sudden HR drop

I am an athletic 70-year-old. Recently while on a elliptical trainer I noticed that my heart rate dropped suddenly from 140 to 70. And if I backed off a little bit it would pop back up to 120 or 130. It seems to be getting worse. More recently this rate drop happened at 120 and went down to 60.

I have worn a Holter monitor and gone to the gym to have a record of this phenomenon. I am going to talk to A nurse practitioner at the cardiologists office on Friday, When they will have the results. In reading on the forum here I have not seen anyone talk about an exercise-induced what appears to be a 2 to 1 heart block. Does anyone out there have this condition, and has it been helped by a pacemaker? Any experience or advice would be most welcome.

11 Comments

drops

by Tracey_E - 2014-03-03 02:03:45

It could be an exercise induced block or it could be a drop in sinus rhythm. The Holter will be able to tell where the drop in rate is coming from.

I was born with 3rd degree block. We had no idea I had occasional atrial drops until after I was paced. Before that, if the atria dropped, I never felt it because my rate never went up anyway. The problems are not related and the pm was easily programmed to fix it. If it drops too quickly, it paces atrial to keep my rate level. My ventricles are paced every beat, that's typical with 3rd degree block.

Same symptoms

by PAMMY - 2014-03-03 07:03:14

Hi Lew49 - If you look at my previous postings you will see that I also have exercise induced 2.1 heart block which was picked up on a Holter monitor. When your heart rate drops are you getting a dizzy feeling?

I was told that if wanted to carry on exercising(I enjoy running) I would need a pacemaker and it took me 12months and a few postings on this site to go with the decision to have one. I was fitted with it last October and am glad I did as I am now able to enjoy running again without having to worry about passing out!

Keep us posted on this site with the results of your holter monitor and whether you are given the option of having a pacemaker.

Pam

Sounds similar

by LEW49 - 2014-03-03 08:03:39

Hi Pam: I am inclined to accept A pacemaker if one is offered. I hate not being able to push myself in the gym, sking, hiking, biking, skiing and backpacking. Also I noticed that if I do push myself and spend A fair amount of time is the heart block situation, my pulse will stay elevated for hours in the 95 to 100 range.

I do get a little dizzy when the heart block kicks in, But so far I haven't come close to fainting. But as I mentioned it looks like it's starting to get worse. I am glad to hear that your experience with a pacemaker has been so positive. What type of pacemaker do you have end where are the leaves implanted?

Thanks again for your reply, Lewis

Finding out today

by LEW49 - 2014-03-10 05:03:23

After two unsuccessful tries to get the holter monitor results I am going to see the cardiac nurse today. The third time should be the charmer. I am hopeful that my problems are purely electrical and I don't have some other less treatable underlying condition. I am also well aware, Having cared for my late wife through 20 years of illness, that visits to the doctors office don't always produce as clear diagnosis as one would hope. I'll let you know what I find out.


I really appreciate your comments. They have been very encouraging to me.
Lewis

Pacemaker

by PAMMY - 2014-03-10 05:03:24

Hi Lewis - sorry i've taken so long to reply - didn't check the site for a week. I have a medtronic Versa Vedr01 pacemaker. I have an atrial lead and a ventricular lead. How did your appointment with the cardiac nurse go - did you get the results from the holter monitor?
Pam

how did it go?

by PAMMY - 2014-03-11 05:03:24

Hi Lewis - did you get your results today? Is it an electrical problem or have they found anything else? Keep us posted.
Pam

unclear test results

by LEW49 - 2014-03-12 02:03:53

Hi pam: I got my results but they were a little unclear. I didn't wear the holter monitor for very long and the two to one heart block was not demonstrated, although it was clear that I was missing heart beats. The next step will be a stress echocardiogram, which hopefully will rule out any ischemic disease, and also should demonstrate my abrupt decrease in heart rate under exercise load.

So far the indication is that getting a pacemaker is optional. But in my mind since at present the best I can do is work out at about half speed, I definitely will opt for getting a pacemaker implanted.
I have been looking around for resources and a friend of a friend is a pacemaker representative, who has kindly volunteered to advise me as I continue this journey.
Thanks again for your support, And I'll let you know the results of my stress echocardiogram in about two weeks when the test is performed.

Lewis

my 2:1 HR drops

by chip j - 2014-03-30 01:03:46

Lewis, I was born with RBBB and have experienced exercise-induced HR drops since I began intense running and cycling, about 40 years ago.. My Polar HR monitor showed 2:1 drops. I was diagnosed with RBBB, 2nd degree, type 2. A PM was recommended by my EP about 15 months ago. Eventually, a second EP successfully programmed it to stop my HR drops. He said that initially my PM was interpreting my very strong T-wave as 2 beats; and consequently my PM was putting me into a 2:1 block, during exercise at high levels. He successfully programmed around that and my HR drops have now stopped, for the first time in my life.

Here's hoping your echocardiogram helps determine what you need to prevent your drops. PM technology is amazing now, but it requires patience and some trial/error to sort out proper adjustments for each individual. Best wishes to you.

Collapse then pacemaker

by LEW49 - 2014-03-30 03:03:47

Wednesday, A week ago, I collapsed in restaurant. The next day I consulted a cardiologist, who told me I had to go directly to the hospital and that he would implant a pacemaker the next day. In the hospital extensive tests were made on my heart and coronary arteries in addition to the pacemaker implantation. My heart and coronary arteries checked out just fine, but the day after I was released from the hospital I ended up back in the emergency room, barely able to stand.
After a lot of confusion it was finally discovered that I was experiencing atrial flutter, and the pacemaker was reacting to the flutter and causing my heart to beat very fast. I was started on a regimen of metoproplol (A beta blocker) to prevent the flutter, and Plavix (A blood thinner) to guard against a stroke.
I have been feeling pretty good walking around and even hiking a little, but I have not yet really put A significant exercise load on my heart. I don't know whether 50 mg of metoprolol per day will prevent my heart from beating fast enough to really exercise hard. I also don't know whether exercise Will drive me into atrial flutter, Or even atrial fibrillation.
The diagnosis that led to the pacemaker implantation was Mobitz 2 heartblock.

I am certainly feeling better, but there are a number of questions that remain unanswered.

Thanks for all the good information and support,
Lewis

Oh dear

by PAMMY - 2014-04-01 04:04:34

Sorry to hear that you collapsed last week Lewis. You obviously have more problems than a straight forward exercise induced 2.1 heart block that I have. Wishing you well and hope you can get back to normal exercising soon.
Pam

Able to exercise now but

by LEW49 - 2014-04-27 02:04:49

It's been four weeks since my pacemaker was implanted. It's a Boston scientific with a lead to both my right atrium and right ventricle. The incision has healed up nicely. My energy is good. But when I work out hard, Such as an hour on the elliptical trainer, my polar heart rate monitor reads in the low 200's. I assume I'm going into atrial flutter. I feel okay except for slight burning feeling I get my chest and I seem to be able to keep going without too much difficulty. I'm going to see the cardiologist on Monday. I think I will request A stress electrocardiogram.
Any thoughts or relevant experience would be much appreciated. Thanks again everybody for your help.
Lewis

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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