis! Thanks again!

 

For those of you who are having 'nightmares' that you think are related to your ICD....check with your doctor about your meds. It's not necessarily a 'most common' side effect but hallucinations are definately a side effect of this drug. My husband just had an implant and so far is not having the side effect but I took the drug in the past with hallucinations and my mother had them as well. When taken off, the 'nightmares' disappeared almost immediately. I've talked to other people who thought they were 'going crazy' as they saw scary images of themselves in the mirror, mine was a Poe type scary hallucination of our ceiling fan coming down at me like a buzz saw, mom's was being caught in a thick jungle of bamboo that scared her so much sh...

 

Ihave been taking warfarin for 4 months and have been suffering breathlessness and pressure on the chest and neck. My doctor and my cardilogist are adamant in saying that Warfarin is not to blame. How can I convince them that it just could be the warfarin?