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A brush with severe bradycardia

As someone who was training for an ultra-marathon, Rachel assumed her very low heart rate was a sign of her fitness. In fact she was in need of a pacemaker for a serious heart rhythm condition.

Mine is a story of an 'electrical fault' in the heart – a serious condition with an instant fix!

I was 51, fit, ate well and was about the right weight. So in June 2018, when I began to feel tenderness in my chest, it was not bad enough to slow me down. Then when I became short of breath going upstairs and slightly dizzy when I stood up, I decided I lacked iron and stepped up my iron intake. When I lay in bed one night and felt my pulse barely getting to 30 beats per minute, I thought 'wow, I must be fitter than I thought'.

This was all within the space of five days. I remember a fleeting moment when I thought, 'this could be serious', then dismissed it as I am robust and healthy.

By day six I was becoming weaker and after my weekly pilates session – apparently, I looked grey – I took myself to the doctor.

Within approximately five minutes I was diagnosed with severe bradycardia, a dangerously low heartbeat. I had an atrioventricular block (AV block) meaning the electrical circuit in my heart had broken down. I was fast tracked to hospital for a pacemaker.

After a week of tests, the cardiologist said, 'no known cause' and assured me this was a good outcome. Mechanically my heart was fine and now with my pacemaker, I was good to go for another 50 years he said. So, I did just that. I was skiing two weeks later and back training for a 50km ultramarathon I had registered for months before my heart episode.

I knew that people had heart issues from being overweight, sedentary, and congenital or genetic reasons. I also knew that people who were incredibly athletic and strained their heart were also at risk as were people in their senior years. It had not occurred to me that a heart problem can strike randomly and have no known cause at any age.

I guess I thought I was almost indestructible, so I found it hard to come to terms with this happening to me. Luckily, because of medical technology, my three teenage sons still have a mother. I do have a little square box outlined in my chest to remind me every time I look in the mirror too!


Shared November 2019

Please note: the views and opinions of the storyteller and related comments may not necessarily reflect those of the Heart Foundation NZ.

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3 Comments

  • John 29 December 2024

    Similar story…most of year little episodes of dizziness falls and asthma symptoms…just did breathing exercises and seemed to come right too busy caring for others.
    2nd week December woke not feeling good after a while of I can conquer this drove to medical center was diagnosed with asthma, loaded with prednisone sent home.
    That evening realized things were getting bad and admitted to self…need help. Rang healthiness told not to drive to hospital and was ordered an balance…3 hours later ambulance e service checked on me was appalled when I gave symptoms…came within minutes…2 hours later in heartock pulse well below 20 supposed to be unconscious but stubborn as..
    .next day air ambulance to Wellington hospital(highlight of whole affair) stabilized and pacemakered.
    Huge change in life philosophy and 70th in two weeks!

  • Ross 8 March 2024

    Thought the same things about fitness and heart beats
    Standing in the hall saying good night to family I dropped, no warning just felt a bit hungry
    Never heard of bradycardia until I came around in A&E
    Now have a pacemaker and look forward to getting back out
    Bradycardia needs to be more advertised amongst sporting people so they are aware and help break down any myths it’s just a heart attack because you are not fit

  • graeme 4 February 2021

    I have 2 stents now, currently age 72. a rest rate 46/47 bpm.. I am impressed with your story.. running the lengths of NZ. Very encouraging..
    Graeme

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