Pace maker

[Betty57]

I had a telephone consultation with my cardiologist yesterday , my afib has gotten a lot worse over the last few months , I had a cardio version 3 weeks ago as heart rat was stuck at 160 for 3 days , anyway I have been advised the that my best option is a pacemaker , they are going to fit the pacemaker and a month or two later he will do a nodle ablation ( hope that’s right ) what I would like is any information on this ,,,I am absolutely terrified of what it entails...is it a good thing for me ? I’ve not really posted on here much bout I do read a lot . Thanks for any help at all ...I’m having this done up in Edinburgh ....

[irene75359]

Betty, I can well understand why you are worried, but I am sure other members who have had the same procedure will be along to reassure you soon; sorry I can't help.

[CDreamer]

I had PM inserted in June 2018 in readiness for AV node ablation which leaves you entirely PM dependant. What happened in reality was that the PM worked so well that I didn’t go ahead with the AV node ablation.

It’s the best thing I ever did - drugs made me worse, 2 ablations failed and I was very symptomatic from frequent 2/3 week, episodes of AF.

If you are in permanent AF then the PM is unlikely to stop the AF, however, what it should do is regularise your pulse which will then remain steady and so should reduce or eliminate the worst of the AF symptoms. You may still feel the AF.

PM is normally inserted under local anaesthetic, it doesn’t take long so is a day procedure I went onto the ward at 1p.m, and was being driven home by 7p.m. I think you can ask for sedation if you are very worried but I didn’t as sedation is contraindicated for another condition I have.

You won’t be able to drive for 6 weeks or lift your arms above your head - this is VERY important so although you will feel so much better you will need to remind yourself that you must be careful for those first few weeks.

The PM will be checked at 6 weeks and if all is well - AV node ablation may be organised but I was so glad to have the 6 weeks between and asked to postpone/cancel the AV node part as I felt so well and have never regretted it.

Feel free to ask any questions but having a Pacemaker inserted has so improved my quality of life that I would highly recommend it and be assured that it is not major open heart surgery, it’s a very common practice which the doctors have now got down to a fine art.

Best wishes and feel free to PM me if you would like more information.

[Betty57 in reply to CDreamer]

Oh wow thank you so much , you have put me at ease , it’s more the fast heart that floors me , it is getting worse and medication not really working now , and I have had a few cardio versions now , which the last one left me with a sore back for some reason...thank you ..

[CDreamer in reply to Betty57]

It may take a few months to get the pacing correct for you but once they do, it should make a huge difference to your QOL. My HR doesn’t go sky high anymore and doesn’t dip below 60 so my range is 60-120 on exercise.

[Betty57 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you .im a bit more relaxed now .i have so many questions which may sound daft .like what if the battery dies .it seems you have gotten to know all about if you had yours since 2018 .is anything I need to be aware of .thank you .

[CDreamer in reply to Betty57]

Batteries typically last about 10 years but I believe the modern ones even longer - up to 15 years.

6 weeks after implant you will have it checked which just means lying on a exam bed and being loaded with Electrodes - as you would be for an ECG - then they put a monitor which is circular over the area of your chest and then they run some diagnostics - sometimes they increase your HR which you may or may not feel. The information the PM collects is mind blowing and will tell them you had an AF episode on such and such a time/day and what was it you were doing? (Like we can remember?). They may then adjust the settings accordingly.

Part of the information about the battery is included in the regular monitoring which are normally 6 weeks, 6 months and then annually and they will tell you, if you ask, how much battery power is left. You rarely will see a doctor as all this is monitored by cardiac physiologists who are the expert technicians and in my experience, fantastic.

I know that many people have the updates were you don’t even need to go into the clinic as the information is collected remotely, via a telephonical link so if there is anything going amiss - they phone you! This happened to a friend of mine right at the onset of a dangerous arrythmia (not AF) and an ambulance was at the door by the time they realised there was something amiss!

[BigDunc]

Hi Betty

If you go on YouTube to York Cardiology Sanjay Gupta (Cardiologist) He does a video called Pace and Ablate which may relate to your procedure

Hope this helps

[Clarrie]

I had a pacemaker fitted in June and had my first checkup earlier this week. I have a home monitor and they knew when I had had AF and my HR. They made some adjustments and now they will not see me for 2 years unless they pick something up on the monitor and call me in or I want to get in touch with them if I have any concerns. They can also monitor the battery life.

[Eastwick]

Hi Betty

I had all your problems, really severe PAF in hospital many times. Eventually had a pacemaker fitted and one month later the av node ablated.

Like you, I was very worried at first but it has been a life saver, I am able to carry on a normal life now! I have had mine 8 years and the battery is coming to the end of its life, but maybe has another year left. Not sure at the moment. I will have a new one fitted as soon as they say I should. I have never regretted the decision- neither has my husband!

[Buffafly]

You are lucky! I can’t take meds for AF so if my rate goes too high I have to go to hospital for treatment under obs. Luckily this seldom happens but even when I have ‘slow AF’ I am wiped out for days. My cardiologist considered giving me a pacemaker but decided against it 😞 Best wishes 🍀

[Betty57 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for your reply . My heart is a bit haywire most days just now , after reading all the comments about a pacemaker I feel a bit better for it all . Lots of knowledge on here ..I hope yourself gets sorted out soon ...