Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

Sss and frequent sinus pauses

Hello everyone. Please delete if you feel nessesary as I do not have a pacemaker currently. I'm currently in the middle of getting diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome ( suggested by an ER doctor)  and there's very little support groups or anything with information on the internet for what I'm going through. I began getting a heart workup (normal stress test and echo)  because I started having random bouts of tachycardia and then during an er visit it was found I...

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Bisoprolol dosage

Anyone here have experience with beta blocker dosages? I'm currently taking 5mg Bisoprolol twice a day to control my arrhythmias. My electrophysiologist wants to increase my morning dose to 7.5mg (and revisit it in 6 months). Is 12.5mg/day of Bisoprolol considered a low, medium or high dose?

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Abnormal bowel screening test

Hi

have been referred for colonoscopy because of abnormal test result with bowel screening (uk) 
As I take Lixiana for a fib, is it possible the anti coagulation drug caused blood in the stool?

I also have a pacemaker

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Sleep Apnea

Hi all,

For years I have made my snoring a joke. I've told my wife it's how I say 'I love you' while I'm asleep. This morning though I searched for 'sleep apnea pacemaker' and quickly found a study that says that sleep Apnea if left untreated can cause heart arrythmia and that anyone with a pm should be investigated for sleep Apnea.  I am curious to hear responses from this group on the subject.

Thanks 🙏

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Metoprolol Tartrate vs Succinate

Hello all,

Wondering if anyone has experience with both versions of Metoprolol? I have been taking Tartrate ever since I got my mechanical valve placed (50MG in morning and 50MG in evening). 

I had some SVT flare ups over the past months (pretty much all summer) and they upped my night dose to 75MG and it has mostly been calm and steady.

Then on the 25th I had a pretty bad bout of it -- I was just sitting in my chair working on my laptop (heart probably resting aro...

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Gotta love those beta bockers

I have posted before about my biggest problem with taking metoprolol--fatigue. Doctors have decided that we need to rule out other possible causes for my bone-tired, sleep-10-hours-a-night, then nap-during-the-day symptoms. I am on a waiting list for approval for a cpap device (since I've already had one & sent it back, insurance seems reluctant to try again!). I'm aso trying to address the sometimes severe depression that I experience, which is a whole other can of worms. I...

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Mammogram

Anyone have concerns about mammograms with a pacemaker? Is there a danger of crushing the device?  There should be a test specifically for pacemaker patients 

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SA Node Modification

30yr old with vasovagual syncope and POTS. I'm on Midodrine, ivabradine and propanolol with no relief. Underwent an ablation (unsure of what exactly--he said he ablated the signals that were firing first) 2 months ago with no relief. Fainting frequent times a week with a poor quality of life. My resting heart rate is in the 130s, standing it'll increase, then drop to the 30s sporadically. I have a SA Node Modification on Monday. I have been warned a pacemaker may be imminent. Anyone g...

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sick sinus syndrome

hi. i have sss and will get my pm this week. the doctor aluded to the possiblity of needeing a beta blocker- i dont understand why- at rest my rhr as 48. the sympxotms can start at 70  and the highest its gone with symtoms is 120. i assume the pm will help to increase the rhr and i thought it would also help control the elevated herat rate and encompaning symptoms of racing heart and anddizziness. 

hope this makes sense-can anyone help me understand this.

thanks

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Beta blockers

My cardiologist prescribed 12.5mg of Atenolol once a day after my pacemaker procedure on September 12th of this year.  Reading up on this med., I am wondering why he prescribed this given that I have low blood pressure and a low heart rate was the reason I had the pacemaker (40bpm, now set at 60bpm via the pacemaker).  Is anyone else taking this med. and also has low blood pressure?

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medication bone density

has anyone with a pacemaker experience side effects from taking Risondronate (Actonel) for bone density.  

I have osteopenia and am finding some negative side effects from taking that I did not have before I had the pacemaker surgery.

   

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How do beta blockers help arrhythmias

This is following on from my other recent post... Today I was also offered a beta blocker to try for "palpatations" as the cardiologist called them. I have been getting a lot of ectopic beats (mostly single ones) but had what seemed like a run of them nearly two weeks ago which was disconcerting. I wondered how beta blockers help various arrhythmias? 
 

I remember as a teenager my vasovagal syncope was incorrectly disgnosed as "panic attacks&...

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Making decisions…. Monitoring arrhythmias?

Hi everyone

I was presented with some choices today when speaking to my cardiologist. I had an arrhythmia episode nearly two weeks ago which was different to anything I'd had before and seemed to wipe me out for a few days after. Like a run of powerful ectopic beats one after another without a break.

My cardiologist offered me a loop recorder (this would be my third). But also wanted a conversation about whether this was the best idea. I found my last explant of my loop r...

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Magnesium

Hi guys

I hoped to start a chat about magnesium supplements. I noticed from some recent blood test results that my magnesium levels were at the very bottom of the normal range at 0.73 mmol/L (normal range at this lab was 0.70 mmol/L - 1.00 mmol/L). This is despite having probably above average intake of magnesium in my diet and my own decision to take a magnesium (citrate) supplement of 300mg a day (for the past few years). I was therefore very surprised at...

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Amiodarone

I had a St. Jude Medical CRT-D (a Neutrino nxt hf) implanted on September 15th.  It is monitored using the My Merlin Pulse app, via bluetooth.  So far, so good.

While undergoing the procedure, I experienced a prolonged episode of ventricular tachycardia which required the use of defibrillation to subdue.  I had 3 such shocks in total.

As a result of the VT episode, I was then prescribed Amiodarone (200 mg) in addition to the relatively low dose (6.25 mg, twice...

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Blood rushing to my head when bending

Hi all

for a few years I have had this problem but like others, it's ignored. I have to sit on stairs to put on shoes etc as bending just makes my face and body so red. I have a PM (2010) but can't really recall when this problem began, certainly not before PM and meds. I suffer from AF also and heart failure which is worsening. Yesterday I was told after an echocardiogram that the right side of my heart is deflated and am awaiting a plan for treatment. Has anyone else had...

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should i get the pacemaker

for the past 5 years i have experienced rapid heart rates when running,walking up ills someimes walking up stairs-sometimes jjust getting out of bed. i have to stop and wait till the sensation passes usually a few seconds. this is more profound in the heat.my heart monitor tests show also some heart pauses lasting 3-8 seconds.when i am at rest my rhr is 49 and i feel perfect.if i suddenly get out of bed my hr goes to 70 andi feel a change.

this got very uncomfortable and so now i have a...

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Abnormal EEG results

Hello all!

Just got this ECG result. 
"Atrial-sensed ventricular-paced rhythm

Abnormal ECG

When compared with ECG of 21-JUL-2021 12:44,

Vent. rate has decreased BY   8 BPM"

this is the second test where the ventricular rate has decreased. The rate is 64. I am scheduled with my EP in November, does this indicate. PM issue or something else? Still experiencing fatigue, muscle weakness unless I move very slowly.  Thanks for reading...

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low CO2 blood level

I have had my pacemaker for 6 months.  My PCP ran routine blood tests recently.  My CO2 level was lower than it has ever been.  (17 and and normal range is 20-29)  Average for me has been about 23. All other tests were fine and I feel good. The first 2 months of this year I did nothing for exercise because I was feeling terrible as we determined the heart block diagonosis. I am still building up my stamina so I know I am not to the cardio levels I was last year before...

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Is it true that AT/AF includes more than just AFib?

It is my understanding that the AT/AF data recorded by my pacemaker (previously a Medtronic, and now a Boston Scientific) includes more than just AFib -- it can include other atrial misbehavior. Can anyone confirm or disconfirm?

Earlier this year I had a period of near-constant palpitations. When I went to the doctor, the folks who read my pacemaker said I was having AFibs. But the doctor read the EKG and said no: it's not AFibs, it's actually Atrial Premature Contractions. So a...

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My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.