Confused

Not sure what topic to place this under. I was sent by ambulance to the Hospital on 12/1/17 due to 3rd degree (Complete Heart Block) after going to urgent care with what I thought was the flu. I had pacemaker surgery on 12/4/17 due to complete heart block (Bradycardia). I am 62 with no previous heart issues. At a follow-up appt.(Late January, early February) due to a fast HR, I was diagnosed with Tachycardia and started Metoprolol Succinate ER for one month. Sick Sinus Syndrome and Brady-Tachy Syndrome were also mentioned. I was so overwhelmed...I didn't know what to think.

At the next check-up, symptoms were getting worse and they changed to Metoprolol Tartrate and a recheck in 2 weeks. No improvement, so meds were changed to  Cartia XT and another visit 2 weeks later and afib and flutter were noticed on my ECG, so I am now on Flecainide Acetate and Eliquis to help prevent a stroke... and continuing Cartia XT.

I have been diagnosed with Atrial tachycardia, first degree artrioventricular block, palpitations, paroxysmal tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, typical atrila flutter and was told i have a "wonky" heart that seems to go in and out of tachycardia to afib to flutter. So that means I am short of breath, fatigued, dizzy, unable to focus, have numerous palpitations and HR over 100 most of the time. Just walking 6 blocks can send my heart rate over 200. Most nights I wake up in the middle of the night with a pounding heart. A hour after I get home from work, I am ready for bed. Just walking to my car is exhausting. I actually feel worse than before the pacemaker was implanted.

I am over the constant changing of meds.None of them have helped me feel better, and it feels like having the pacemaker for the Bradycardia actually caused more issues with my heart's electrical system.  Maybe that isn't true, but it sure feels like it.  My next apointment is in a few days and we will be discussing cardic ablation.

Has anyone else gone through this craziness and does it get better? I just want to feel like me again.

 

 

4 Comments

Adjustments

by Grateful Heart - 2018-04-16 19:06:33

Have you had any pacemaker setting adjustments since your implant 4 months ago?  If not, you are probably due.  Sometimes it the meds, sometimes it an adjustment or two, especially if you are acitve.

They should only change or two settings at a time, this way, if it wasn't that setting, they can reset it and try another.  Too many changes at one time and it gets harder to figure out what does or doesn't work.

I would try the setting adjustments before the ablation.  Good luck.

Grateful Heart

Settings Adjusted

by Charm3d - 2018-04-17 14:22:50

Grateful Heart,

Thank you for your response. Yes, my PM has been adjusted over that last 4 months. The issue is not with the pacemaker. It was for Bradycardia and does not fix the Tachycardia. The dual leads are performing correctly. The bottom lead works 100% of the time to control the heart rate, and the top lead is not currently being used... or needing to be used as my heart rate is now too fast. I should know more in a few days. In everything I have read/researched, now is the perfect time for the ablation as the afib will only get worse over time. I don't want to be on this medication merry-go-round with all the side effects. I just want to be me again.

Second opinion! Get one.

by Gotrhythm - 2018-04-17 14:28:23

I'm not a doctor and haven't had your issues. But it doesn't sound like your doctors have got a good handle on what's going on. Like Grateful Heart says, I'd try adjustment of the settings before ablation.

And I'd also seek a second opinion. You can stop drugs. Pacemaker settings can be changed. One or both leads can be turned off. But you can't undo ablation. At the very least, if the second doctor concurs, you'll have more peace of mind.

Richmond

by marylandpm - 2018-04-17 16:10:33

  I see that you are in Virgina. VCU in Richmond has some  very experenced EPs. 

 

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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