I will be 80 in March. I’ve had a long history of atrial fibrillation which worsened considerably after contracting Covid and I’m still suffering from the effects of Covid on my nervous system. In March 2023 I went into persistent AF and eventually had a cardioversion and a combination of amiodarone and dronedarone then kept me stable with only two episodes of AF which self reverted after several hours. However, at the beginning of February I have gone into persistent AF again.
I seem to be very symptomatic getting very breathless and tired and have been recommended to have pace and ablate. At my age quality of life is of greatest importance to me especially being able to walk more than a few hundred yards without getting breathless so I’m wondering if there are any downsides of having a PaceMaker fitted as that seems the best option. The idea of having my heart ‘switched off’ terrifies me though. And what is the realistic recovery time from the procedure?
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Midnight2022
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which explains much, however, my own experience was that - pacemaker reduced my AF burden from 70% to 2% from my last pacemaker readings and it improved my QOL so much that I didn’t go for the ablation of the AV node - but I gather that is quite rare and dependent upon the type of pacemaker implanted - so do ask! I have a 3 lead CRT pacemaker but my EP had to fight quite hard to get the funding.
If you search Pace&Ablate on this site I think you will find that there has been a mostly very positive experience, most people may still feel their AF but because the pulse is steady, although the heart is not working as well it at would be in NSR - it’s a big improvement so symptoms are reduced for most people.
The procedure itself is done under local anaesthesia but you can request sedation. It’s normally a day procedure or if done later in the day they may keep you overnight.
These days pacemakers are very reliable but in the extraordinary exception it failed for any reason, the connection is not entirely disconnected so you would have a very slow HR which would give enough time to call emergency services and they would pace you externally until a replacement could be arranged - least that is what was explained to me.
It’s very natural to feel anxiety and ask all of the questions you are doing as this is psychologically a very big event as it is your heart. All I can say is that very glad I went for it, I may have to consider the AV node ablation as and when my AF burden increases as I have had some nasty bouts when I have had infections, especially chest infections but having lived with the pacemaker now from 2018 I consider it my best friend as I take no heart drugs at all and feel much better without them. Everyone though is different and reacts very differently so you should think about whether or not you are prepared to live as you are as it seems you are out of other options, or got for pace and ablate with a positive frame of mind and see it as your little heart helper!
Be warned that although the wound may heal quickly, you may not feel an immediate benefit and you may continue to improve for months afterward. Hope others reply to your post.
I had a pace & ablate in October 2023 and would second all that CDreamer has said. I specifically asked what would happen if the pacemaker should fail and I was told that my heart would still beat, albeit at a very slow rate, so not enough to do anything physical but enough to get to a phone and call for help - somewhere around the 30 to 40 bpm. I wish I had known about the different types of pacemakers when I had mine fitted - but mine was done in lockdown and so I was pleased simply to be having it done. Following the P & A, your pacemaker will be tweaked, it is usually set quite high and then monthly reduced to either 60 or 70 bpm. A lot of how you will feel will depend on the correct 'tweaking' of the pacemaker, there are options, so do discuss it will the pacemaker team. I feel sure you will not regret having it done - I certainly haven't. Tricia
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