Pacemaker inquiry

[Quilter43]

What are the indicators for getting a pacemaker. I have had just a few pauses..one six seconds but few others. Had several ablations that only worked for a while. On meds.bloodthinner. beta blocker. Why did others get a pacemaker?

[CDreamer]

Two of the most common are Bradycardia - slow heart beat and SSS = sick sinus Syndrone - slow/fast HR with pauses.

I had mine in preparation for Pace and Ablate which would have made me Pacemaker dependant as treatment for very symptomatic AF.

[Clarrie]

I had mine because I was passing out when reverting to NSR.

[Quilter43 in reply to Clarrie]

What is Nsr

[Clarrie in reply to Quilter43]

Normal Sinus Rhythm

[Hidden]

I have had a pacemaker since 2008 for Bradycardia caused by sick sinus syndrome . My heart rate was well below 30 one night. The pacemaker resolved that issue and I no longer felt tired on long drives …,

I now have PAF to contend with . My passive PM (no.3) carries on working when I need it too and nowadays usefully recording incidents of AF.

[Suesouth]

I had a pacemaker when I had cardiac arrest in December, also have AFib ,aflutter, and complete heart block!

[Quilter43 in reply to Suesouth]

What is a heart block?

[Suesouth in reply to Quilter43]

complete atrioventricular block, one of the chambers of the heart is completely blocked!

[Palpman in reply to Quilter43]

Heart block is when no regular normal beats originating in the sinus node of the atria reaches the ventricles.The signal is 'blocked' but an 'escape rhythm' takes over to pulse the ventricles from the AV Node. This causes a realy low hb of around 25 bpm.

[Quilter43 in reply to Palpman]

Thx.for explanation..didn't know that.

[bantam12]

Mine was for long pauses caused by 2nd degree block.

[Jock68]

Mine was because of long pauses and passing out a few times. Now set at 60 and working fine, 2 ablations did bot fix the AF so I still have that. On thinners, not keen on going on any other meds like Beta Blockers.

[Quilter43 in reply to Jock68]

Why not beta blockers?

[Dr-Gohan]

I am 77 and live in California. I was told I needed a pacer, because my AFIB was causing my HR to remain too high for too long. Doctor said I was at high risk for "Sudden death sydrome".

In my case, the Pacemaker was prescribed by my cardiologist. However, I had to request an Ablation as Meds and failed Cardioversion plus the pacemaker wasn't enough for return to NSR. my Cardiologist referred me to EP and in April of 2021, I was given Cryoabalation and returned to NSR the same day. I am a believer that you have to ask.

If you feel you would improve your quality of life with a pacemaker, ask for it. I feel that the Pace & Ablate is the best combo for me. Every case is going to be a bit different. I notice you are eating right given your profile and I had to adjust my life style as well. I wish you all the best. My Uncle was given a Pacer at age 75 and lived until he was 96. One never knows.

[Quilter43 in reply to Dr-Gohan]

Thx..My quality of life is okey.But fearful of faraway travel.I loved in the past.

[Quilter43 in reply to Dr-Gohan]

What is cryoablation?

[GordonS in reply to Quilter43]

It's a standard ablation using freezing instead of the RF ( burning) process

[Quilter43 in reply to Dr-Gohan]

What is cyroablation?

[Jmc43]

I had a low HR at night (40 BPM) and was on a 30 day monitor where they found some pauses between 6-8 seconds at night. Was also getting irregular beats at night, keeping me up. They said shorter pauses (3 or 4 seconds) were not so much of a problem, but 6-8 seconds was a problem. I had a pacemaker implanted 3 days after they found the pauses. Set at 60 BPM, working fine, no more sleep issues.

[2learn]

Hi, I had open heart surgery, Dec 21, and my heart rate was too low afterwards and not recovering quickly enough so pacemaker was solution to keep rate above 60. Lots more things top be aware of once its in.

[Quilter43 in reply to 2learn]

Don't understand last sentence

[2learn in reply to Quilter43]

Couldn't have MRI scan after stroke as MRI machine not modern enough, can't hold phone on same side as pacemaker, can't use induction hob, can't have electric massage, etc etc.

[goldey]

I got my precious pacemaker after I had 4 cardiac arrests in 2018, when my heart just stopped beating. It is set to kick in and bop my heart every time my heartbeat goes below 50 bpm. In the last 5 years it has kicked in hundreds of times, preventing my heart from stopping hundreds of times! I LOVE IT. I am so comforted just knowing that I won't have to worry about my heart stopping again. Do not be afraid of getting a pacemaker everybody. Better to have one and not need it than to not have one if you should need it!

[Quilter43 in reply to goldey]

Thanks . I think my condiiton is not as serious as you but I do WORRY so maybe its best I consider going that way. Perhaps mentally it would be better for me. Maybe like a kind of insurance!