flutters

Hi Guys  I live in Ireland and have just had a pacemaker fitted 3 weeks ago.  I apparently have brachy tachy.....i am still having flutters with 2,5 beta blockers.  has anyone else continued to get skipped beats etc after their surgery.  I am a bit anxious about this.   Delighted to have found this site as there does not seem to be any support groups here.   Thank you.

4 Comments

The Purpose of A Pacemaker

by Artist - 2017-04-28 21:00:12

Generally PMS are implanted to keep the heart rate from falling too low.  A very slow heart rate can be a side effect when beta blocker medications are prescribed to help control AFIB and other arrythmias.  Continuing to have arrythmias following a PM implant is very common and often the types of medications prescribed and PM settings need tweaking.  If the right mix of medications and tweaking PM settings does not help and the arrythmias are severe, then another option is a heart ablation.  Give your body time to adjust and give feedback to your doctor's that will help them manage your care.  Three weeks post op is not much time for your heart to heal and your body to adjust.  

other reasons

by dwelch - 2017-04-28 21:45:18

A single chamber perhaps to keep the heart rate from falling to low, a dual chamber to keep the upper and lower in sync (complete block) and perhaps keeping the rate in limits.

They may need to make some adjustments, my first one took a long time, but the tech was not as advanced as today (this was 30 years ago).  I think I was getting extra beats not skipped ones, but they can adjust it and as the scar tissue forms on the tip of the lead the resistance can change.   You should be going on in a few months if not sooner and they will look at the ekg and your pacer settings, the pacer itself keeps logs, etc...

Tell them this is happening! If they are not good at communicating, or answering questions, change docs...

If you have real concerns, you think it is not working or worse, dont wait for the next appointment, call them or go to the emergency room and they can get you interrogated or find a cardiologist...

 

still early

by bridgermichael - 2017-04-29 20:30:22

good feedback from 'artist' - 3 weeks judgement is nothing really to gauge on - expect you have a one month review soon when they put leads over the pm and download graph of what's been happening - your unit will have been given some parameters of when to cut in etc and these are adjusted once they review results - chances are that the settings will be made less sensitive at that time. stick with it - another month and you won't really know it's there .

reply

by barbiemurphy - 2017-04-30 04:08:09

thank you so much for taking the time to answer my queries.  Much appreciated and have my review on 25th may, so will chat to them then.  Best wishes

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