Dual chamber pacemaker !

[netie54]

Hello again you AFibbers. I have another question for you. Found out today that my husband will be having a dual chamber pacemaker. What's the difference ?

[BobD Volunteer]

Sorry netie that nobody has answered. I simply am not an expert on these devices but I think that a dual chamber has three leads and works on not just the left ventricle but also another chamber. I find Google helpful when there are things I need to fond out. so off there now.

[netie54 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob. I’ve done a bit of surfing myself and you appear to be right . I seems to be the norm but I would to hear from someone that has experienced the procedure.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to netie54]

Yes the paper I found was quite old and by the looks of it US based. It mentioned that pacing both ventricle and atrium had benefits in terms of reduced AF and longer life expectancy but that was one old paper. It mentioned costs of 75 to 94% increase over single chamber but again I feel that technology has most likely overtaken that by now.. I must admit that I have always understood that AF can not be controlled by a pacemaker unless the AV node is ablated and even then, the atrial rate may continue irregular whilst the ventricular rate is controlled by the PM. Always interested to learn.

[netie54 in reply to BobD]

Thanks for that Bob. I think I read that article. I shall have lots of questions for our consult when we meet. I will update you later.

[Hidden]

Hi I have dual chamber my atria and ventricle are paced. My atria is paced 99% of the time and atria 1% according to last pacemaker check .

[Spoiler]

I have had a St Judes dual chamber pacemaker since June of 2016. I am not certain I understand all of the perimeters that it is capable of. They are high tech and record valuable information as well as maintain a normal min. Rate, mine at 60. Since I had bradycardia, it dropped really low at times, low 30’s. I was told that low rate contributed to going into afib. So , no expert here, it does close that gap of the bradycardia. I have done well with mine.

[Hidden in reply to Spoiler]

Mine set at 60 but if my breathing rate goes up i.e. When exercising it can pace me to 125 which is great

[opal11uk]

I have a dual chamber pacemaker, it means one lead is fed into the Atrium and one into the Ventricular chambers of the heart

[walker66]

Hi netie54, I have had both the single lead pacemaker and the AV node ablation for a year, then that was removed and a dual lead pacemaker was inserted. (This was not a pleasant experience because removing the lead was very painful and the procedure took hours). The first pacemaker didn't work for me because my heart wasn't pumping enough blood out on its own so it needed some help, thus the dual lead implantation! This procedure was last October and I must admit feeling the best I have for years now. I don't think you realise just how off side you've been until you feel better ( if that makes sense)! All I can say is, I wish your husband well and that he recovers quickly after the procedure. Please keep us all informed of his progress.

Best wishes, Sharon

[netie54 in reply to walker66]

Oh sounds painful but your through that now and sounding very positive.

I’m still feeling quite frightened about the whole things. I suppose I’m realising how vulnerable we are . Any procedure in hospital is a concern and I am a constant worrier. At the moment I don’t think I will ever feel care free and I’m not the one having it done !

[walker66]

Bless you chuck! I think it's the fear of the unknown isn't it? At least your husband is going to have the real McCoy straight away instead of being messed about for another year, then going through the painful procedure of having it removed. Have you got a date yet for the procedure? I hope it's sooner rather than later for you both to save on the stress and worry.

I think I'd been through that much before, I almost ended up saying, just do it and get it done with! Not much of a worrier me really which is good.

Good luck for a speedy procedure and an even speedier recovery! Sharon

[netie54 in reply to walker66]

The procedure is on Thursday and yes I think your right it’s fear of the unknown. Only got my husband no family or children so I feel extra concerned I suppose. I will keep you updated with things. Brilliant site this is. Thank you for sharing your experience with me.

[walker66]

It certainly makes sense then your fear. Has your husband found out much from the hospital about his pacemaker? Where's he having it fitted? I had to have a defibrillator aswell, is your husband having one of those? I also have got some kind of machine in the house that I have to have on at all times and if I have any 'episodes' it picks up on them and sends a message to the hospital and then they ring me! Sounds a bit strange not to know if your having an episode!,, They rang me once to say I had fluid overload and to come to see my heart failure consultant. Then every 3 months or so they contact you to do a full pacemaker download, where you put the wand part of the device over the pacemaker and the results go to the hospital and back if there's any problems. It's all really clever stuff. As George Orwell would say, "big brothers watching you!" I say let him watch if it makes you feel better!!! Keep positive hon!

[netie54 in reply to walker66]

He's having it in Norwich although he did have the chance to go to Papworth in Cambridge.

I'm just more nervous as time goes closer.

Thank you again.