HOW ARE YOU DOING SINCE PACEMAKER? I HOPE WELL
I am 69 yr old female and I too have been having pulse rate problems. Not quite a year ago I had A-fib. While BP wasn't bad my pulse was slowly increasing to 119. Went to clinic and they said I needed to go straight to hospital. Eventually had to have electric shock to return to rhythm and placed on comudan for a while. Did stress test which had problems and less then 3 months after A-fib they did angioplasty to put a stent in. Since that time it seems my pulse rate has gradually gotten lower to the point the doctor now says I need a pacemaker. This is scheduled to be done next week. He told me that I was a high risk for passing out without warning. There are some meds that taken for other things that will lower pulse rate. Toporol is one and I cut my intake in half. Still didn't bring it up over 60. Doc said I was in 50's when in hospital so I think they thought that was normal for me when I had questions/concerns about the rate being low. Even going into the 40's until I adjusted the Toporol. After followup visit for angio and talking to doctor he said he wanted me to wear a heart monitor for a month which I did. Followup after those results has been the determination of a need for pacemaker. BP is still a little all over the place but right now am more concerned about pulse rate then BP. I have a treadmill and am hoping to be able to start regular workout on it. Right now can't walk more then 5 minutes without getting tired besides ankles and hips hurting. Need good walking shoes to help that and doctor says after the pacemaker is inserted that I should be able to walker longer then the 5 minutes. Sure hope so.
I am having the same problem --pulse rate is going up and down -getting down to 48 last night. I am also on atenolol 25 mg--Dr tried me to take extra 25 but I was falling in the floor--I cannot tolerate that much atenolol. I have mitral valve prolapse also. I just called my Dr and they tell me to keep taking the atenolol and drink plenty of fluids such as gatorade or power ade. Yes-- the 40's is much too low for the pulse rate--My Mother had to have a pace maker when hers got down to 60. Take care and I hope you will be better soon
Lodow/Al
Any change in rate should be taken seriously. If I were you I would definitely see my doctor. You might need to change your dosage of medication.