Pacemaker

[HuskyHendrix]

Was told I need a pacemaker for bradycardia with a few extensive pauses. Cardiologist told me he couldn't schedule the procedure until the end of May. Have others experienced such a lengthy delay? Feel as though there's a chance I could pass out at any time without the pacemaker.

[CDreamer]

Yes it seems so in our area - Devon. 5 years ago my husband had to wait 6 weeks, even privately. I’ve been waiting for an ‘urgent’ correction to one of my PM leads since last November & still heard nothing.

My husband’s heart was pausing for 5-7 seconds - which is in blackout territory, although he didn’t but was told he was not to drive until 6 weeks after the procedure. Rather grumpy other half & didn’t improve marital harmony.

Good luck.

[ling]

Really sorry to hear that.

If it really comes down to May, from various posts I've read here, the key takeaway is to keep yourself safe in the interim. We're doing that for my old mom now as her bradycardia or sick sinus progresses till she reaches a point where she faints and becomes eligible for a pacemaker, according to the EP.

[quanglewangle]

Once again this highlights the variations in provision. It took a while for me to get over the diagnostic hurdles, but on agreeing to provide a PM on Friday it was installed on Tuesday (NHS Dumfries). ( I had faints and blackouts up to 14 seconds) Obviously the message is to stay home, take it easy, no driving and be careful crossing roads on foot. Two years on and all is well for me (PM set to cut in when HR drops below resting HR of 60) despite recent TIA.

I wish you well

[seasider18]

I was told that I needed a pacemaker as a matter of some urgency in a Sunday morning phone call. That turned out to be eight weeks. When on the monitor my heart rate was going down to 37bpm with 3.5 second pauses. That though was mostly during the night.