Bradycardia (Slow heart rate) after sleeve?

**Nora** · 11-20-2012 01:41 PM

Has anyone else developed this after having the sleeve?

**overweighttoolong** · 11-20-2012 03:31 PM

I haven't heard of anyone else have bradycardia after surgery that was related to the surgery, do the docs think it is related to the sleeve surgery? Do you have any kind of cardiac history in your family or yourself?

**RhondaK72** · 11-20-2012 07:54 PM

My heart rate used to be in the 80's; but after surgery, it has in the 70's every time I've checked it. But that is good.

**Nora** · 11-21-2012 04:02 AM

To make a long story short, I had an abnormal stress test followed by a normal heart cath this spring. I do have a family history of heart disease but the heart dr assured me in May that my heart looked good. During all of this my heart rate wasn't slow. I normally run between 65-70 beats a minute and have all my life. Now my heart rate is anywhere between 45-55 beats a min and I feel dizzy and disoriented sometimes. I'm going back to the heart dr next Tuesday and I hope it's nothing. I read up on it and everything I read said that the treatment for people with symptoms is to have a pacemaker put in. I'm only 35 and really don't want to deal with that. As far as it being sleeve related, my family dr has not mentioned that at all. She's just concerned and wanting me to check in with the heart specialist. I hate to start traveling 2 hours away to see him again and on top of that my bariatric surgeron is 3 hours away. I hope that I'm worrying for nothing and he tells me I'm fine.

**painfreenow** · 10-07-2013 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Nora

Has anyone else developed this after having the sleeve?

YES!!!!!! There is no history of heart problems in my family. I went to the ER about 5 wks post op for severe abdominal pain which surgeon thought might be gallstones. CT and ultrasound returned negative for gallstones. The ER doc wanted to keep me for observation since she wasn't sure what was wrong and didn't know much about the gastric sleeve. (I had gastric sleeve in Mexico) Once, I went up to the floor, my heart rate was 39. WTH??? Since I was on a med/surg floor, all the nurses panicked. I was transfered to a tele floor so I can be monitored. Next day, when a cardiologist went to see me, my heart rate was 36. Then I was transferred to CVICU

Those were the two worst days for me because I felt fine. I spent a whole week in the hospital with my heart rate at 35-45 during the times I was resting/sleeping. While I was talking or standing my heart rate was normal. Also, after eating my heart rate goes tacky (120-150). again WTH?? Finally, I went home after so many test came back normal and I felt no symptoms. The cardiologist thinks that during the sleeve surgery, the vagul nerve got nicked or hit which is now causing my heart beat to go wacko. After I eat, I do feel palpitations, nauseas, dizzy and start sweating like crazy. Waiting to see another cardiologist in the office for a holter monitor. He also mentioned a pacemaker but I too don't want to have that. I'm goin to wait and see what this new cardio says.

**Luann** · 10-07-2013 08:10 PM

Gosh, be careful. Both Nora and Sandra! Nora if you are having symptoms like dizziness and disorientation, that is serious. Your heart rate may be so low as to be affecting your BP, and if your BP is too low you don't send enough blood to all those important organs. Like your brain, and everything! I am alarmist mother hen I admit, but don't wait if you are feeling that ill. I hope it all turns out to be nothing, but if you aren't doing well in the mean time please don't wait til Tuesday. The local hospital may not have your cardiologist but they can protect your health in the meantime if you take a turn for the worse.
Sandra I had to wear a holter monitor after I saw my cardiologist last june. It wasn't fun but it was good to have proof of what I knew was going on with heart rhythms not being normal. You'll be given a log to mark down your activity and especially times you notice your heart acting up, & what you are doing then. Really important to fill the log out to help the cardiologist sort it out.

**Tony of Australia** · 10-22-2013 05:27 PM

Hi there, I know this post is rather old but wanted to share my very recent experience. I had my gastric sleeve in Feburary this year and have lost 72kg. I have been training hard and sticking to a strict diet of protein, veggies, fruit and the occasional treat.

About a month ago, I collapsed at work and was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. I too, had severe stomach pain ahead of collapsing and was symptomativ bradycardic following. My heart rate at rest was between 36 and and 40bpm. I was monitored in the Cardiolody Care Unit for 2 days where my heart rate remain at that rate (and at night when I was asleep went down as low as 25bpm), in which they came in a woke me they were so worried. Subsequently, I now have a pacemaker fitted. It is doing the job and I no longer feel dizzy etc but there is definately a link there to the surgery. Prior to this collapse, I never had any heart issues nor did I have a slow heart rate.

**painfreenow** · 10-22-2013 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Tony of Australia

Hi there, I know this post is rather old but wanted to share my very recent experience. I had my gastric sleeve in Feburary this year and have lost 72kg. I have been training hard and sticking to a strict diet of protein, veggies, fruit and the occasional treat.

About a month ago, I collapsed at work and was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. I too, had severe stomach pain ahead of collapsing and was symptomativ bradycardic following. My heart rate at rest was between 36 and and 40bpm. I was monitored in the Cardiolody Care Unit for 2 days where my heart rate remain at that rate (and at night when I was asleep went down as low as 25bpm), in which they came in a woke me they were so worried. Subsequently, I now have a pacemaker fitted. It is doing the job and I no longer feel dizzy etc but there is definately a link there to the surgery. Prior to this collapse, I never had any heart issues nor did I have a slow heart rate.

Tony, so sorry to hear what you went through. I know exactly how it feels. I am still waiting to see the cardiologist so I can wear a holter monitor and see if I really need pacemaker. The only symptom I feel sometimes is after eating which is palpitations, dizzy, nausea and severe sweating. When I was in CVICU my heart rate dropped to low 30's and they also would wake me up. How long after being taken to hospital did you get pacemaker? Did doctors tell you if it has to do with the vagal nerve? Doctors think vagal nerve was damaged during sleeve surgery. If there is anything else you can share that I might have to look forward to, can you please share. Thank you and I hope you feel better and all is well!!!!

**babytygger** · 10-24-2013 09:57 AM

This happened to my after surgery too. My normal heart rate was about 70-80 during surgery I went into the 40s and I remember being in recover and my rate was sometimes in the 30's. I was a bit freaked out as I work in cardiology and was worried. My doctor assured me that this sometimes happens and over the next few days it eventually got higher. My rate now is about 50-55 and the doc thinks that because so much weight is gone, your heart does not have to pump as often to circulate your body. Keep following with your cardiologist and they will let you know if anything needs to be done.

**Channing** · 09-12-2015 08:15 AM

I am currently having the same issues. I am currently wearing a monitor for 30 days and I am about day 17. I have been sent to three different cardiologist that each specialize in different aspects of the heart. We are putting the pace maker on hold for at least six months. I was wondering how your progress is going. Can they do something to know if the vagul nerve got nicked.