Pace Maker

[George2467814]

Have AF have been put on Bisoprolol and Amlodipine by hospital .Have been told if it becomes troublesome and causes me concern I can have pacemaker fitted? Have not seen this mentioned here....any comments welcome .

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi George and welcome

You don't give us a lot of info, such as how old you are and what other problems you may have, although the amlodipine seems to indicate high blood pressure. Nor do you tell us the severity of the symptoms or what type of AF

A quick anatomy review if I may, Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is in the two upper chambers of the heart (Atria) but a pacemaker works on the two lower chambers (Ventria). A pacemaker will not do anything for AF but it will ensure that your ventria beats regularly (depending on the type you have fitted and the way it is set up). In the procedure called ablate and pace the AV Node which is the little thing which tells your heart to beat is removed, and you are then totally reliant on the pacemaker.

If you are very early into an AF diagnosis, then may I suggest that you seek advice from a specialist which is an Electrophysiologist. Not simply a cardiologist.

This last weekend, I talked on the phone with someone who told me they were very recently diagnosed with what seemed relatively mild PAF and that their cardiologist was recommending a pacemaker. Forgive me but on looking up the specialist, he was not an EP and was in fact a pacemaker specialist. I suggested that maybe a second opinion might be a good idea. The pacemaker might be the right treatment option, but it's fairly rare that one would consider it so early in the treatment process unless there is a real risk of heart failure which did not appear to be the case for this person.

It is true that doctors and specialists will lean towards their particular bent, so please find out as much as you can about your diagnosis, and then knowledge is power so go and find out as much as you can about your condition, you can then use that knowledge to find the right partner to work through the treatment options with you.

Be well

Ian

[meadfoot]

Do lots of research George and find a good Electrophysiologist to get the best specialist advice. Take it one step at a time. I was offered a Pace and Ablate but knew it was a step too far at this point in my AF journey. See what is out there, you can always have this procedure further down the line as your cardiologist said.

Be well.

Dee.

[Barb1 in reply to meadfoot]

Went to a support group meeting last night where we were told that only in extremely rare cases does a pacemaker stop AF.

Plus please tell me that you are on anti coagulant

[George2467814 in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you very reassuring and helpful

[George2467814]

Yes I am on Warfarin 3.5 mg daily