I was diagnosed with AF in March last year after going to the doctors many time to be told that there was nothing wrong. I was fitted with a loop recorder in August. I’ve been having lots of attacks even with medication. On Monday last week had another episode then Thursday evening got a call from the hospital telling me that my heart actually stopped for 3 seconds. They have now said I need a pacemaker. Anxiety is very high at the moment. As anyone else had this happen. Appreciate any advice.
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Bertieboy1
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I had to have a PM fitted about two years ago for similar reasons (long pauses). Apart from not being alowed to lift my arm above shoulder level for six weeks it's bit of a non event really. OH and no driving for a short while either.
If they thought there was any danger at all they would have you in as an emergency. Six weeks would be around an average wait but really depends upon where you live.
Research the different types of pacemakers. There are one lead, two lead, three etc.Most don't do anything for AFib except resynchronization pacemaker.
Mine is a single lead, set to activate if my heart rate drops below 50, no more loss of consciousness with long pauses between heartbeats.
Mine is 3 lead, Metronic, AV ablation, PM dependent, persistent AF, some SOB on exertion, but water aerobics and much better QOL than before. Cleveland Clinic at 74 I can deal with this. Good luck!
Yes, my husband’s pauses were 5-9 seconds. Pacemaker fitted in 2014, replaced Oct 23. Pacemaker is as Bob says - quick easy, done under a local anaesthetic (you can request light sedation if you want). 6 weeks to go carefully but that’s it and you will see an improvement in QOL within a few weeks.
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Metoprolol has been banned because day it made me breathless and 2 second pauses at Night.
Also 186bpm hardly any exertion and tired all the time.
Off it and put on Bisoprolol I was still not controlled as Heart Rate of 156bpm.
At 2 years 3 mths and the public H/Specialist after changing me left me.
The Locum Dr suggested I see a proven H/Specialist who was private.
He had gone through my history.
He introduced me to CCB Diltiazem 1/2 dose. 180mg. Too much so between Healthline and NZ Heart Foundation it twinked to 120mg AM. But CCB controlled my H/Rate below 100.
The Bisoprolol was reduced to 2.5mg PM. BB controls my BP.
Above all proven by 24-hr Heart Monitors. In 2021 I had 2 and early 2022 another 1.
Have the medical specialists done enough exploring yet, ECHO, ECG, H/Monitor.
Is your thyroid levels OK. What is your TSH? Have you had a carotid arteries scan. They found thyroid cancer on my scan. A suspicious shadow.
May be there are a lot of test results we don't know about to answer your ?.
hi Bertieboy, my pacemaker is my best friend. I feel safe having him. Low heartbeats and AF are now controlled and life is good.
I’m now half way through my second pacemaker and have 5 years left before I shall be fitted with number 3. They are amazing. I’m sure you will feel the same gratitude once you get yours.
The procedure is nothing to worry about, done quickly and home the same day.
hi again, read the articles on heart pauses and 3 seconds seems the General time at which pacemaker intervention is ‘considered’, any less is acceptable and any more is a definite pacemaker need. It’s good you’ve had your Holter test and you are getting treated, but don’t worry.
I’ve had afib tachycardia since I was about late 30s early 40s (I’m now 80 this year) but medics kept giving it different names. Anyway found the true problem so started on pills which helped for a while, then an ablation in 2018 which helped but kept recurring
So another ablation was booked left sided, but my heart rate kept going under 40 so an emergency pacemaker was inserted last September and since then it’s been great. A steady 60 and although I presumably still have afib tachycardia it seemed all was controlled my EP says if it carries on like this may be no need for another ablation
However last week I caught covid snd since then the pacemaker isn’t able to control the 60 and has been reading in the 80s which is still ok but obviously not right
Anyway after this great long screed having the pacemaker procedure was absolutely nothing. No discomfort, no pain, local anaesthetic, talking all through it and no after effects.
Hi Bertieboy1, I am recovering from having a pacemaker fitted in circumstances not unlike your own. It is a shock but have been told that it will stop any episodes as it kicks in when it needs too. Physically, I think having a pacemaker has been fine but mentally it has been more challenging. I would strongly advise you to ask your cardiologist about whether you could speak to the cardiac rehabilitation nurse who might advise you whether therapy or councilling is available. Hope everything goes well.
Be sure whoever fits the pacemaker really knows what they are doing! Don’t want to scare you but guess it depends on how experienced they are - I decided against one when it was offered (in a phone call from someone I had never met) following the experience of a friend who had to have hers removed after several years of problems as it was not fitted properly! Of course, we are all different and it might well work for you.
I had the same experience at first of doctors inferring there was nothing wrong with me and was only diagnosed by paramedics in an ambulance after visiting Bath Spa ( with my daughter for her birthday) which is not advisable for people with heart conditions!!!
I had a PM inserted 18 months ago and also an AV node ablation and it has transformed my life for the better. Good luck and hope it does the same for you.
Pacemaker is not a big deal. Despite of 3s pauses which are providing to PM implantation, there were probably (in my opinion) more pauses or events - because one event is not enough. My PM was implanted almost 7y ago due to SSS and damages to my conduction system and sometimes I forget I have it . In fact PM does not change our life - it's improving it and make it better. You can imagine to go to A&E 2-3 times a month because of fainting , AF can be managed by meds or RF/Cryo ablation but pauses, long PQ intervals (unfortunately not). When PM is implanted, they can approach to your AF with more aggressive treatment (different meds or combination) which are not be possible if there is not a PM. I went through the whole process : from (almost lethal) electrocution - pauses 14-16s, heart rate 32-38bpm, PM implantation, AF episodes with DC cardioversions (2-3 times a month) , cryo-ablation and ...... I feel perfect for the last 4y .
Same as you, pauses made a pacemaker necessary, this was back in 2014. About to get a renewal sometime this year I've been told. No worries about it, they are a game changer.
similar situation for me. Frequent long AF episodes, but couldn’t go on stronger meds due to very slow heartbeat. After wearing a monitor for a month, cardiologist said I had pauses he didn’t like. So we did the pm (outpatient- didn’t even have an overnight). Put me on stronger meds. Only have a few shorter af episodes a month now instead of every other day for up to 96 hours. Pm was easy and a good move.
That happened to me...I had pauses of 3 and 4 seconds over time. And a few incidents of palpitations.gone to er..but after covid booster..not original ones heart stopped for 6 secs and almost fainted I think to do with booster but Dr's not so sure..so after much anxiety and resistance I gave in and got a pacemaker..I also had a loop recorder..I haven't looked back much once I did it...still have afib but feel more protected against passing out somewhere..big decision but more peace of mind in that sense
Every case different..Cardio said.if u were my relative u would have had it already...I was so upset mentally .spoke to providers of mental health...good luck.
My story is very similar to yours, I kept being told there was nothing wrong, then had a loop recorder and my heart had paused for 11 seconds so had an emergency pacemaker, I’ve had mine now for 3 years, and have never looked back, as I’m sure you won’t either. Wishing you all the best and hope you don’t have wait too long, they really are brilliant bits of kit.
My pacemaker along with my anticoagulant are my best friends. My heart used to pause for 8 to 10 seconds lots of times in a day and l would blackout .l used to just carry on working afterwards, thinking it was just part of the a.f. condition. I now have a 2lead pacemaker, it has stopped the blackouts as it doesn't let my heart go under 60 b.p.m.. lt can't stop the a.f. but l don't have such frequent episodes. Go for it. 6 weeks after the procedure when you have recovered, you won't even notice it is there and you will feel so much better.
I had a pacemaker implant last year, for a very low heart rate. (Twenty beats per minute) Procedure was about 30 min, and recovery went well. I have felt great ever since. In my case, my anxiety was misplaced. Try box breathing, that really helped me.
Don't let them talk you into getting a pacemaker. 3 seconds is not that long and your heart is just reseting itself into sinus. This is normal when you come our of afib. They just want to make money off your insurance. Do your homework.
October 2022. UK. I was having lots of eptopic beats, feeling sick and dizzy so wore a holter monitor for 48 hrs which showed ventricular standstill and very low heart rate (don't know how many or how long they lasted) I got a call from Mid Yorkshire Hospital to say I needed a pacemaker fitted urgently. It caused me so much anxiety while waiting that I called them and they managed to get the procedure done 8 days later. Like others have said on here, the fitting is straightforward but the bruising is bad. Mine took some tweaking to get it just right. Now I don't even think about it (much)Good luck
Bertieboy1 hang in there! Your pacemaker will be your friend. I got mine just before Christmas, 2023 after my loop detected a five second pause. My son, who is a medical doctor, said "Mom, if Tesla offered you a free backup battery for your car would you take it?" Three second pauses or longer are not good. One doctor said, "on one hand, dying in your sleep is the most peaceful death but if you are not ready to check out, I would advise get the pacemaker." Worst would be having the pause while you were driving. They actually advised me to not drive before getting the PM. I had light sedation and went back home the same day. You do not lift more than 5 pounds for a week or two and do not lift your left arm over shoulder height for a month. After that, you get back to normal and have peace of mind knowing you have your back up battery. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!
Yes I had a pacemaker fitted for very slow pulse. My pulse now can never go below 61 but I still have AF sometimes 135. It happens about every fortnight but otherwise feel well. I am 86 and am very happy with the pacemaker.
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. In fact PM does not change our life - it's improving it and make it better. You can imagine to go to A&E 2-3 times a month because of fainting , AF can be managed by meds or RF/Cryo ablation but pauses, long PQ intervals (unfortunately not). When PM is implanted, they can approach to your AF with more aggressive treatment (different meds or combination) which are not be possible if there is not a PM. I went through the whole process : from (almost lethal) electrocution - pauses 14-16s, heart rate 32-38bpm, PM implantation, AF episodes with DC cardioversions (2-3 times a month) , cryo-ablation and ...... I feel perfect for the last 4y 
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