cant have a pacemaker

[jazelldan]

my husband who is 73 has been told today he cant have a pacemaker because his heart is on the right side he has heart failure and fluid build up in his lungs as well so breathing and doing things are very difficult just don't know where to go from here any idea`s please

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Your husband's condition is called dextrocardia of which there are a number of types. Depending on the type there may be other issues such as digestive problems and increased infection rates. The condition itself does not preclude the fitting of a pacemaker or ICD although it is technically challenging.

Obviously there may be other/additional reasons why it has been deemed not possible. I would suggest you talk it through with the BHF nurses tomorrow. You may then, if appropriate, ask for a second opinion or referral to a specialist heart hospital like Papworth. Good luck and keep us updated. PM if you wish.

[LHDLondon]

That sounds really strange. Have you had a second opinion? To my knowledge the pacemaker can go either side and it’s just wires which need to be inserted into the heart. I was given a choice and chose my left shoulder above my heart because i use my right shoulder for my hobbies

[P0rtnahapp1e]

I sympathise with you. I can’t have a pacemaker because I’ve had endocarditis from an unknown source so they feel that I am susceptible to infection where the leads join.

As the EP said on my last visit, “ You’re on maximum dosage of all medication, so we have nowhere to go from here.”

Who knows what research will come up with in the future. We just need to hang around long enough to avail of their findings!

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Unfortunately the type of contraption I need doesn’t come in leadless form. I, too, was excited when I read about those, but it’s only the basic ones which are in that form.

Are you keeping well?