How long until your considered for a pacemaker

[tdiesel41]

Hi guys

I was just wondering what everyone's experience is of exhausting medication treatment until they go for the next phase of fitting pacemaker for heart failure?

I wasn't really having that many symptoms before starting medication, but since starting medication I have had to be off sick from my part time cleaning job as had bad breathless problems and chest pain. I've also had issues a few times at home of breathless attacks and chest pain lasting over several hours. However think it's likely the heart failure symptoms, not side effects.

Im on Ramipril put up to 2.5mg 3 weeks ago

Bisoprolol put up to 2.5mg 3 weeks ago, spironolactone 25mg and dapagliflozin 10 mg started 3 weeks ago.

I've seen you can up some of the medications quite a lot from my dosage so just wondered how long people have had while they keep putting up dosages.

My work is wanting to know when I can go back and reasonable adjustments, but just feel I'm in limbo, and don't know what to say as I could only do 1/4 of the shift until symptoms occurred.

I do have first appointment with heart failure nurse soon, but just wondered about people's experiences.

Thanks

[Shar28]

Hello. The BHF Helpline nurses can probably guide you. Their number is 0300 330 3311, office hours. Otherwise, if you look on the NICE website and search on Pacemakers with your underlying condition causing the heart failure, if you have one, then you can find the criteria. For example, my husband has Dilated Cardiomyopathy and if his Ejection Fraction drops below 35% he meets the criteria for one.

Hope this helps

[tdiesel41 in reply to Shar28]

That's great, thanks Shar28

[RufusScamp]

I can only offer my experience. Diagnosed with severe HF in Nov 2019. Assorted meds, and consultation in June 2020 with cardio specialist. She recommended ICD. I said I'm not sure. She said echo scan Dec, decide Jan 2021. Phone call Sept 2021, can you come in next week for ICD fitting? I did. Fresh echoscan last week, still awaiting results.And my region has an excellent reputation.

I repeat the advice to contact the BHF nurses.

And best wishes for a satisfactory outcome.

[tdiesel41 in reply to RufusScamp]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds good and that your on the right track. I'm not severe level, I think moderate to medium as currently do get times of symptoms when also resting as well as when active. Yes I will definitely contact them to see what they say. Hope the ICD is going well. Cheers