Pacemaker and Fast Heartbeat

[mullikg]

Had pacemaker fitted 18 months ago. Heart settled on a steady 70 bpm for 9 months and then went to around 115 bpm overnight and back into AF. It has stayed this way ever since. I am due for a pre med in 3 weeks time for an AV Node Ablation. I assume that the pacemaker will then go from doing almost nothing to supplying every beat of my heart. My concern is ,how will the increased workload affect my pacemaker. Has anyone any thoughts/ideas/experience on this.

[jedimasterlincoln]

Sorry I don't have experiences with pacemakers but from what I've read and nursed they're pretty durable things!

[Buffafly]

My understanding is the difference between a pacemaker and your heart is that a pacemaker takes everything that's chucked at it whereas your heart.....

[Mickey16]

Your pacemaker's battery life is checked each time you have a download at the Pacemaker clinic. I have a Pacemaker and worried about this too, but as time has gone by I am feeling less worried about this. Hopefully you will too. I request a copy of the results each time and that has helped me to be informed and to have the latest download for travelling and any unforeseen requirement that may arise.

Hope this helps mullikg.

[CDreamer]

Your assumption is correct. I am currently awaiting Pace & Ablate. The way it was explained to me was that it isolates the ventricles so the abnormal electrical activity won’t affect them and therefor you should feel better. You will probably still have AF, but as the pacemaker will be doing 90% of the work then you should have improved QOL.

They do leave a little bit of the AV node so should the Pacemaker have a blip - something Mg EP told me has never, ever happened in his experience - you would have time to call for help.

[opal11uk]

I have a pacemaker pacing appointment now each year where everything is tested and adjusted as necessary, the technician sets the pace so if yours is too high then it can be reset.

[seasider18]

My heart rate with my pacemaker is usually in the 70's. When I commented on that at the pacemaker clinic they said that it had recorded 110 bpm while I had been sitting there but I had not been aware of it.. It was not until later that I wondered if that had happened naturally or because of his tests. The clinic I go to are not very informative despite my asking questions.

[JonathanPittsCrick]

You are right that after your AV node ablation your pacemake will be used all the time, but they are made for continuous use and will be fine. The battery will wear out a bit sooner but if your leads are working efficiently (with a low pacing threshold) the battery should still last about 8 years or more.

As others have said, it is checked every time you have a pacemaker follow-up and you have plenty of time to arrange a replacement when necessary.

[Droopy60]

I have had my pacemaker now for 8 years and I have been told that it is working 100% of the time at a rate of 54 bpm which I get on with fine but never goes above 100 which affects my energy slightly. At my last pacing appointment they told me that there was still 5 years battery life left!!!