Looking for those that similar to me...

Who out there has atria problems, has had an av node ablation making them pacemaker dependent. TraceyE I think we are "sisters". I want to have some discussions about how you feel afterwards, mode you are in, and meds you are taking.

For me I am feeling miserable. I can feel it when my atrial rate goes over my set rate which then puts you into essentially a 2:1 block. I get short of breath the moment this starts. I can make it up a flight of stairs and then have to sit down. I am in DDD mode... no rate response. rate is set 70-115. I am taking metoprolol, flecainide, and midodrine. this regimen is not working for me and I would like to know where you are at. what settings, what meds, how can you help me to get my settings and drugs right. I would love to talk to someone on yahoo messanger if you can... my screenname is picu_nurse2005@yahoo.com

9 Comments

Upper tracking rate

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-17 03:01:20

115 is way to low for any sort of physical activity. My old one was originally set at 120 and just a brisk walk would kick it into the 2:1 thing. I pushed the issue and had it set to 140 and then on up to 150. All the difference.

My new one is set to 130 and I plan to get it pushed up to 140-150 as soon as I can.

By the way you don't have atrial problems if they have the mode set to DDD. The AV ablation gave you AV Block.

frank

Sorry things not going well for you

by janetinak - 2010-01-17 03:01:47

I have an AV node ablation (2000) as new surgical option not safe enough then. So I went from taking several drugs, multiple cardioversions & Afib in the 150+ range to complete block & PM (on my 2nd) with a a range of 60-120 bpm. Lots of problems with my 1st PM & had to repeat the abalation few months later & PM only lasted 3 yrs. But this one been in & fine since 2003. Go in March for check & probably willl have another year ( I hope ) on it. I guess you can say that it was somewhat tough the 1st few yrs but finally got it right & has been great. Sure hope you have a good outcome. Lots of adjusting on my 1st PM & only got one adjustment on this PM as I got more active. Let us know how it goes for you.
Janet

feedback

by sam78 - 2010-01-17 04:01:31

Frank.. thanks but sorry you are wrong on this one. I do have atrial problems and yes i am set to DDD. Maybe you meant something else.

The reason I got set at such a low top rate is because anything higher gives me problems. When my atrial rate was set to 130 or 140 or 150 (tried them all), one problem would be that I would run that rate over half the day. I have inappropriate sinus tachycardia as well and anytime I am upright my heart rate was over 120. So if you raise the upper rate then my heart will go it. Secondly when I have the higher upper rate, it confuses my pacemaker (words of me and my EP). Because my natural rate will go above this frequently, it puts me into wenkebach which gives me a very irregular ventricle rate because the pacemaker is trying to only beat at the high rate. So it will beat two quick beats, then pause a couple beats, then beat a beat, then pause 3 beats, very irregular which is terrible feeling. This was all documented on the pacemaker interrogator in the office (I walked the stairs and had the interrogater at the top of the stairs so they could see what was happening). So there inlies my problem. Onto the second EP specialist that says I have a unique problem because I have both atria tach and inappropriate sinus tach. Both have agreed that I will need to be treated with meds to help control my rate. Problem #2- I am tired of metoprolol, and want to get off. Problem #3 Of course with my settings I can do NO form of exercise. This is why I wanted to hear what others have done, ie modes, meds, etc.

Sometimes I wish they would just ablate the hell out of my SA node and let the stupid pacemaker do the work.
Tracey I do have facebook. Send me a private message if you would like to connect.

2:1 block what is that?

by breezy - 2010-01-17 07:01:47

sorry I don't know what that is
I see postings about this 2:1 block
so can you tell me what it is?
thank you

2:1 block

by sam78 - 2010-01-17 08:01:20

it means that your top chamber beats twice and your bottom chamber only beats once.

rates

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-17 09:01:47

I agree with what Frank said, 115 is a really low upper limit. Mine is at 175, that got rid of my symptoms except for when I work out and my atrial rate gets over that. The pm will only go to 180 but I get up as high as 200 when I exercise.

I never had an ablation, I was born with complete av block. My atrial rate is regular but has been speeding up the last few years. No fibrillation or arhythmia, just fast. And like you, when it gets fast the pm put me into a 2:1 block and it felt like crap, lol.

I'm on atenolol now and have been doing pretty darned well, way better than I expected. My resting rate dropped a bit and it doesn't spike as soon as I start exercising now. If I've maxed out and ended up in a block, it hasn't been for long enough to feel it. I broke my foot so I haven't been at the gym much since Thanksgiving and I'm getting a new battery in the next week or two so it'll be a while before I can really test drive it. But I did 20 minutes on the elliptical twice this week! My foot protested but my heart did great.

I hated metoprolol!!!!! I was on it for 5 weeks and it was like being drunk. My mind worked in slow motion, I was always dizzy and off balance (that's how I broke my foot, stumbled just walking), and I napped every day I was on it. My eyes were dry and I couldn't get enough to drink. Honestly, I don't think there was a single side effect listed that I didn't have! My doctor kept saying give it 6 weeks and it should get better but after the foot I threw it away and told him to pick something else :o)

I have yahoo messenger but haven't turned it on in ages and I have no clue what my username is. I'll look it up :o) Do you facebook or use gmail's messenger? I'm easy to catch on those.

AV NODE ABLATION

by anette - 2010-01-17 09:01:53

Again the spam filter'!!
PLEASE TRACEY PUT THE COMMENT ON THE BORD .
I'm verry intrested of this problems ,also.I already wrote a very long comment but everything is gone.
Anette

anette

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-17 11:01:32

When you write a long comment, sometimes it times out and you end up logged out and won't take the spam filter. Just log in again, hit the back button and your comment should still be there.

3rd degree heart block

by Hot Heart - 2010-01-24 02:01:17

Hi Sam, I remember that you are really young. I'm 56 and have atrial fib and have my pm DDD. However, my settings are about 60 and 140 and I now have my rate response switched on, 3 months, and feel loads better. I've had almost no afib since it was switched on and I've got loads more energy. Hope this helps. HH

You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

Member Quotes

We are very lucky to have these devices.