Pacemaker?

[scottishmuppet]

Hi there - Am listening to the Jeremy Vine show and am hearing all about how wonderful pacemakers are.

The Dr mentioned AF and how a pacemaker will sort out the irregularity. I haven't heard that before. Any thoughts?!

[wendicarro]

Hi,

Interesting! my AF is still irregular but my symptoms are better ie: no fainting or pulsing in my throat and I generally feel better, but think that has a lot to do with not being on arrhythmia meds anymore!

Wendi

[scottishmuppet in reply to wendicarro]

Hi Wendy. If you don't mind my asking, why did you get a pacemaker? Was it for your AF or something else? Thanks!

[BobD Volunteer]

I wondered how long it would take!

Sadly I was driving so couldn't ring in and put Ms Jarvis right. A pacemaker will not control AF. What it can do is correct slow heart rate where drugs given to help the AF make the rate too slow. The other case would be when an AV Node ablation is carried out and the PM takes over running the heart. The AF will still continue whilst the PM maintains a regular ventricular beat. I know of one lady who has had another two ablation since having her Pace and Ablate procedure yet still has highly symptomatic AF

[squady in reply to BobD]

hi bob how can a f continue after the node has ben ablated and the pacemaker is doing the signal side I have a meeting on Wednesday where they are gong to offer me an ablation I have stage 3 severe copd and severe bronchiectasis the ace and ablate would give me a smoother few years until I pop my cloggs

[BobD Volunteer in reply to squady]

The PM only controls teh ventricle and the AF is by definition in the atrium so ventricular rate is paced but atrium continues to play silly games.

[squady in reply to BobD]

thanks bob its back to the drawing board for me

[wendicarro]

Certainly doesn't control AF ,and yes I did have a very slow heart rate, so went on to have pacemaker then AV node ablation, and now reliant on my pacemaker.

I previously had AF episodes that meant I regularly ended up in A and E and had to give up work,happily I have now returned and got my life back yes with AF but no debilitating symptoms.

I would also add that we are all different and outcomes will vary for us

Wendi

[Hidden]

I was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat and also AF,So I,ve had a PM fit to regulate the missing heart beat and also had an ablation to sort out the AF,This was 2 years ago and touch wood everything is fine so far.

[squady in reply to Hidden]

argzxoni61hi I intend to push for the same thing glad its worked for you with copd I live day to day so your two year will be a life tie for me how long after they fitted your metal mickey did the take to do the ablation n are you on warfarin

[Hidden in reply to squady]

Hi squady,I had the PM fit June 2013,and the ablation in August the same year,and no I,ve never been on any blood thinners.I mentioned it to my GP and he said I was ok without any at the mo as I am still only in my early 60s and fit and active but I might have to go on them in a few years time.Hope you are soon sorted out.All the best.

[PeterWh in reply to Hidden]

I wouldn't rely on GP without discussion with an EP and an Anticoagulation specialist.

One doctor (not my GP who says yes definitely) told me that as I was under 65 I should not be on warfarin or an anticoagulant. I challenged him and said that not only had he not read my notes, not only was I on the waiting list for an ablation, not only had I other conditions and was he up to speed with the latest presentations from eminent EPs especially those on the AFA's website from the patient's day. His tail went at lightning speed between his leg and admitted no on all accounts.

The sad and worrying thing is that someone less knowledgeable and less willing to challenge could have just stopped taking them.

Even if someone has symptomatic AF they can in ADDITION be having non-symptomatic AF events. Some only have non-symptomatic or mildly symptomatic

[rosyG in reply to squady]

Squady I know lots of people still have AF after a pacemaker has been implanted but I have heard of some people who have a slow heart beat which allows the errant electrical signals to trigger the AF and after pacemaker has raised the heart rate the Af has improved. we are all different and have AF for different reasons but it may be helpful for AF if the underlying reason relates to vagal tone etc

[squady in reply to rosyG]

hi rosyG thanks for the reply I had a meeting with the hospital yesterday the white coat has stopped plans for an ablation as he thinks the af is being caused by something else and has requested a scan with dye trace as for the warfarin he has changed his mind on that as well ive had the full bloods taken and will start on the new pills that do not need all the monitoring warfarin calls for. I mentioned about the higher risk of bleeds but they said it could be easy to deal with it

[Hidden]

Hi, I had AV node ablation to prevent permanent AF breaking through to trigger VF and produce a therapeutic shock from my defibrillator. My pacemaker part does not seem to control rhythm the way I would expect so plenty of erratic beat episodes with double ectopics and rapid ventricular rate. Now, either the ablation did not zap all the wires or the heart has found a way around the scarring. So I conclude, AF continues to thrash away with the pacemaker struggling to deal with breakthrough. Devices don't always solve the problem.

[dedeottie]

So the 98% success rate that is always quoted for AV node ablation isnt correct? Perhaps it depends on the individual perception of success. For me, success would be that although I could still feel thebag of worms squirming around in the atrium, the ventricles were still beating regularly and not at a rate above 100 or lower thus giving me a regular normal ish pulse. I am not about to have this done but would be interested in your thoughts folks. I have just realised that this maybe highjacking the original post so happy to repost if necessary. X

[PeterWh in reply to dedeottie]

Suggest you repost because you will probably get more responses since many don't go back to a post or follow it.

[BStanding56]

I was given a 3 lead pacemaker 3 years ago as I had paroxamol symptomatic AF, I had two Ablations which improved my condition but never lasted long, I started collapsing without warning. I was offered a pacemaker I was told that it would not improve my AF. WELL IT DID. having a pacemaker fitted I am a new woman. In three years I had AF for 12 hours, my heart is almost back to normal. I really was in a bad way before I had my pacemaker, was in and out of hospital numerous times. I never had to have my sinus node ablated, because the pacemaker sorted me. I would definitly if offered have a pacemaker

[ultramarine]

Hello scottishmuppet, I agree with Bob here, I went to my EP a couple of weeks ago, we were discussing an ablation to be done next month, but we did discuss a pacemaker as I was getting long pauses ( which I think were due to the high rate of Metoprolol) He told me that a pacemaker would not help with the AF but could help with the long pause, longest 3.5secs at one stage, but he also told me that I would remain dependent on the pacemaker, I didn't like that idea. It remains to be seen if indeed a pacemaker is needed.

Ultramarine

[PeterWh in reply to ultramarine]

Have you really considered how reliable pacemakers are these days? If you are getting 3.5 second pauses that is on the verge of potentially having blackouts or dizziness. In addition more and more people are getting fitted with a dual device so you have tge advantage of an ICD as well. Not sure what the decision parameters are though

[ultramarine in reply to PeterWh]

Thanks PeterWh the decision parameters are 4.5 to 5.55, I was told. Dizziness yes, but I have had dizziness without the long pauses. Potential blackouts - not as far as I am concerned as I have experienced this before (as in feinting). We discussed this as being due to the high rate of metoprolol at the time. of which I have the ECGs on my phone to verify this, eg:- on the dose of 25mg there are no long pauses. The surgeon will work this out though, he asked for my graphs which I have emailed to him, and will no doubt decide when checking my scans or even when I go under GA., both the local Cardiologist and the EP are not too alarmed, I am glad I have AliveCor to refer to.

[ultramarine]

Thanks HappyJo makes me feel happy too