good for months , now either bradycardia or a-fib

I am a newly 60 year old female with Medtronic Dual Chamber Pacemaker inserted in June, 2013. I have had months of feeling good heart-wise. I've been down for a month with a nasty asthma attack and was on heavy oral steroids for weeks an weaned down as usual. I just saw my great cardiologist 2 days ago and all was fine. This morning I woke up feeling out of sorts, a little dizzy, nauseous at times, my chest is tight and for hours my heart rate was 125-155, and now is beating, hard, very slowly, between 51 and 59. My normal rate has been 78-80. I just don't feel well at all. Why would it change so drastically in a matter of hours? I haven't done anything different. Any suggestions? Have had call in to the doc but no call back yet because he is in emergency surgery. Just need some reassurance here, I guess

2 Comments

Get to the ER

by Grateful Heart - 2014-05-01 06:05:13

Get checked out. Listen to your body. I don't want to scare you but PM's will not prevent a heart attack and you have possible symptoms.

Please call 911 for an ambulance now.

Grateful Heart

JUST DO IT!

by NiceNiecey - 2014-05-01 11:05:48

Go with Grateful Heart's advice and hitch a ride to the ER, preferably the one where your doc is performing surgery.

By any chance, are you still on the steroids? I haven't been on any since I got my PM but before my PM, oral prednisone would wreak havoc on my heart rhythm.

You might also have fluid around your heart or lungs: pleurisy. You've mentioned several things that give me pause, including that you'd just seen your cardiologist two days ago. Was that because you had a normal checkup scheduled or did you make a special trip in?

Anytime there is nausea, tight chest, HR all over the map, we have to worry. You're not being a bother. Please JUST DO IT!
Niecey

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

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