Pacemaker in 30s?

[TooManyPVCs]

What has your experience been with a pacemaker? I am 38 years old and on my way to a pacemaker. 5 years ago I was diagnosed with PVCs after giving birth. I had a Holter monitor and was told they were benign and sent on my way. They have gotten progressively worse. I was put on 25 metoprolol then potassium and magnesium. Last year was told this was working and had 0 PVCs at my cardiologist check up. They acted like I was cured.

This past summer I did my routine Holter that came back showing PVCs at 33%. This was not at all surprising since I was getting dizzy spells, but never passed out. I went to ER for this twice and and was prescribed flecainide. The flec controlled the PVCs but made me feel horrible. I was also very nervous about the warnings. My heart rate was in the 30s. My electrophysiologist recommended I get an ablation done at Penn in philly. In the meantime I had an echo stress test that revealed possible blockages. I was shocked due to my age and the fact that all precious tests showed nothing wrong w my heart.

I had a cardiac catheter test that was clear.

Just this last Wednesday I had my ablation. It did not go as planned. When I arrived to the hospital I was in a normal rhythm. I had to get adrenaline drugs to trigger the PVCs. The ablation lasted for what felt like an eternity and then suddenly I went into ventricular tachycardia with a heart rate over 300 BPM. They had to stop the procedure.

I was told my PVCs were coming from both inside and outside of my heart. They also said they found what appears to be scarring on the outside of the right side of my heart. I will need to go back and have a second ablation for the outside of my heart and the following day they will do a pacemaker.

I am just so taken back by all this. To be told this won’t kill you to you need a pacemaker is unreal. I also can’t believe that after all this struggle with a low heart rate all of a sudden I have VT? Was this is an anomaly?

Anyone else have anything similar to this experience? Looking for a little reassurance. I have a 10,4 & 3 year old and am having a hard time.

[tripup]

I’ve had a pacemaker for the last 5 years. Best thing that ever happened! I have no problems at all now. Even back to going surfing ( I’m 65!). Feel fabulous. Fitter than I’ve been for years and years! Long live battery power! If you need a pacemaker, have one. Definitely worth it, and not even a big procedure for implantation.

[Lauriem4]

I feel for you having that many and having that happen to you must be very hard. I have a few but feel all of mine. Do you feel all of yours and do you also suffer with anxiety?

[Stumpy47]

I had a pacemaker fitted at 71 yrs of age 3 days ago after a successful ablation for SVT (AVNRT) 6 months ago, but I was still brady

cardic with HR as low as 29 bpm at night & 39/55 bpm during the day with spikes of 157 bpm during light exercise!

I cannot believe the difference in how I feel right now, Shortage of breath has almost gone & don't feel as exhausted as I used to. I'm hoping for continued improvement in the coming weeks & months when my PM will be fine tuned.

I feel better than I have for the past three years. My advice is go for it if you feel rotten all the time! Procedure took less than an hour, although sore for a few days Paracetamol worked well. Good luck & best wishes!

[Fred77]

Gee i feel for you, iam also fairly young with 2 Boys , 9 and 13 , diagnosed with IST, SVT 2019, on coran. Heart problems heart disease run in our family.

Does heart problems run in your family too,

what are PVCs ?

When i was 39 got told i have 40 % narrowing of LAD, small anyrusm in my septum docs state probably born with it . Not on blood thins, suffer dizziness, spells , sncope eposides.

I have a loop recorder in gets check ever 3 to 4 months . Only picked up my IST, so far.

Iam increasing getting tried t fatigue seems to be the norm These days,

I hope all gos well with your your pacemaker, my aunty got a pacemaker when she was around 37. It really

Helped her.