Ive got a benign asymptomatic form of complete heart block that is extremely rare. I was told by an expert about 7 years ago that it will eventually change into pacemaker requring heart rythmn problem - hence my quickly arranging a stress test when i started getting symptoms recently.
I was not born with an SA node due to an absent right atrium - i have 2 left ones.... but the right left atrium has a collection of cells that do a very similar job to the SA node and while the rythmn has always been very slow the top and the bottom chambers have been pumping away at about the right times for years and years - despite not communicating with each other.
But, as I said, this rare, but harmonious set up has not been expected to last forever - I was told 6 years ago that i could be back in her office the next day or in 10 years time.
A doctor popped in for while i walked on the treadmill, then left again, and the tech just told me to not do any intense exercise until my team of consultants have had a proper look at my ecg.
It just doesnt fit with my understanding of heart block that a 'funny' rythmn as he put it would occur on exercise, normally with heart block the heart just doesnt beat quickly enough to get the blood where it needs to go, and in some people this leads to fainting etc.
I am just worried that i have developed another heart rythmn thing on top of what i already have....
I guess I shall just have to wait until my ecg is examined by an expert.... I hate waiting.
I go to a specialist heart and lung hospital in the middle of london, so i know that I am getting the best care there is in this country - its just not helping me much that i shall probably lay awake all night in a panic.
Hello...
Who told you that you had or have complete heart block? That in of itself is a medical emergency. If a permanent pacemaker can't be placed immediately, than they will use transcutaneous pacing (a wire inserted into the heart to pace) There is no way that you'd be waiting a week to see your cardiologist...
It is heard to say what rhythm you experienced during the test, since all the tracings are squiggly to some degree.
If you were in any immediate danger, they wouldn't have let you leave. I think that you should call your Dr's office tomorrow and ask them to explain to you what was meant by this comment "complete heart block"
Let us know what they say:)
Are you saying that a cardiologist didn't supervise your stress test? Maybe things are a-changing, but to the best of my recollection (one stress and three nuclear stress tests) there was always a doctor supervising the test.
It seems strange to me too that a technician would say anything that might alarm a patient, regardless of what s/he thought.
That said, if you were not given any cautions on you activities, I would assume you are not in any immediate danger.
A HR that slows with exercise seems very unusual, but not unheard of...I'm sure I've seen it a few times on this community, but I don't remember what the outcome(s) was/were.