Pace & Ablate - PM question

[mike1961]

Hi all,

I recall that some folks here have had P&A to sort out atrial tachycardia as well as AF.

I understand the PMs can have one lead to the LV or two leads one to each ventricle.

Do PMs fitted after P&A - especially if for atrial tachycardia - have any leads to the atria and, if so, why? If they did, couldn't they be confused and think that the atrial tachycardia is just a fast regular heartbeat that one would get when exercising anyway ? ?

Has anyone here had a leadless PM installed recently and, if so, how are things going ? I understand that leadless PMs only pace the LV.

Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

[DawnTX]

Hi Mike, I may be wrong but this sounds like something you should talk to your doctor about. and honestly I don’t. Phil the need to know all of that. We are all different. Sometimes it’s not until the doctors actually in there that’s something he may have to change his plans in how he does things. My pacemaker system was made that way they did not have one for me. Believe me if you have tachycardia, you will know the difference between that and exercise, etc. Mine was nonstop and close to 200 heart rate I couldn’t walk. I could barely stand up and the chest pain caused tears to flow to scuffle to the bathroom I would almost black out. It is so horrible. It is nothing like exercise heart rate increase. As far as I know at least for me my pacemaker was fitted first then two weeks later I had my AV node ablated. Again, I’m no expert, but I don’t think you can do it the other way because that is your natural heart pacemaker. You can’t block that off if you don’t have something taking over for it. You are going to drive yourself crazy and exhaust yourself trying to figure all of this out. Think about how long it takes to become an EP especially a fantastic

I don’t know if you’re just curious and it’s good to be curious but you are going to learn there is a learning curve anyway and a lot more important things you’re going to have to figure out. You will get to know your body as far as the important areas and what makes it tick. Without the AV node ablation, I believe it will continue to confuse the rhythm of your heart. The reason for blocking it is so that the pacemaker is the only thing in charge to keep things right. If there was nothing wrong with the AV node area, you wouldn’t need a pacemaker. I felt the difference before I left the hospital and I was able to get out of the wheelchair walk to my car and get in by myself none of which I had been able to do for over six months. It took about a year to heal from the trauma of everything to the heart. I also have heart failure and as my EP said neither my Hart or I could take any more. If I had not gone to him when I did, I probably wouldn’t be here now because of the tachycardia, etc. not the a fib. I would concentrate on things that trigger a fib etc so you know what to try to avoid. I have a typical of flutter and a fib plus tachycardia pretty much all four chambers to have been put together wrong in lol I never knew until my first a fib event that I had such a mess. I was blessed with a EP who thinks outside the box in the hospital they called me unique instead of my name lol because no one else has what I have although they might because my heart and I are celebrating our second anniversary on Valentine’s Day of all days. that’s when I was given back my life and for the most part I feel normal all the time. When I don’t, I remember now there’s other parts of my body that can act up and I am five years older. I am 72 although I am still in denial I’ve always said I’m 35 in my head but now the fatigue, etc. a lot of it just normal for when you’re aging reminds me what is going on. Everyone likes to blame the no matter what the problem really is.

one of the first things my EP had me do was stop checking my numbers. He reminded me how they fluctuate constantly and it’s true. I can wake up and get up. It can be 60 then around the house doing some things and it can hit 90 but when I settle back down, so will my heart rate the best thing you can do for yourself is get out of your head about unnecessary things try meditation emotions can be one of your biggest problems with heart rate best of luck with everything I don’t know how long you’ve had it a fib and flutter are for life that doesn’t mean you should allow it to ruin your life or run it. My EP told me I can do anything someone without it can do of course I am not going to join Cirque du Soleil anytime soon lol but I’m also not afraid of doing things such as travel, etc. if I get tired, I sit down and I stop what I’m doing. Be good to yourself.