Pacemaker for AF

[Peepal]

I’m 87 years of age, with AF and a fast heart rate not adequately controlled by Bisoprolol 5mg twice a day. After a catheter ablation which was successful for a few months I’ve been offered a pace and ablate procedure at LHCH Liverpool. Will I have better energy, no light headedness. Or breathlessness because AF will still be there. Any answers please !

[BobD Volunteer]

The pacemaker takes over management of your ventricle so your heart rate will be maintained at a steady level depending on PM settings. Yes the AF may well continue but it should not affect your heart rate so you should feel much better.

[37Polly in reply to BobD]

I am told my pacemaker will only activate when my heart rate drops below what it has been set to, for example my husband’s is set at 50 and has only been active 1% of the time, so if her fatigue is a result of low heart rate she may well feel better. And yes, now she can be treated more aggressively with beta blockers or the like to avoid the high rate. A common approach to tachy-brady syndrome.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to 37Polly]

The question concerned pace and ablate which is a quite different procedure where the patient is totally PM dependent Polly.

[37Polly in reply to BobD]

Thank you. I have wondered what that was.

[George2467814 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob...I am 88 have been offered pacemaker in Jan. Having recently had irregular and often slow heart rate I had 24 hour monitor fitted which recorded during night a heart rate 40/120 despite being on Bisoprolol and Amlodipine...Have also been on Warfarin for several years...but recently not felt well ..lightheaded tired etc...but it's difficult to judge age related probs or weather heart...but I hope the pacemaker generating a better heart rythym may lead to a improved general wellbeing...

[Rubymurray25]

Do hope it works out well for you , wishing you all the best. Max

[food-lover]

Hello I have just had the pace and ablate. The pacemaker on the 30 September and ablate on the 14 th November. So just six weeks between the two with cardio aversion one month prior to that. I am feeling better in that there are no af symptoms. However I do feel that given the option it might have been easier for me to wait a little longer between pacemaker and ablation to enable me to build up strength. However I am now off all meds except blood thinners which is amazing really. My pacemaker fires continually and is paced through the bottom two chambers. It is currently set at 85 to reduce my heart rate. I go back next week for them to check the pacing again and probably lower the rate. I wish you all the best and a very happy Christmas.