What to expect after pacemaker

[Unregistered]

I have been diagnosed with bradycardia, slow heart beat, and is in my records by the examining specialist (not my AME). However, the specialist says that it is now documented and would be harder to squirm around as apposed to a deferment. Just what can I expect to happen and when?

 

[Doggtyred]

Well. I can say this much. If you are having symptomatic bradycardia ( slow enough that you get dizzy, pass out or have angina/chest pain ) you should self ground for safety. Is your specialist a cardiologist? Is he/she recommending a pacemaker implant? Or is this a case of you thinking ahead to the possibility of needing one? Were there any other terms associated with the word bradycardia? Sinus bradycardia? Tachy-brady? Are you on meds for another problem and having bradycardia as a side effect?

I will defer to the cardiologist and the AME who monitor this group for what else to expect regarding certification.

Having worked as a nurse in a cath lab, the procedure itself is done with light to moderate sedation, and at my facility there was an overnight stay and device recheck/interrogation prior to discharge. Physically there was a limit on the use of the arm on the side the device was implanted for 6 weeks or so to prevent dislodging the pacemaker leads. Typically the device is placed in the non-dominant side: left chest for right handed patients.

I'm certain that implanted defibrillator/pacers are disqualifying. Pretty sure biventricular pacemakers are disqualifying as well). Both of these are used in advanced heart failure and those patients have a very significant incapacitation risk from their disease.

I do not know about "ordinary" pacemakers (single/dual chambered devices), the sort that would be used to treat "bradycardia" with regards to SI.

 

[Unregistered]

Bradycardia can be normal or abnormal depending on the cause and other issues so not everybody with bradycardia needs a pacemaker. I can't comment without a lot more information.
GaryF

 

[bbchien]

I'm going to assume you have no symptoms:

What happens to the heart rate with 1 minute of running in place?

 

[Unregistered]

Here is my results of jogging in place for one min.
Sorry for being long in the tooth.

Before Breakfast 7:10 am
Blood Glucose 97, Blood Pressure 134/66, Pulse 39, Ox 96.

Normal breakfast of oatmeal sweetened with blueberries and no sugar, 1 boiled egg. Walk 1/2 mile for morning coffee and return.

2 hours after breakfast 9:30 am
BP 121/66, Pulse 49, Ox 95

Immediately after Jogged in place for 1 min
BP 161/70, Pulse 61, Ox 92

Age 70/ Male

Thanks

 

[Gary F]

Here is my results of jogging in place for one min.
Sorry for being long in the tooth.

Before Breakfast 7:10 am
Blood Glucose 97, Blood Pressure 134/66, Pulse 39, Ox 96.

Normal breakfast of oatmeal sweetened with blueberries and no sugar, 1 boiled egg. Walk 1/2 mile for morning coffee and return.

2 hours after breakfast 9:30 am
BP 121/66, Pulse 49, Ox 95

Immediately after Jogged in place for 1 min
BP 161/70, Pulse 61, Ox 92

Age 70/ Male

Thanks

Heart rate should increase more than that with a minute of exercise. This is known as chronotropic incompetence which is an indication for pacemaker placement if there are no other reasons for the problem (such as taking medications that can slow down the heart or coronary artery disease or hypothyroidism). I would order a treadmill exercise test to objectively measure and document the heart rate response to exercise at least 72 hours after discontinuing any rate slowing medications. If you can't get at least 85% of maximum predicted heart rate (.85(220-age)=127) then a pacemaker might be the best option. A cardiologist specializing in heart rhythm problems (electrophysiologist) is probably the best person to sort all of this out although some general cardiologists deal with pacemaker issues.

 

[Unregistered]

I just returned from working about 1 hour 45 min and got worn out.

BP113/63, Pulse 79, ox 94

Besides a handful of vitamins etc, the only medication that I am on is Lisinopril 10mg. For some reason or another I cant tolerate statin drugs. They make my symptoms worse.

Thanks for the advice.