Rapid Pulse

Hi, everyone! This is my first post. I had a pacemaker implanted at the end of Jan. I was in 3rd degree heart block. Since then I have a rapid heart rate all the time. It runs from 90-115 all the time. The doctor has recently increased my beta blocker, but that makes my blood pressure really low. Has anyone else had this problem?

7 Comments

yes!`

by Tracey_E - 2010-06-12 10:06:38

What beta blocker are you on? I'd ask to try a different one rather than a larger dose of the one you're on. There are quite a few of them out there and they all have different effects on bp. I ran into the same thing. Our atrial rate is high but with the block we never knew it, then all of a sudden the block is fixed and we're racing! My bp is pretty low to start with so I can't afford to have it drop much. I didn't do well on metoprolol but atenolol has been working pretty well for me for about six months now. It doesn't keep my hr down as well as the metoprolol but it does ok and the side effects are a lot better.

Thanks TraceyE

by dsaunders - 2010-06-12 10:06:39


Thank you so much for your response. I am on metoprolol. I was taking 25mg in the am and pm. This week my Dr. increased the pm dose to 50mg so I can sleep better. This morning I woke up feeling very nauseous. Most of the time the hr doesn't bother me. It's good to know it may come down after a while on its own. I really don't like increasing the dosage.

another thought

by Tracey_E - 2010-06-12 10:06:59

Was the higher hr bothering you? My hr was high the first year I had my pm for congenital 3rd degree block but it eventually came down to a fairly normal resting rate after about a year. I didn't go on the beta blocker until 15 yrs later when it suddenly took off again, mostly during workouts. So, if it's not bothering you and your rate is regular but just high, not taking anything and watching it for now may be an option.

And one more thing, I did some research and read calcium, magnesium and fish oil can all help regulate/slow down a fast beat. I ran it by my cardiologist. He said they were all good for me to take, whether they helped the fast rate or not. They helped a bit, but I still eventually ended up on the beta blocker. Can't hurt! But check with your doc first.

yes!!

by msn - 2010-06-13 02:06:55

Initially I had this problem with the first pacemaker I had implanted in 2008. My pacemaker was putting me into v-tach ( ventricular tachycardia). I had to have it replaced and they never could figure out what caused this to happen. The new one is great although sometimes I do have a racing pulse depending on what I am doing or drinking. I like my java. Ha! Ha!
What is your baseline? I had my first one set at 60bpm and it is now at 55bpm. That helped as well.
I think I would talk to my pacemaker rep as well and see if they can readjust the rate of your baseline. Just make sure if they lower it you take a while walking around to see if you tolerate it lower. Don't want to be light-headed or dizzy.
You are not alone as the earlier messages have stated. Just need to work out the quirks if any. I still have a problem with beta blockers to lower pulses when you have a pacemaker to keep your pulse up so you don't have syncope episodes,etc.
Good Luck.

Yes!

by Genie - 2010-06-13 05:06:29

I had a pacemaker implanted in March for 2nd degree block. A week later I was back in hospital with a pulse 110 resting, 140 standing up. I was so dizzy I couldn't do anything. Also some first degree block on my ECG, which I've never had before. Put on bisoprolol and ivabradine. My cardiologist can't explain why it happened, he says he thinks it was like my heart didn't like having the pm fitted. And he normally has an answer for everything!

The good news? I am now, two months on, off the beta blockers completely. It gradually came down, and under close supervision of my doctor I was able to stop the drugs. Resting pulse is now 76.

It may be that, like me, your heart just needs to adjust to having worked so hard for so long. Once it adjusts, and your adrenaline levels settle, you may improve just by yourself. Like Tracey, I take calcium and magnesium. I also take curcumin, which is supposed to regulate heart rate.

I also agree with Tracey that if it's not bothering you it's ok. My cardiologist said it would make me feel terrible, but was not high enough to actually do any damage.

I have posted something similar to this at least four times since March. So you are definitely not alone. But I know how stressful this is, and how anxious it can make you. Message me if you want to chat about it some more.

Genie

hi!!! cut the caffeine!!

by Hot Heart - 2010-06-14 09:06:33

Hi there, no idea if you do drink a lot of coffee or coke or these high energy drinks, but the only time that my heart rate went a bit doolally was when I'd been staying with friend who has coffee on the go all the time, and I seemed to be drinking coffee every drink.

Coffee and chocolate can cause high heart rate, as can a hangover. I think nerves can cause it as well.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

HH

Thanks!!

by dsaunders - 2010-06-15 06:06:09


Thanks to everyone who has responded to my post. Just to respond to a few posts: I do not consume any caffeine in the form of coffee, tea or soda, but..... chocolate is my vice. I am trying to stop, but it is very hard. My baseline is 60. I have tried bystolic before my PM and my blood pressure and pulse rate was good. It has just been since the PM that the pulse has increased and he switched me to metoprolol. I did not do well with the increase to 50mg so I have gone back to 25mg in the am and and 25mg in the pm. I have added the calcium too. I did see the PM rep last week and he did make some adjustments, but he felt everything was OK with the PM. Hopefully time will help. Thanks again for all your responses. It helps just to know I'm not alone.

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