Pacemaker

[Vilim]

I have had 5 cardioversions and 3 ablations in the last 12 years. None of them worked. Now my EP is suggesting a pacemaker to control upper and lower HR. Has anyone had any success with the pacemaker? Thank you! Bill

[BobD Volunteer]

Pacemakers alone do not control Atrial Fibrillation. You can use them to maintain a reasonable rate if you are taking high volumes of beta blockers which would other wise slow your heart too much. Even pace and ablate (when after the PM has been fitted the AV node is ablated )will not stop fibrillation which could continue unhampered whilst the PM controls the ventricular rate.

[Vilim in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob. PM and ablaite

[Vilim in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob. PM and ablate is what my EP is suggesting. I am on diltiozan as needed up to 280 mg/day. I still walk most days 5 miles ( not as fast as I used to). Walking helps a lot but at 77 I wonder what happens when I can’t exercise enaugh to calm the FIb. I have been very active all my life and I believe that Is helping me now.

[Hidden in reply to Vilim]

Hi Vilim. I had a pace and ablate for permanent a-fib/tachy-brady syndrome in 2016. It was the answer for me. Have had no problems, take no cardiac drugs, have had no further chf episodes and am very stable. My EP told me last week I am in better cardiac shape now than I was 2 years ago. I was diagnosed with a-fib in 2011. Was cardioverted and stayed in NSR for 3 years. Then AF returned and nothing seemed to work. I can only speak for myself. I am 74. IMO 280 mg/day of diltiazem is a large dose. You can only go so far with med dosages. If it were me I'd give your EP's suggestion a lot of thought. I am biased, I'm sure, because before the P and A I was on a much lower dose of diltiazem with several side effects that I finally decided were intolerable. I felt generally bad most of the time, had episodes of chf, had tachycardic runs out of the blue. Now I feel well cardiac-wise and don't have to focus on my AF every day. Happy I had the procedure. irina1975

[Bryonny]

Hi, I had a pacemaker inserted just over a year ago and it has made such a positive difference to my life. However, along with permanent AF I have a rare condition within the nerve conduction pathway so I became bradycardic and pacemaker was only option. I was nervous about the procedure but I am fighting fit and very active again.

[Vilim in reply to Bryonny]

Thank you. Did they also perform a smal ablation between your upper and lower chamber?

[Bryonny in reply to Vilim]

No because I have a problem with the conduction pathway so no ablation.

[opal11uk]

Yes, me! I had an ablation and have suffered from PA/F for years and my quality of life was certainly deteriorating so had my trusty Pacemaker fitted and life is now good. Had a pacing checkup last Monday and it showed that I had not had any episodes in the past year. I also take Disopyramide together with Bisoporal for control as the Pacemaker will not control the PA/F on its own. I would like to hug and kiss the wonderful inventor of this tiny gizmo, thats how good it has been for me.

[Lofty77]

Hi Villim 4 Cardiversions 3 Ablations have you been on medication for the past 12 years or were you taken off after each procedure.

[Vilim in reply to Lofty77]

Yes, the meds only stop for 24 hrs prior to the presage. I seem to tolerate them well.