My Dad just got a difibulator and still has palpitations

[glossgal1980]

My Dad, is 72 years old and about 24 years had a heart attack. Since then he has eated extremely  healthy, cutting out all fats, most carbs and it's mainly fish and fresh vegetables. He also walks on a treadmill for 45 minutes everyday. He went to his cardioligist because he was experiencing a lot of palpitations, they suggested a difibulatir/pace maker. He had a very slow heart beat so they sped it up and he feels a lot better, except he still had the palpitations. Anyone know what could be causing this?

[RNRita]

A defibrillator is not to control palpitations.  It is for times when the heart might go into a lethal rhythm.  Then it will shock.  PVCs are not lethal rhythms in and of themselves.  A pacemaker will start pacing if it doesn't pick up that the heart is beating at a certain rate on it's own, so that won't stop PVCs either.  I hope this helps you understand.  They probably put the ICD in for just in case scenarios, not to take PVCs away.

[kevk]

I can not tell you what is causing the pvc`s but it is normal for us ICD`ers to have pvc`s. If your fathers pvc`s last more than 15 seconds you may want to have the settings checked. Does your father have any symptoms with his pvc`s dizzy, light headed, short of breath ?
I have several pvc`s a day and have had my ICD`s for 17 years.