Finally a Diagnosis

[fantasyfanuk]

Today I saw the second opinion cardiologist and he said that my recent echo showed moderate heart failure and changing my pacemaker for a 3 lead device (CRT?) may improve the symptoms of breathlessness and exhaustion on the slightest exertion. He has also started me on Ramipril, with a diuretic to be tried later and the joys of a blood thinner in March when I will be 65! Hopefully I will get the new device fitted in December. The apparent cause of the problem is that since I had a pacemaker fitted 2 yrs ago for complete heart block, the ventricle with the lead in is beating out of synch with the other one. Over all that time I have been reporting these symptoms, as well as near fainting episodes, and have been told I was a mystery, I was anxious, I was unfit etc etc. I had an echo nearly a year ago and although it was reported by radiology as moderate HF, my then consultant insisted it was mild and then did nothing for it despite my symptoms. I had to ask for a second opinion to get anywhere and feel I could have been treated a long time ago. Although it has been incredibly frustrating to be ill and not believed, at least I now have a diagnosis and a way forward. Has anyone else had these problems after having a pacemaker?