A fib

I am new to having a pacemaker.  I am 80 years old and had 3rd degree heart block ..so received a pacemaker on June 21, 2021.  I walk a couple miles a day and remain pretty active.  I feel good.  The ep doc set my pacemaker at 80 and just had it set at 70 and on Sept. 14 they will set it to 60.  
the other day I noticed a few skipped beats... it only lasted about 5 min.  I'm wondering if this is anything to worry about.  

1 Comments

Skipped beats

by AgentX86 - 2021-08-28 23:52:19

These are most likely PVCs (Premature Ventricular Contractions). As the name implies, these are early heartbeats (not skipped at all) which often get uncovered when the heart rate is reduced. The same thing happened to me. Because they felt so bad, my EP just raised my HR back to 80, where it's been for over three years.

I say that the aren't skipped because the normal heartbeat is still there but because this early heartbeat occured, the left ventricle wasn't fully filled so yu didn't feel it. Since the ventricle didn't fill, it didn't pump much blood either.

PVCs aren't often dangerous, in fact ust about everyne has them from time to time. Most just shrug them off as a burp, or whatever and go on about their business. When they get more frequent or we (quite naturally) are sensitized to every bump in the night, we concentrate on them. If they get to a high percentage of beats they can be a concern but they'll be a PITA that you'll want corrected long before that.

Your heart is probably still not used to being paced and could just be registering its complaints. You may also be dehydrated, which we (with cardiac electrical issues) can't afford. Or may have a mineral deficiency (usually magnesium).

In short, don't panic but do report anything unusual to your doctors, then sleep well.

 

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