Misdiagnosis & impact having an unnecessary pacemaker.

I'm very sorry to see that this could have been solved with a bit more investigation and maybe time. Did they nuke your AV node? If not, and I'm nothing like a doctor or a nurse, so this may be a silly question, but could they remove the PM and let your heart, maybe with some necessary rehab, continue where it left off?

My reading tells me that, even with well-conditioned and fit hearts, you should keep a lid on your Max HR when exercising. This is commensurate with age. As age rises, our Max HR should fall, year-for-beat, from a theoretical top figure of 220. In your case, it is presumed to be 131 BPM, which I would think is probably pessimistically low...for you. I'm not widely read about this, and really your own performance, perceived effort, and any sensed ill effects would/should be a great guide.

Have yet to discuss removal or switch off options with specialist.
Those age related pulse rates are averages and I would have thought the devices would cater for exceptions.

@gloaming Thank you for posting some good ideas for questions that @latuma could ask her EP and cardiologist. I agree that there should have been more investigation pertaining to glaucoma meds causing a temporary drop in heart rate. Knowing the possible side effects of the glaucoma drops would have been helpful, surely others have noted that during studies. One of the problems is that there is such a vast and increasing fact base that medical personnel may have trouble keeping up with (a reason for specialization, why would a cardiologist know the latest on glaucoma drops)? Another issue we have in dealing with medical personnel is that they do not talk to each other or even read charts (I have My Chart) to get the full patient picture. I had a friend that was a NP (nurse practitioner) who encouraged people with multiple issues to have a case manager coordinating their many details. @latuma I am impressed that you are jogging at 79!

@walkinggirl Linda, I am no longer the runner that I was. I had to stop when I developed atrial fibrillation. It is the OP who is still running. 🙂

My questions were designed to help him to situate his next visit with a cardiologist who would be keenly interested in the conflicts between glaucoma treatment and the outfall, changing blood pressure, and his own work for his patient's cardiac circumstances. Patients soon learn, as you would know only too well, probably, that they often have to tend those fields themselves. Just today I had to call my ophthalmologist's office who did my vitrectomy 11 days ago and ask that they forward a requisition for the 'two-week checkup' to my local ophthalmologist who normally sees me. The local hadn't received it when I called to set up that appointment. It's not the same thing as not being up to date with meds, but it is a typical example of how actively involved and vigilant, and informed, a patient must be these days.

@latuma
What tests did they order before deciding you needed a PM?
I had a PM implanted last year . My initial complaint was a low pulse which was unusual for me.
I went through a lot of testing before they concluded I needed a PM. My final diagnosis was
second degree 2:1 atrioventricular block.

@gloaming Yes! You, me and everyone else needs to be a very squeaky wheel advocate for themselves. After I had a phone appointment leading up to a septal myectomy, I was told by Dr E that I would SOON receive a phone call to set the surgery date. What does soon mean in Minnesota? I know a NY minute. A week went by. I called. No action. Another week goes by, I wrote on the patient portal about the absence of that phone call. Next day, the scheduling department called and the rest is history. If the patient cannot be involved and vigilant, they need to have an advocate with those traits. Even if you are no longer the runner you used to be, it's OK to be the runner or walker you can be now.