What causes a complete heartblock?

What causes a complete heartblock? That is the question.

In my case no one knows why. Six months after my pacemaker implant my heart starting conducting again on its own. I found out yesterday, less than a week after pm settings were changed that so far I am pacing about 30%. Quite a change from the 100% only a month earlier.

The problem is that I am having other problems as well. I found out yesterday that those quick beats I have been feeling are called PACs. But don't know if it the PACs that are bothering me or the sudden spike in blood pressure (e.g. 150/96) when I am normally 115/75. My cardio gave me 2.5 mg Norvasc thinking it may be some vasospasms. These blood pressure spikes come at random times. When I experience these I feel like I have run a marathon.

So still what brought on the heartblock in the first case and what is going on inside me now? I am seeing an endocrinologist to see if there is a problem with the thyroid, parathyroid, kidneys, or adrenal glands. If this turns up nothing, the next step might be to see a rheumatologist to check for signs of autoimmune disease (by the way my mother age 88 is hyperthyoid and had rheumatoid arthritis).

Obviously something attacked my heart's conduction system and now the long road to find out what it is.

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to find out that my heart is primarily beating on its own, it is just that I have never felt worse in my life. You guys have been a tremendous help to me when I just got my pacemaker and I hope I can count on all of you to help me get through this! Love and Hugs to all.

5 Comments

I think

by wenditt - 2010-09-29 01:09:52

Hi there,
I think it can mainly be caused by a few things.

1. congenital-you were just born that way
2. lyme disease
3. an illness or something that screwed up your electrical system
4. a blow to the chest

I had the very same question...and that's what I was told.

If you get anymore answers I would love to hear them!

Good luck!

Thanks Guys!

by heartu - 2010-09-29 02:09:16

Smitty, you are sweet and definitely not stupid!
Thank you too wenditt!

Lyme Disease is what keeps entering my mind. I ran into my gp this morning as I dropped off my 24 urine capture that will check how my adrenal glands are functioning. The gp mentioned after I get the results of all my tests and they can't find anything , he is willing to put me on 4 weeks of doxycycline to see if that works.

Causes Of Complete Heart Block

by SMITTY - 2010-09-29 10:09:18

There is no simple answer to you question "What causes a complete heart block?"

If you want details on complete heart block, the causes and prognosis take a look at this site.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/758454-overview



Another Mistake

by SMITTY - 2010-09-29 12:09:21

Sorry Heartu. I don't think you need any such help as that I offered. I have no idea what I was thinking when I made that comment. All I can say is this is more proof that as I get older I get stupider. Smitty

Sending lots of love to Heartu

by Hot Heart - 2010-10-01 04:10:19

Hi sweety I got complete heart block as well, which appears to have improved, No idea how long i'd had it or how it happened, but at the age of 55 I was whisked into hospital and fitted with a pm.

You have been an inspiration to loads of us ladies fighting the flab, I do hope that you start to feel better soon.

Love HH x

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