Skipped Beats

I’ve had this pacer for going on 4 years now, a St. Judes ICD.  I’ve had two open hearts for my cardiomyopathy.

Just this past couple of weeks I started having skipped heart beats. It seems to skip like at least 2-3 times in a one minute count. It’s like it stops a beat. I read some post where a lot of people have this same thing. But, it has alarmed me.  Last big issue that I had was a major left ventricle blockage due to my enlarged septum. Which seems to creep up on me out of no where.  So, now I am worried that there maybe something wrong.  I just don’t really understand it all.

Question: about blood pressure. during these little episodes I’ve been having, my blood pressure sitting down is normal 125/65, then when I stand. it jumps to like 155/97 and my pulse would read 90’s.  Is this normal?  I go to the doc in May, but hope he knows about my condition since the group of doctors I go to keeps switching doctors and they keep leaving. Now I get another doc on my next visit.

3 Comments

Suggestions

by ElectricFrank - 2011-04-20 02:04:59

First off you need to be assertive with the docs that are dealing with you. Insist on getting answers about what is happening. And most important insist on getting a print out of the pre and post programming report on your next visit. In fact with your cardiac history and changing medical staff, I would get a copy of your medical records. Don't take no for an answer.

With your background of cardiomyopathy and surgery I would hesitate to guess at what my me going on with your symptoms. If you can't get satisfaction from your doctors you may need to consider looking for someone else.

best,

frank

skips

by daisy41763@yahoo.com - 2011-04-20 12:04:31

Thanks Frank... Good idea to get copies of my records.
Especially, since they keep switching me.

I used to go to the Cleveland Clinic but, they went off my provider list. Cleveland is the best Dr. Wilson Tang.
So, I was forced to see somebody here in my area.
Thanks , Sheila

possibly...

by PPM - 2011-04-21 09:04:17

Although its impossible to know for sure if this is the case for you, the "missed beats" you detect may in fact be what are called ectopic beats. These beats come from a different part of the heart, and often cannot be felt in a pulse check. Sometimes people get 2 or 3 of these in a row. If you are checking your pulse and feel the missed beats, or feel palpitations, then perhaps this is what is happening. You have an ICD which is designed to detect these kinds of beats, and if too many occur in a row, that is called VT and the device is there to treat this kind of rhythm. When your ICD is checked you should ask if there have been any episodes (even just really short ones) of ectopic beats that have been detected and this could help explain things.

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