Recovery period

Hello I am new to the forum. Last week arrived at hospital feeling
unwell felt as though i was going to pass out. After Ecg i was rushed
into resusitation and given intravenous drugs to increase my heart rate and stabilise it which was very eratic very high and very low.
It was explained to me i had Third degree heart block and needed
a pacemaker as emergency treatment. Felt a massive improvement
staight away but since returning home have felt very tired and sore
at times tight all across my chest. been to hospital for a further check up they said pacemaker is functioning ok. I have to take bisoprolol
2.5 mg for tackycardia caused by an enlarged heart. Doctor says
it is ok to take bisoprolol because of the condition as my heart would race at 90 to 100 bpm. and the pacemaker would kick in if my heart rate went to low which was 55bpm when went to doctors earlier today. Joined forum for support and advise thanks.

2 Comments

too fast/too slow

by Tracey_E - 2014-05-06 09:05:22

Isn't it odd to be on drugs for a fast heart rate but have a pm for a slow heart?! I'm in the same position, it's always interesting trying to explain it. We have a disconnect between the atria and the ventricles, that's the block. Our atria likes to sometimes zip along too fast. The ventricles don't pay any attention to what the atria is doing and poke along, beating when they're in the mood to beat.

The meds keep the atria under control. The pm watches for the atria to beat and makes sure the ventricles stay in sync by generating a pulse that causes the heart to beat when the ventricles don't do it on their own.

If the block was untreated, then it would be unsafe to take bisprolol because it could make your already low rate go even lower. Now that the block is fixed, it's perfectly fine to treat the tachy with meds.

Tired and sore is normal! You just had a surgery and your body is adjusting to having a hunk of metal in there as well as the heart beating in sync after who knows how long being out of whack. It's a minor surgery,but it still takes time for the body to adjust, to get the surgery meds out of your system. Also, when we're sore we sleep in awkward positions and don't move around as much during the day, that leads to more soreness. Try to move around more, walk and do some gentle stretches. Don't take your arm above your shoulder for 4-6 weeks, but other than that try to move it normally so your shoulder doesn't freeze.

One other thought. It takes a few weeks up to a few months to get used to taking a beta blocker. They can make us tired until we get used to being on it. I napped every day for months after going on a beta blocker.

Thankyou

by dave58 - 2014-05-07 04:05:19

Thanks for this infomation reading this has answered a lot
of questions.

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is intact and working great.