Arrhythmia problems

[addictfreak]

Yes addict but I will only get a referral to freeman/RVI if they can find something seriously wrong...which they havnt, and to be fair I have had all the tests done.

Two ways round that if you have concerns in future. Either insist your GP refers you to one of the Newcastle Hospital, or should you ever decide to go to A&E under your own steam try the RVI.

I only advise this after my experience of a local GP and STDGH failing to spot what I have subsequently been told were classic signs and symptoms of my condition.

Just my opinion based on personal experience.

 

[GaryA]

Two ways round that if you have concerns in future. Either insist your GP refers you to one of the Newcastle Hospital, or should you ever decide to go to A&E under your own steam try the RVI.

I only advise this after my experience of a local GP and STDGH failing to spot what I have subsequently been told were classic signs and symptoms of my condition.

Just my opinion based on personal experience.

Cheers I'll bear that in mind for future reference...to tell you the truth I'm so sick of hospitals and the glacial pace of diagnosis that I'm not going near them any more unless I physically collapse .... I'm not tempting fate-honest guv!

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Hey Gary A, all the best to you mate and hope you get the answers that you need.

I have some indirect experience of arrhythmia with my (once) baby boy after his arterial 'switch' operation, now doing very well as his body has settled down and accustomed to both being successfully switched and getting over the dangerous infection he caught as a result of the procedure. Arrhythmia was a side-effect of the infection.

I really do wish you well.

 

[shortone]

I have a heart block,
This started out dizzy spells every now and then. Then I started to faint, in all sorts of places. Lots of tests and monitors which came back clean. In the end I got sponsored to have an implanted ECG monitor with an external remote control to activate after an episode.
This I did and the recording clearly showed my heart rate slowing down and slowing down and just stopping. After approx 30 it would just kick back in again. My heart itself if perfectly fine, but the electrical pulses that causes the heart to pump weaken as my heart slows down. This does not happen very often but as a result I had a pacemaker fitted at 28(you have to be awake for this). My yearly check shows that I rely on it 14% of the time, mostly when sleeping. It doesn't affect me in anyway other than not being allowed to play concact sports or play with magnets.
I could write forever on this, and the places I passed out make for amusing reading.

 

[GaryA]

I have a heart block,
This started out dizzy spells every now and then. Then I started to faint, in all sorts of places. Lots of tests and monitors which came back clean. In the end I got sponsored to have an implanted ECG monitor with an external remote control to activate after an episode.
This I did and the recording clearly showed my heart rate slowing down and slowing down and just stopping. After approx 30 it would just kick back in again. My heart itself if perfectly fine, but the electrical pulses that causes the heart to pump weaken as my heart slows down. This does not happen very often but as a result I had a pacemaker fitted at 28(you have to be awake for this). My yearly check shows that I rely on it 14% of the time, mostly when sleeping. It doesn't affect me in anyway other than not being allowed to play concact sports or play with magnets.
I could write forever on this, and the places I passed out make for amusing reading.

Crickey! I thought i had it rough for a while...makes me light-headed just reading...

 

[shortone]

It was for a while, I had to have 6 months off work until they knew what was causing the paassing out. One doctor tried putting my on epillispy tablets. I wasn't allowed to drive or go anywhere alone. I will have to have the pacemaker chaged in a couple of years time as well so not looking forwark to that, needs changing ever 10 years. Also the cables that go from the pacemaker to the heart can not be removed and must also be replaced. As I was young for a pacemaker when I get older I will have issues fitting new cables in the same artries. All in all Im lucky to be here as the pauses were getting longer and longer.

Sounds worse than it is and doesnt affect my cycling one little bit.

Most days now though I forget its there. Good party piece is moving the pacemaker around under the skin and getting people to move it too. Freeks the life out of some lol.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I went through a period of skipped beats and palpitations in April, which basically ruined every night of sleep for 3 weeks. It was there 24 hours a day, nothing could distract me from it.
I'm a depressive by nature and stressed to the gunnels at the moment, so being sensible... I did 20 miles on the bike! As soon as I got home it all started again.
Had an ECG, which was looked over by a consultant, and blood tests. By the time I got the results it had faded away.
The conclusion is that it's stress, and everything is ticking away nicely.

It is a humbling and frightening experience. Being prone to anxiety attacks in the past I've developed a kill or cure attitude (hence the bike ride).
So then it's time to pick up and carry on and treasure life

 

[woohoo]

It was for a while, I had to have 6 months off work until they knew what was causing the paassing out. One doctor tried putting my on epillispy tablets. I wasn't allowed to drive or go anywhere alone. I will have to have the pacemaker chaged in a couple of years time as well so not looking forwark to that, needs changing ever 10 years. Also the cables that go from the pacemaker to the heart can not be removed and must also be replaced. As I was young for a pacemaker when I get older I will have issues fitting new cables in the same artries. All in all Im lucky to be here as the pauses were getting longer and longer.

Sounds worse than it is and doesnt affect my cycling one little bit.

Most days now though I forget its there. Good party piece is moving the pacemaker around under the skin and getting people to move it too. Freeks the life out of some lol.

It depends. I'm now on my second pacemaker (2:1 AV block) and the existing lead(s) were re-used for the new pacemaker. The process was fairly quick; admitted in the morning, operated on before lunch and discharged late afternoon. The stiches were removed a week later. Having had a general anaesthetic (when I had a bypass, a few years before I had the original pacemaker fitted), I would take a "local" every time, given a choice, because a) it's safer, b) has less side effects and c) in a more interesting experience.

PS Between the two pacemaker ops, I had angioplasty and that is done under a local as well, although they make you a bit drowsy before the start the poking and prodding..

 

[shortone]

It depends. I'm now on my second pacemaker (2:1 AV block) and the existing lead(s) were re-used for the new pacemaker. quote]

How long did your first pacemaker last?
Ive been advised that due to the low usage of my pacemaker it will last over 10 years and possible close to15, At whcih point they would chage the leads as well.

 

[woohoo]

How long did your first pacemaker last?
Ive been advised that due to the low usage of my pacemaker it will last over 10 years and possible close to15, At whcih point they would chage the leads as well.

The first pacemaker lasted well over 11 years and had some life in it before they replaced it. Have a look at this

http://www.meht.nhs.uk/our-services...-angiography-suite/information-on-pacemakers/

The battery in your pacemaker should last approximately 7-10 years depending on how often it is used. The battery wears down very slowly and your pacemaker checks will be a little more frequent when the battery is nearing the end of its life. Replacement is fairly quick and simple as it only involves a new pacemaker – the leads although checked at this time, should last a lifetime.

... which is good news and I hope applies to you because it makes it easier and safer.

 

[shortone]

Sorry for the hijack Gary,

Thank you woohoo some good information there, some of which is the complete oppsite to what I was told when it was fitted almost 8 years ago. Airport scanners for one I was told to avoid like the plague.
Learn something new everyday.

Again thank you.

Andy

 

[Jody]

Epic thread revival and calling @GaryA

Sorry for dragging this back up but did you ever get anywhere with your problems and the hospital? Reason for asking and trying to keep a long story short is I have this happening at moment. Started about 20 years ago, had blood tests and a short ECG which showed nothing as they were infrequent and intermitent. Doc offered reassurance and said you I will be OK. Over the years they have become more frequent but try not to think about them as there is nothing I can do about it. Somedays they are there but not others. Its now got to a point of having them all day for the last 10+ days. Again, I'm trying not to think about it but its at a frequency of 1-3 a minute constantly and (as you will know) it feels AWFUL . If I feel my pulse, it just stops or goes very week for a couple of beats then goes again with a thump.

I have stopped drinking tea and consuming most things with caffine, although I have the odd can of coke, maybe one a week. I don't feel particluarly stressed or depressed and I am sleeping 8+ hours a night.

Not sure wether to make another appointment at the docs. As it is so frequent I asked my partner to feel my pulse last night and she freaked out a bit. I have discussed this with her before but not sure she took me seriously or knew what it was like.

Any help or reasurrance would be appreciated from anyone.

 

[Yorksman]

Not sure wether to make another appointment at the docs. As it is so frequent I asked my partner to feel my pulse last night and she freaked out a bit. I have discussed this with her before but not sure she took me seriously or knew what it was like.

Any help or reasurrance would be appreciated from anyone.

Most certainly see a doctor. There are many types of arrhythmia, some more benign than others, and there is a lot that can be done. Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter are two common types that can lead to more dangerous arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia as happened with me. Sometimes, this can be on top of an otherwise unknown heart condition. There's no point in worrying about which one, they are easily diagnosed with an ECG and possibly an echogram if there is something else.

I felt absolutely dreadful one year ago, couldn't sleep because of congestion, could hardly walk without stopping for breath and my feet were massively swollen because of water retention. Getting the correct medication sorted out many symptoms and I started to feel better. I still had the arrythmias though. Then cardioversion made me feel much better and put me back into normal sinus rhythm. I still have the underlying heart condition but I can go off cycling for the day and have been swinging a sledge hammer the last couple of days hammering in fence posts. Lack of fitness now is more a problem than a lack of oxygen and I have a very good quality of life, despite my heart still being knackered. I have to be aware of my limits of course but what made me feel very ill was just the poor electrics and they can be sorted out.

Have a look at this humerous demonstration of the different types of arrhythmia. My atrial fibrillation caused an episode of ventricular tachycardia and I had to be defibrillated out of it. There have been huge advances in the last 10 years.

 

[Yorksman]

Just to add, if they are intermittent, they may give you a constant ECG monitoring device which stores the data for a certain number of days. It's like a fancy chest strap which has a connection to something the size of a smartphone which you carry around and after a couple of days or so, they download the data so see what the curves look like.

 

[slowmotion]

Just to add, if they are intermittent, they may give you a constant ECG monitoring device which stores the data for a certain number of days. It's like a fancy chest strap which has a connection to something the size of a smartphone which you carry around and after a couple of days or so, they download the data so see what the curves look like.

I had one of those four years ago, as well as lots of other monitoring devices and scans. I had no symptoms that disturbed my day to day living (or cycling) at all but my GP had spotted an unusual heart beat in February 2012. I eventually saw a consultant cardiologist in August later that year. Heart surgery the same month.

@Jody, please get referred to a cardiologist. What have you got to lose?