Bi ventricular pacemaker

[Dorper]

Anyone had experience with this procedure?

[jeanjeannie50]

Sorry it doesn't look like anyone has. Can we help you with advice on any heart rhythm queries? I know a few forum members have pacemakers, but they're either not on the forum right now or know nothing about the type you mention.

Jean

[Dorper in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean. I was interested what pacemaker they had fitted and did that follow or preceed ablation. Thanks

[bantam12]

Is it the particular pacemaker or the implanting procedure you would like advice with ?

[Dorper in reply to bantam12]

Thanks for your reply. I am interested in the experience of people that have had a pacemeker fitted, what type and was ablation also used. Thanks

[bantam12 in reply to Dorper]

It's a pretty brutal procedure really, mine took about 30 mins to do and it wasn't a pleasant experience! I had terrible bruising for around 6 weeks which was more painful than the actual pm site. You have to be quite careful afterwards, not raising your arm above shoulder height and take it easy lifting and stretching, I found driving a bit painful for a while but I'm better with the pm than without so worth it. My pm is a dual lead which I have for bradycardia.

Good luck with your procedure!

[fantasyfanuk]

Hi Dorper, I missed your original post. I have had a biventricular pacemaker since December, having had a dual chamber one for 2 years before that. What do you want to ask?

[Dorper in reply to fantasyfanuk]

Thanks for your reply. I have just been put on the urgent list for a pacemaker. They are talking about a biventricular pacemeker, why was your replaced. I'm 76 yrs of age and want my next procedure to, hopefully, be my last

[fantasyfanuk]

Mine was replaced because my ventricles were not beating in synch with each other, which meant that I was still very breathless on the slightest exertion, even with the other pacemaker. I also felt really ill quite a lot of the time. For a long time I was dismissed as merely anxious, because “the pacemaker has sorted everything out” and it was only when I asked for a second opinion from a cardiologist at a much bigger hospital that the problem was discovered. I didn’t need an ablation as I originally had complete heart block, which was undiagnosed for some years, and my first pacemaker was fitted as an emergency to sort that out. I do have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation but it is occasional and only lasts a few minutes at a time. As a previous poster said, I do find the procedures brutal, but lifesaving! I probably wouldn’t still be here without it so feel grateful that there is something they can do about the problem. Since having the biventricular pacemaker, I have greatly improved and although I am nowhere near back to the level of activity I had before my original illness, I am so much better than over the last couple of years. I can walk uphill, walk and talk at the same time and only feel really ill maybe a couple of days a month instead of every day. What is your condition that means you need the pacemaker?

[Dorper in reply to fantasyfanuk]

Thanks for your informative reply. I have a/f. Echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction of 45 (70 is a good score) in Jan but 23 in Aug. So need pm quick