Tachycardia

Well I went back to the Dr. Today for my follow up to my Echo-cardiogram. Good news is that my Echo came back fine... Bad news... There are some things on my pacer check that shows Tachycardia. I know on my last check I had about 10 episodes of Tachycardia and now with my recent hospital visit and the dizziness the Dr. is more concerned. They have lowered the threshold for high heart rate captures. It was set to record at a heart rate about 180 but now they have set it to record any heart rate about 150 just to have more things capture that they can go over to figure out what in the world is going on.
I am super freaked out about all of this and im super worried this is going to mean another surgery but im going to try to keep positive. The dr is going to capture things for 30 days and then I have to follow up to see what else is going on. So fingers crossed!!!

5 Comments

super freaked out

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-16 02:03:36

This is the best way I know to cause tachycardia. Crossing your fingers is second best.

frank

Now stop it!

by tcrabtree85 - 2010-03-16 04:03:30

Freaking out is going to get you no where. Calm yourself down and relax please. Tachycardia is no fun let me tell you I understand. They are doing everything right. Hopefully it's just PMT (pacer mediated tacycardia) so maybe some setting adjustments are the only thing needed to be done.
If not maybe they can put you on a medication. Oh and the worst case scenerio you just gotta look at the positive at least summer is coming up around the corner and you will have a break soon.
Stay positive. Eat right, drink plenty of water and missy you will get through this touch patch. I love ya lady and am praying a lot for you.

Love,
Tammy

advises

by carlangas - 2010-03-16 05:03:59

Hello,
I got my pm last year in September and unfortunatelly I have different complaints and the most annoying one is the tachy.
By reading Tracy's comments, I really would appreciate if you can provide me more details.about the beta blockers.
Have you had any consecuences after you have used?
My max of my pm was placed from 150 to 120.

I have to mention that I am used to run half marathons and I am in my 50's.

Regards

Tachy

by wenditt - 2010-03-16 07:03:57

I too had a PM check which showed I was in tachy for hours upon hours of the day. But I didn't have any symptoms other than my usual routine of going 110 miles per hour.

For me...it was my thyroid. I usually run hypothyroid but somehow...managed to become hyper without a med dose change.

So for you it's a consideration. There may be something in your body that is making you "run" too fast.

I too was given beta blockers to protect my heart. And I took them with no adverse reactions.

After a thyroid med change, I kept a month long journal of EVERYTHING I did. It was detailed for example: 8:35 am running around getting the baby out of the house etc.

When I got it checked it again....and they printed the list of episodes I could explain each one to the time and date.

So...give it a shot. Maybe it's your thyroid?

Best of luck-
Wendy

not that bad

by Tracey_E - 2010-03-16 08:03:50

There are a lot worse diagnoses!! It's not fun and I'm sorry you have something else on your plate, but it's not worth getting freaked much less super freaked. Save super freaked for finals or men or the next hurricane :o)

First thing I'd do is keep a diary when you get the dizziness- what you've eaten and what you've been doing. Write down the time so they can see if it matches up with the events. There may be a simple correlation like caffeine or not staying hydrated.

Not all tachy episodes are dangerous or need treated, some of them are just annoying and frustrating but harmless. I get them, my atrial rate goes up to 180 to 200, fast but not dangerously fast and no arrhythmia, but I feel it because I'm 100% ventricular paced and the pm can't go that high. When our atria goes faster than our ventricle, it makes us dizzy. Annoying but not dangerous.

When I started getting tachy episodes and my dr mentioned beta blockers, I researched all the natural solutions because I hated the thought of being on meds. Adjusting my settings helped some, as Tammy mentioned. I started taking a calcium/magnesium supplement and fish oil, both are good for arrhythmia and my cardiologist said they'd be good for my heart whether I noticed a difference or not. They helped some also. I finally tried the beta blockers last fall, not because I felt that bad but because it kept me from getting a good workout. I'd get going and start to work up a good sweat then BAM, max out the pm... quick end to a work out. A minimal dose of atenolol and no more tachy episodes, no more high rates that max out the pm. I don't know what the answer is for you, but my point is there are a lot of simple things that could be going on that have an easy fix.

If you want to meet and chat/vent/just hang out with someone else bionic next time you go to see your parents let me know! I'm pretty sure you pass right by me on your way home.

You know you're wired when...

Titanium is your favorite metal.

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