Abnormal rhythems

I am wondering what everyone here does when they feel abnormal rhythems, skips, palpitations etc?

I some times feel PAC's, and it feels like a harder beat than the rest and it throws me off.

I sometimes feel some really good beats but then it seems like a valve is hesitating or a beat is hesitating, not following the normal or preceeding pattern of beats. Does that make sense?

Wondering if anyone else has this and what you do when it happens. So far I've been praying that it's not the moment I will die!

What are some strategies you guys use to ignore or overcome the abnormal beating?

THANKS

6 Comments

Stop Worrying

by Bill-2 - 2010-01-05 03:01:34

I feel PACs, PVCs & skip beats from time to time, but I have to tell the truth I can't tell the difference in a PAC and a PVC. Skip beats I do recognize when it is two, three or more in a row. What do I do? I do everything I can which is exactly nothing other than notice them. Your statement of "So far I've been praying that it's not the moment I will die!" is a good way to let those things drive you to an early grave.

Unless they are bad enough to make you want to see the doctor about them, my advice is to quit worrying about them. Those things are part of living, without or without a pacemaker.

Managing Your Pacemaker

by Pookie - 2010-01-05 04:01:11

Hi again,

I think I found this particular article on WebMD:

Managing Your Pacemaker

Do your part in managing your pacemaker. You may have to have someone help you, but there are certain things you'll need to do to manage your pacemaker successfully. These include:

Understand your acceptable heart rate. Before you leave the hospital, discuss with your doctor the specific maximum heart rate above your pacemaker rate that's acceptable. Discuss the programmed lower and upper rate for your pacemaker, too. Talking about this with your doctor early in your treatment will keep you from worrying unnecessarily.

Take your pulse and keep a record for your doctor. Counting your pulse is a good way to check that your heart is pumping correctly. Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your blood vessels. By putting your fingertips on a point on the inside of your wrist or over an artery in your neck, you can feel this beat (pulse). The number of pulse beats per minute is the same as the number of heartbeats. Count your pulse for one full minute, note the number of beats and see if it's in the range that your doctor told you was acceptable for your pacemaker. If your pulse is very slow or very fast, call your doctor. Use these guidelines for pacemakers and pulse counts:

If your pacemaker is beating regularly and at or above its proper rate, it's OK.

If your heart is beating close to or within the accepted rate but has an occasional irregularity, don't worry. Every now and then your own heart's natural pacemaker competes with the man-made one. Some extra beats that the pacemaker can sense electrically won't result in a pulse that you can feel.

If your pulse rate suddenly drops below the accepted rate or increases dramatically, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor will tell you what to do. It may be possible to program your pacemaker so it resumes working normally, or there may be some other problem.

If your pacemaker is installed for a fast-slow type of heartbeat and your pulse is rapid and irregular (above 120 beats per minute), call your doctor for more instructions.

If your pulse is beating faster than you've noticed before — but below 100 beats per minute — don't be alarmed.

Take prescribed medications. It's important to follow instructions and take prescribed medicine by following directions precisely. The reason is that the medicine works with the pacemaker and helps your heart pump regularly. Your doctor may ask you to keep a record of when you take your medication by marking a calendar.

Follow all instructions regarding diet and physical activity. Allow about eight weeks for your pacemaker to settle firmly in place. During this time, avoid sudden, jerky or violent actions that will cause your arm to pull away from your body.

Other warnings and information

Avoid causing pressure over the area of your chest where your pacemaker was put in. Women may find it more comfortable to wear a small pad over the incision as protection from their bra strap.

Feel free to take baths and showers. Your pacemaker is completely protected against contact with water.

Follow the program of activity outlined by your doctor. Car, train or airplane trips pose no danger.

People with pacemakers can continue their usual sexual activity.

Perform some kind of physical activity every day, whatever kind you enjoy. You might try taking a short walk, or moving your arms and legs to help your circulation. If you're not sure about exercising, ask your doctor for advice. You may be able to perform all normal activities for a person of your age.

Don't overdo it — quit before you get tired. The proper amount of activity should make you feel better, not worse.

Report to your doctor if:

You have difficulty breathing.
You begin to gain weight and your legs and ankles swell.
You faint or have dizzy spells.

Tell physicians, dentists and other health professionals that you have a pacemaker. Physicians or dentists need to know that you have a pacemaker. Tell them about it before you have any work done. Notify the doctor or nurse where you work. Modern pacemakers have built-in features to protect them from most types of interference produced by other electrical devices you might encounter in your daily routine. Household appliances such as microwave ovens, televisions, radios, stereos, vacuum cleaners, electric brooms, electric blankets, electric knives, hair dryers, shavers, gardening machinery, toasters, food processors and can openers won't affect your pacemaker. Most office and light shop equipment such as computers, typewriters, copy machines, woodworking shop tools and metalworking tools also pose no risk to your pacemaker.

If you suspect interference with your pacemaker, simply move away or turn off the equipment. Your pacemaker won't be permanently damaged and will resume its normal activity. Consult your doctor about special situations (such as working with high-current industrial equipment and powerful magnets). Surgical procedures also count as special situations. Certain types of medical equipment, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, can also affect how a pacemaker works.

Always carry your identification card. In any kind of accident, your I.D. card will tell the people helping you that you have a pacemaker. Your card can be particularly handy if you travel by air. The metal-detection devices in airports may detect the metal in your pacemaker, although they won't damage it. Showing your card may save you some inconvenience.

Keep all medical appointments. To work properly, your pacemaker should be checked periodically to find out how the leads are working and how the battery is doing. Today many thousands of people have pacemakers and lead full, productive lives. Pacemakers are usually safe and reliable, but they do need to be checked regularly. The easiest way to check your pacemaker is to take your pulse. Taking medicine as prescribed and seeing your doctor regularly will also help. Your doctor can explain things you don't understand.

Pookie

Abnormal Rhythms

by Pookie - 2010-01-05 04:01:53

It's me again...Pookie.

I too have had several occasions where my heart would beat in an irregular fashion. When I first received my pacemaker 5 yrs ago, I'll be 100% honest: it freaked me out. I was constantly taking my pulse. I even would use my husband's stethoscope to listen to my heart!!!!!!!! I was so paranoid back then. The worst thing happened out of all of this: it became a very bad habit. But with time, I stopped doing it. It wasn't easy.

With all that being said, however, if you feel that this is happening to you on a very regular basis, by all means call your doctor and ask for a Holter Monitor.

Bill-2 is correct...this happens to people with or without a pacemaker. We only feel it and become super aware because now we have a device in our chests, but with time, this awareness of your heart's every beat will fade, just give it some time.

Pookie

Relax and Let the Episode Pass

by Bionic Man - 2010-01-05 04:01:56

Hi Wenditt,
Pookie as usual sent some great info. I frequently got irregular beats that would drive me crazy. I had one on my interrogation that lasted 60 hrs. I've had my pacer for about 18 mos and fortunately the episodes aren't coming as often although I know they can return at anytime. I asked my Dr if these beats could kill me. He said "No". That was all I needed to hear. When I heard that, I no longer worried when they came on. I keep a very busy schedule and I don't want these episodes to interfere. Now when they come on I just keep plugging along and try not to let them get to me. Hopefully yours will subside over time. I know it's difficult but try to relax and let them run their course.
Be strong and you'll get through it.
Bob

Depends on what they are

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-06 12:01:03

We can only hope the cardiologist has checked them out as benign palpitations. This is usually the case. If they think there is a serious chance of arrest they will want to put in an ICD.

Of course the best news is that I have never talked to anyone that died from them. LOL

frank

Skipped and harder beats

by sln - 2010-01-07 12:01:50

I sometimes will have periods of a minute or so where every 4-5 beats will feel like a PVC - a little longer space between beats, then a harder one (I think that's a PVC!) I finally figured out that this only happened when the PM was pacing because my pulse was invariably exactly 80 when it happened (the rate it goes to if my heart rate drops below 55). I had a long discussion with the St. Jude rep who said that this can occur because the heart is a little irritated by the pacing, particularly in people who are not paced very much (about 2-3% for me). It sounded like it should decrease over time, which it seems to be doing. The EP staff also told me that it is a reaction to the PM and is harmless. Anyway - I tend to think it's better to err on the side of asking questions; sometimes the answers are reassuring (and I say this as a professional in a health-related area who fields questions from patients as well - better to have them ask and know that they understand what's going on). Now when it happens, my strategy is to tell myself that it's the PM doing its job, which I do want it to do!

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