Over the 27 years that I have lived with Atrial Fib the Cardiologists have had me taking a variety of different meds to control it. All to no avail. A couple of ABLATIONS worked for a while. Along with my recent Pacemaker installation the docs had me taking a couple of drugs daily. For three weeks I suffered from Chronic Fatigue on a daily basis that was almost unbearable. The drugs were lowering my blood pressure to dangerous levels. VOILA!!!! Guess What? Yep. took me off all meds and let the Pacemaker do it's job and no more fatigue or A Fib.
Wow! That's great news @Lon Tanner. I'm so happy for you. And I hope your hearing implants will bring even more good news and joy to your life.
How is the pacemaker doing , @Lon Tanner ? My cardiologist said that was probably the next step for me if the last ablation didn’t work, and that they had ablated everything that could be done. Most of the time, I am fine; but I still have episodes of a-fib, and it has been over two months now; so I am worrying again. My blood pressure has been running low, around 100/55; but this morning, it is crazy high at 163/100, plus the a-fib, although I am not having the racing heartbeat this time, and it is still at about 55 when I checked my BP and heart rate. I know they want to get me off the amioderone because of possible liver damage, but since that is what is supposed to be controlling the a-fib, it is not looking like they can take me off of it yet. You are the only one here who has had these same issues, so I am hoping that you can help me with this, and what to expect.
My Pacemaker is doing just fine Yvonne. I don't even know it's there and I like being off all heart meds and just take the blood thinner Elequis. Like you, They ran out of hot spots with my ablations and thus the PACEMAKER. I use a simple but accurate wrist Blood Pressure Meter and test periodically to just be sure the meter is doing it's job. I joined a Pacemaker Chat Group on line and hear from these people that Pacemakers very seldom have problems. Your Cardio will check it periodically. BTW The Diltiazem that I was taking before my ablation, dropped my blood pressure so low I developed Chronic Fatigue and was a pretty sick cookie. That's what brought about the final Ablation and Pacemaker. I wish you the best Yvonne as you go through all your procedures.
I have also been checking my heart rate and blood pressure with one of the wrist cuff meters. I like it because I can just charge it with the usb cord like I use for my Kindle, and I do not have to mess with putting in new batteries all of the time. The last one did a great job, and the batteries would probably have lasted a lot longer if I was not checking the blood pressure and heart rate all of the time. Now, I can see my heart rate all of the time with the Apple Watch; but I have still been checking my blood pressure. It has always been around 110-120/70; but this summer, it started running way too low, like 100/50. So, now, it has reversed itself for some reason, and a week or so ago, I got up and was dizzy; so I took my BP to see if it was low. Instead it was 188/101 (or thereabouts). Bobby said maybe it was the cuff, so I charged it and tried again, and it was still in the same range. I ended up going to the doctor, and they sent me home with a little paper for a blood pressure log, which I kept for a week. Today, I went back to see what they thought. They are going to raise the lisinopril a bit, plus they are going to put a small implant that will monitor my heart constantly, so they can see what the BP is doing and also whether I am having episodes of a-fib. It will stay in for several years, and should help the doctor to know what is going on with my heart better than just asking me what it is doing. That way, they can start taking me off of the amioderone, but make sure that it is not putting me back into a-fib again. Seems like there is always something going on; but my heart is still improving, and that is what is important.
I have started having a new problem with my heart. All of this time, I had episodes of a-fib and/or tachycardia, and my heart rate would jump from 50-150 ; but it usually seems to only last a few minutes, and then comes back down to normal (around 50bpm) again. However, the last couple of weeks, I started having a really slow heart rate, often into the low 40’s and as slow as 38 bpm occasionally. This really concerns me, because the meds that I take are to keep my heart slowed down, and i can’t stop taking those meds since I still have episodes fairly often of the tachycardia Along with this, I have also felt really dizzy and have a hard time thinking sometimes. (We went to the grocery store, and i could not remember my PIN for my debit card ) I am also really really tired, and barely make it though my swimming, and some days we have stayed home because i was just too exhausted to go anywhere. So, what I am thinking , is that the doctor might have to do the pacemaker after all, because that would stop both the tachycardia and the brachycardia episodes. I am encouraged by reading about how much the pacemaker has helped you, @Lon Tanner , and i am wondering how you feel about having it now that you have had it for a few years ? Does it still seem to be keeping your heart rate moderated where it should be, and do you still have more energy with it than you did before you got one ? I would love to have some input from you, and from anyone else here that has a pacemaker, or knows someone who does. I have been putting off going to see my cardiologist about this, but I know it is something that I am going to need to do; and want to get all the information that I can before i go see the doctor and need to make a decision. I don’t like the idea of another heart procedure, but I don’t want any more medications, either, and if this can even get me off of some of the ones I am taking now, then that seems like a good idea, too.
@Yvonne Smith...it does sound like going back to see your Cardiologist would be a good idea with the changes you are experiencing. I just wanted you to know I'm praying for you.
I have a pacemaker that was put in in 2017. When I had my bypass surgery this summer my pacemaker found a-fib so I'm now on Eliquis.
I am doing fine with my Pacemaker and have not had any A fib in a long time. My BP and rate are fine. I take Metoprolol,Spironolactone and Xarelto daily. My only physical discomfort is from my Peripheral Neuropathy.
@Yvonne Smith First off, You are not alone! The pace maker will solve the Brachycardia (slow heart rate) problem. Metoprolol is for the Tachycardia (fast heart rate). A pulse of 180 is very dangerous. Xarelto or Eliquis is a blood thinner prescribed for A fib to keep blood from clotting in the heart chamber. My pacemaker has an accelerator in it that speeds up the heart rate when you start to move from rest to help lessen your fatigue. The top rate of my accelerator id 110 bpm. Hope this helps.
Last week, my cardiologist had me wear a heart monitor, and today we went in for the follow up appointment, My Support Team (Bobby and Robin) were there with me. My doctor said that as the heart gets weaker, it slows down, and he said that over the last couple of years it has gradually been doing that, and he is going to give me a pacemaker to keep it working better. In January, I go in for a stress test and echocardiogram and they will be scheduling me for the procedure in either January or February, as soon as they can fit me in. One thing that I really liked, is that it also monitors my heart and sends him the information, and he can actually adjust my pacemaker remotely, and set the parameters of how fast and slow it is allowed to go. He said that it won’t stop the a-fib or tachycardia, so I still have to take medicine for that; but at least it won’t just keep going slower and slower like it has been doing. He thinks that I will actually feel better and have more energy once I have the pacemaker. Robin is scheduled to be in the Netherlands for her job part of next month, but she is already making arrangements with her boss to be able to stay home if they schedule the procedure during the time she is supposed to be working overseas. I really have not wanted to have any more procedures, but at this point, it seems like this is the best thing for me.