Pacemaker

[Quilter43]

Agreed to do it after 3 to 4 second pauses ad 6 seconds after COVID booster..nearly passed out..told maybe a coincidence.heart stressed maybe..afraid not to do it.strokes.arrythmias.eart attacks in family.What if I am wrong?

[CDreamer]

How can you be ‘wrong’? Pacemaker is best thing I ever did. It’s a day procedure under local anaesthesia with minimal scar. There are small risks of complications, as with any procedure but there are risks with not doing it so it’s a matter of greatest risk and if doctor has advised then it is their opinion that your heart needs a little bit of help.

What are you afraid of? Would it help to know more about what is involved?

[Quilter43 in reply to CDreamer]

I watched a video. Just thought of me chanical device regulating heart. Makes me feel old which I am....psychological fright.

[CDreamer in reply to Quilter43]

I wonder if you could reframe your thinking so that you perceive a pacemaker implant as a device which will help your heart to work better which will make you feel more energetic and therefore younger? That is certainly the desired affect.

My husband had a pacemaker implanted for the same reasons as you some 8 years ago when he was 81 and is still very active so age is just a number, it’s how you feel inside which matters and you are what you think. Personally inside I’m just coming up for 28 and still working out what I want to do next.

[Quilter43 in reply to CDreamer]

I need to recharge my thinking I supposeI am single so difficult making decisions alone.. with a packet reenforced old and age and coming to the end ..but without only fooling me..same end maybe sooner..

[bantam12 in reply to Quilter43]

I was 65 when I had my pacemaker, I was on my own which made no difference to the decision of needing it done. If they have offered you one then you need it, no brainer !

I’ve had mine 3 years and I never think about it, doesn’t cause any issues nor stop me from doing anything.

[Dippy22 in reply to bantam12]

Did it stop/reduce the AF? I’m due to have one fitted in the 27th, but the cardiologist said “it won’t prevent/stop the Af”. I don’t suffer from bradycardia, just Af once or twice a week for approx 30 hours at a time, so I’m not sure at present what the benefits will be?

[bantam12 in reply to Dippy22]

No it doesn’t stop or reduce AF. I had my pacemaker because I was getting long pauses and it allows me to take meds to control the AF (which I’m not aware of anyway) without causing worse bradycardia.

I wonder why you are having a pm if you don’t have bradycardia and your Dr has said it won’t help with your AF, unless he’s doing it with increasing medication in mind. In your shoes I would clarify the reasons before going ahead.

[Dippy22 in reply to bantam12]

Hmmm, exactly. I can’t tolerate any of the meds and he said it’s his only course of action now.

I’m seeing him again on Monday and I’ve emailed over a raft of question in preparation. What’s frustrating is that because the NHS is not able to provide/try an ablation first (wait time is 9+ months), it seems he’s going to the extreme. I’m only 65 and my heart is structurally really good. Well it was before it keeps getting battered by these relentless AF episodes. And I’m trying to keep calm and not get stressed!!

[bantam12 in reply to Dippy22]

I was 65 when I had my pm so I wouldn’t worry about being “only 65” if you need it or it’s the only option left then so be it. I actually asked for a pm as I was fed up with trying meds and I didn’t want an ablation, my cardio at the time agreed a pm was a good option.

I now just take 1.25 Bisoprolol which before my pm would send my rate to low and I couldn’t tolerate any another meds, so for me it’s worked out well. The pm causes no issues, doesn’t stop me doing anything and I forget it’s even there.

Good luck with whatever you decide on.

[Dippy22 in reply to bantam12]

Thanks. I too can’t tolerate any of the meds. Especially not Bisoprolol -or anything ending in ‘lol’.

I think the cardiologist muttered that he doubted an ablation would be of any use anyway - even if they could provide one quickly enough. My concern is that I don’t have bradycardia - not that I’m aware of anyway, and once again he’s denied me a monitor, saying he doubted it would change his diagnosis (he’s just using ECGs.)

Decisions, decisions!!

[bantam12 in reply to Dippy22]

How odd he doesn’t want you to have a monitor, it was only after having a 7 day monitor that I got a proper diagnosis ! before that the problems with AF and 2nd degree block causing pauses didn’t show up on the usual ECGs.

[Quilter43 in reply to bantam12]

I have an implanted loop.how he sees the pauses...

[Dippy22 in reply to bantam12]

Well that’s what I’m thinking. I haven’t seen an EP and he just says it’s “just AF”. I’m pretty sure my heart is doing strange things when I’m NOT in AF - I can push up over 100 just going upstairs to the bathroom. Maybe, after two years of complete inactivity waiting for a spine operation, I’m simply unfit. But I’d like to know. Even the hospital cardiology department said it wasn’t necessary. I haven’t had one since the AF started way back at the begging of 2020.

[Quilter43 in reply to bantam12]

He said I had pauses of 3 to 4 seconds and I had a long pause of 6 seconds where I almost fainted three hours after covid booster. Drs. said a coincidence. I am not so sure but cannot prove it otherwise. Family history of passing out. strokes heart attacks death...so scared..

[Vonnegut in reply to Dippy22]

Episodes that long seem pretty dangerous. With Flecainide used as a pill in the pocket my episodes never last much more than two hours. I have my Kardia to track things - getting AF was how we got into smart phones which are needed to use it so it’s changed my life in many ways! And I now take Flecainide regularly which has cut down the number of episodes.

[Quilter43 in reply to Vonnegut]

Dr never mentionedpill in pocket.

[Dippy22 in reply to Vonnegut]

Flec did nothing for me I’m afraid. It had no effect on the number or duration of AF events, and when I tried the PIP approach one night I had the most awful double vision! Doc told me to stop it immediately. I’ve had no luck with any of the meds - Bisoprolol dropped my bp so low I was almost passing out, metoprolol gave me eye socket ache (a rare side effect), Tildiazem exacerbated my (mild) COPD, Flec made me badly dehydrated (constipated/blurred vision) and then the double vision! None of them had any effect on the AF anyway.

Their latest trick is to prescribe Amiodarone, but I’m not confident to start taking it as the huge list of side effects is worse than ANY of the other drugs! And that’s just the common ones.

That’s why they’re now suggesting a pace and ablate. Not sure how they’ll control the AF after that’s done or whether they’ll just let it rattle on.

[BobD Volunteer]

I had one for similar reasons last September after resisiting for some time. I am unaware of it to be honest unless I lay on it funny. lol 😁 Look on it as a safety device, no doubt you wear a seat belt in a car? ( It also means somebody has to switch it off for you to die. lol) Just don't do any electric welding or lay on a ceramic hob. (Yes I do have a strange sense of humour).

[Hardjuice in reply to BobD]

I heading for mine in two weeks

Followed by ablation of av node six weeks later

Have you had node ablation ?

[Quilter43 in reply to Hardjuice]

Had two ablations.not sure what kind..Works for a while but AFib returns ...Explained have 3 ..4 sec pauses.one six after COVID booster.nearly passed out.still think booster did it or weakened heartMaybe heart already weakmwho knows..tests by regular cardio show leaky valve but nothing significant.seems to be electrical problem.sick sinus node..

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hardjuice]

No not needed.

[Quilter43 in reply to BobD]

Ceramic hob? Does that include a ceramic bathtub? I have one.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Quilter43]

should have said induction hob.

[Hylda2]

Had mine last September after fighting ablation for years. 79 and now I can join my walking friends again

[Dippy22 in reply to Hylda2]

Did you have just ablation or did you have a pacemaker and node ablation?

[Hylda2 in reply to Dippy22]

Pacemaker September AV node November

[Dippy22 in reply to Hylda2]

Has it stopped the AF?

I love this forum!!

[Hylda2 in reply to Dippy22]

Am told I’m in AF 100% of the time but can’t feel a thing. Even if I have a glass of wine

[Buffafly in reply to Dippy22]

It doesn’t stop AF but you are not supposed to be aware of it anymore because the atria can’t affect the ventricles. If my AF gets too troublesome again I will have to have a pacemaker to allow me to take stronger meds (my heart has a tendency to slow down too much or pause when changing to NSR).

[Quilter43 in reply to Buffafly]

Used to get funny feeling in back of my neck...like loss of consciousness for a sec or two.maybe when changing..as go in and out of nsr..never thought of that..

[Vonnegut in reply to Hylda2]

Gosh, I’m 79 too and have avoided an ablation but might change my mind hearing of your experience! It would be nice to be active again as I used to be before the paroxysmal AF and fatigue struck.

[Hylda2 in reply to Vonnegut]

Can’t say I have regretted it at all.

[Quilter43 in reply to Hylda2]

Most agree with u..say glad to have it..insurance may change.might be harder.since approved must be a reason okeyed..think someone has to review it.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Metroprolol on 24-hr monitor gave me pauses at night.

Banned.

Changed to Bisoprolol so no more pauses.

Hope you are not on Metroprolol.

cheers JOY

[Quilter43 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I am..don't know if at night.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Quilter43]

Hi

If on Metroprolol I would demand a 24-hr monitor.

It caused me to have pauses. Pauses are a risk for a clot to produce a stroke.

Before COVID jabs NZ uses Pfzir? I have lots of water and piece of banana.

I have had 4 but the 3rd one was put in a nerve they think as a big red and itchy spot needed Augmentin.

cheers JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Sustainedvtach270]

Hello Quitter. My pacemaker was fitted at 56 years old, 2 years ago. It was done 2 days after my cardiac arrest. Like you, I did not want it but when you have 3 cardiologists around your ICU bed arguing against you... My pacemaker is on demand. Like you, I had more problem with my heart after covid vaccination but I had felt palpitation the summer before while doing yard work.My pacemaker is a guardian angel but I had to do the lifestyle changes learned on this forum. Now I am vacationing in the tropics and my 💌is well.

[Quilter43 in reply to Sustainedvtach270]

I look forward to finally traveling far.Been afraid to for years..lost experiences.maybe with pacemaker more confident..this AFib .pauses..meds too confusing..

[Quilter43 in reply to Sustainedvtach270]

Lifetime changes?

[Sustainedvtach270 in reply to Quilter43]

Gluten free, no alcohol, vegetarian. Potassium and magnesium rich food. Walking about 10000 steps daily, frequent swimming 🏊‍♀️, daily sauna (not many agree) and nasal slow diaphragmatic breathing practice.

[BlueINR]

Those pauses are concerning and seem to warrant a pacemaker. Do talk to your physician about your concerns.

[Quilter43 in reply to BlueINR]

Wonder if from toprul.anyway pacemaker approved so must be reason if reviewed.

[goldey]

never question it when a pacemaker comes up in conversation. my pacemaker has saved my life hundreds of times since i got it after suffering 4 cardiac arrests in 2018. it kicks in when my heartbeat goes below 50, so i never have to worry about my heart stopping again. it is very comforting just knowing it is there!! if your doctor doesn't bring it up, ask him about it. don't wait til it is too late

[Quilter43 in reply to goldey]

Never had anything like that..but Dr says I am gambling.just because something has not happened doesn't mean it wonth..could never happen..seems like a crapshoot to me..but siding on the side of caution..but AFib in the opposite direction can bring me down...lots of family history.strokes.heat attacks.passing out..

[goldey]

don't take any chances. esp with your family history! don't wait for something really bad to happen. if i were you i'd make an appt for a pacemaker immediately

[Quilter43]

Going to do it on Monday Monday..little part of me says wrong..but other part yes...dr.saus that..fears could happen .why he says to do it..

[Troilus]

Hi Quilter. If your heart does not have pauses the pacemaker will just sit there happily monitoring things. If it detects a pause it will supply the missing beat. Another plus of a pacemaker is that it will keep a record of any irregularities- so it will notice and record any episodes of af.

[Quilter43 in reply to Troilus]

Well linq monitors af that I have..Just pra. really need it..

[Gracey23]

I had pacemaker and AV Node ablation procedure 3 weeks ago. All is going well. If you have any question I’d be happy to answer,, good luck to you

[Quilter43 in reply to Gracey23]

Did u have them at same time? If just the pacemaker how long to recover? Why di yu have each?

[Gracey23 in reply to Quilter43]

I had both procedures because of AFib. I’m 100 % paced now and no longer feel AFib which is wonderful!

[Gertsen in reply to Gracey23]

Hi Gravey23 how long did it take you to recover? I am a carer for my husband so have to plan well. I am speaking with my EP on Monday I am now in AF most of the time but never more than 6 days so far. Then I have a couple of days in sinus. I am not very symptomatic.

[Gracey23 in reply to Gertsen]

was the same for me being very symptomatic. I was so dizzy and unable to do the things I wanted. I’ve been almost 4 weeks now and have my life back! I’m energetic and symptom free!