My Husband Has A Pacemaker And Last Couple Days Had Some Back Pain In Kidney Area To A Little Lower. He Took One Doan's Now Fast Heart Beat Will This Go Out Of His Body And Should I Make Him Go To The ER? Edit

Posted on Sun, 5 Aug 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 5 Aug 2018 Answered on

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband has a pacemaker and has had quadruple bypass surgery (2003); he is doing well - but last couple days has had some back pain in kidney area to a little lower. He took one Doan's pill and now has had fast heart beat - took at 10 am this morning. very concerned - will this go out of his body and should I make him go to the ER?

Follow up: Dr. Sagar Makode (9 minutes later)

Pacemaker is a CRD-T. He has been very stable since insertion two years ago. His pulse is running 125 - 145. then it will slow down, be ok for 15-25 minutes. Blood pressure has been low for him (100/70) usually he runs around 135 average top number mid seventies average low number

Answered by Dr. Sagar Makode (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, should visit

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, if he is having fast heart beat, then it's important we get one ecg done to look for cause of fast heart rate. Is there a history of similar episodes in the past ?
Likely possibility is of atrial fibrillation, which is usually non life threatening, but can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness, and rate needs to be controlled with beta blockers. So you should take him to ER for ecg to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possibilities.
If you have bp apparatus at home, you should check his bp and pulse rate to confirm the high heart rate, and not just palpitations without high heart rate.
Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T