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Biventricular PM
I presently have a PM that I have had for 6 years. I have cardiomyopathy and have a leaky mitral valve and an ejection fraction of 20 to 25%. Luckily I haven't had too many complications and have had a fairly normal life but in the past year I've had a harder time when walking or doing physical activity of being out of breath, more than normal. In the past month I have had a huge decline in the things that I can do physically and am pretty much down to sitting around the house. The doctor has mentioned several times in the past couple of years that when it is time for a battery change it would be best to implant a biventricular PM because it would pace both sides of my heart and should improve my heart function quite a bit. I guess it is time even though I still have 2 years left on my battery.
My question is for all you people out there that have switched from regular to biventricular and what your experiences have been and how has it improved your life. I am guessing I will also get the defibrilator or ICD as well while they are at it. I meet with the PM doctor on Oct. 15. Thanks for any and all comments.
16 Comments
My bi-ventricular CRT-D experience
by Nornor - 2010-09-25 02:09:20
Hello jjnfc
After having my first and second ICDs, in 2001 and 2006, I received my Medtronic bi-ventricular CRT-D in 2008. My dilated cardiomyopathy and LBBB condition had deteriorated to Level 3 heart failure with my EF at 28. My life seemed controlled by arrhythmias, shortness of breath and fatigue, thus causing a significant decline in my quality of life. Following the CRT-D implantation, I felt an almost immediate improvement. Within a week my EF had risen to 48-50, the arrhythmias were reduced quite markedly and I had very little shortness of breath. I was able to resume many of the physical activities and interests that made up my quality of life. It is now nearly two years since I received my CRT-D and I am forever grateful that my EP advised me to have the procedure.
Over the years my defibrillators have zapped me on seven occasions and, of course, I was most thankful that my devices supported me at those life-threatening times. The defibrillator does, therefore, provide me with a strong sense of confidence and reassurance.
Best wishes for your consultation with your EP, and I look forward to hearing of your progress. Take care. Cheers for now
Neville
Thanks
by jjnfc - 2010-09-25 04:09:34
Thanks Neville for your words of encouragement. That was exactly what I wanted to hear! I appreciate you taking the time and the information. So glad you are doing well and your quality of life is good. Take care!
Giving me hope
by makeuwell - 2010-10-01 06:10:15
I have not yet had my CRT-D placed, this coming thursday, but I wanted to also extend a thank you to Neville as the positive words gave me inspiration and hope. I am a 40 y.o. RN working in a maternity/pediatric unit at a hospital. I have cardiomyopathy with EF of 10-15% and a LBBB. My symptoms are begining to take over my life. I have teenage daughters and feel I am missing out on much of the last days of their young lives as they begin to move out and become adults. I am now limited to putting all my energy, what little I have, into my high stressed/paced job and find my days off to be nothing more than sleep time. Fatigue and sortness of breath have gotten the best of me. I am so hopeful that this surgery will provide me the same outcome you have recieved. Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I really just want some of my life back. Again THANK YOU!
makeuwell
by jjnfc - 2010-10-02 11:10:07
I'm excited for you getting a new pacemaker! Please let us know how it goes. I know you will be sore for a while but in the long run it should be well worth it. You have a lot to live for and a very long life ahead of you. Here you take care of everyone else so now it is time to take care of you.
I will be thinking of you on Thursday, good luck!
Sorry you haven't been feeling well
by jjnfc - 2010-10-16 05:10:30
I sure hate that you have had some glitches along the way. I have been wondering how things went for you. Do they know what is causing the fever? Infection maybe?
I saw the pacemaker doc yesterday and he is wanting to proceed on with the bi-ventricular pacemaker with the icd. The girl that schedules his surgeries is supposed to call me early this coming week to schedule a date. I am excited and ready to get it done and back on the road to feeling better.
Keep me posted!
Jannette
jjnfc
by makeuwell - 2010-10-16 12:10:01
Well the ICD placement went very well. But when I returned home I was only home for about a day. I developed a fever and was readmitted. i then spent the last six days in the hospital, which is 2 hours away from home. I've been home for a day now and am so happy to be with my family and animals! Fevers persist but I am managing them at home. I look forward to the coming days to see how I really feel. Thank you so much for your encouraging words and thoughtfulness.
Take care always,
Stacy
Monday!
by jjnfc - 2010-10-21 09:10:32
My surgery will be this coming Monday, the 25th. I am excited and not as nervous as I would be since I have had a pacemaker implant once before. Don't get me wrong. I will be doing plenty of the what if's come Sunday night at bedtime!
I'm glad you are feeling even better yet and that you agree that the biventricular is the way to go. I just almost know this has to help my heart function some. I will try and report back to you next week sometime and let you know how I'm doing.
You continue to improve and get to feeling better every day.
Jannette
jjnfc
by makeuwell - 2010-10-21 10:10:54
I am doing somewhat better. Any word on your bi-ventricular placement? That's exactly what I have. Triple lead, the only way to go. I look forward to hearing when you will have this placed. All my best and I agree, you deserve to feel better!
Talk to you soon!
Stacy
Did It!
by jjnfc - 2010-10-27 07:10:42
I had the pacemaker surgery on Monday and everything went textbook, no problems whatsoever. They released me yesterday (Tuesday) and I was home by 10:30 a.m.
I feel pretty darned good. I have mostly tried to get caught up on my sleep. I have been pretty darned sore but I don't hurt at all unless I move. I seem to be a bit better as far as that goes today and I know that I will improve more and more every day. My family and friends have been good to spoil me and that has been nice, too.
Stacy, how have you been feeling? I hope better. Was wondering if you have gone back to work yet. Well, I will post later. Just wanted to let you know how things went. So far I am very pleased.
spoiled
by jjnfc - 2010-11-12 02:11:43
Yes, the spoiling part is the best part. I never have hurt at all, just sore. I do find myself wanting to use that arm quite a bit of course since I can't. It seems like once I started getting better I can tell a huge difference each day. Thanks for your experience, I appreciate knowing how your surgery went as well.
Feb of this year
by cruz - 2010-11-12 10:11:01
I had the 3-lead in Feb 2010. I had a pretty much textbook experience. They had problems getting the third lead in the "most desireable" position so they've had to make some adjustments along the way with settings. I had the "hiccups" in my diapharm which was not comfortable. The worse part was not being able to raise my arm above my head or pull or lift anything. I didn't realize how many times I did that until I couldn't. The device has settled in and we are quite comfortable with each other. I had seen a co-workers scar and you couldn't even tell he had the device. I'm very slim and female and found out that it does leave a bit more of a bulge for us gals but I have no problem with the slight bulge since I know the reason it's there and know it's a life-saver. Best to all of you on your recovery and remember that you can stretch this period of being spoiled :) for a while longer.
Time and patience
by cruz - 2010-11-20 11:11:48
I've had plenty of time to reflect on things since I sit (and nap) lots. I think the hardest part of all is having patience with ourselves. I was so very busy before all this and tried in the beginning to continue. I got so impatient with myself because I could not physically do all the things I felt were so much a part of my life. I've had to find other ways to do things. I am definetely not symptom free and I've found that when I overdo it takes days to recover. I am facing Thanksgiving dinner with a different role because I can't work for days and hours on end to have that perfect dinner. It's an adjustment I didn't see in my life (slowing down) until many, many years from now. I'm trying to focus on the positives. It's a lot like the "wanting to use the arm" and not being able to function in the same old way. I still miss the "old me" but I'm becoming better friends with the "new me" and finding ways to cope. Hang in there.
One month out
by jjnfc - 2010-11-20 12:11:29
It hasn't been quite one month since I had my bi-ventricular pacemaker implanted and I am feeling almost 100%. It seems like I get a little stronger every day. Almost no soreness unless I extend myself. I'm sleeping better. Life is so much better now. I can take a deep breath and not feel like life is closing in on me. I'm just so thankful that we have devices and doctors to keep us going!
I have hope now
by MSM - 2012-03-16 09:03:30
I was so relieved to find your letters. I am due to get a CRT this monday . It was a shock to me when I went to the dr. and found that my heart is bad. I have had 2 pacemakers before. Have been waiting for six weeks and so scared. But I feel hope after reading your letters.I just want to feel like cleaning my house.
Good luck on Monday
by jjnfc - 2012-03-17 11:03:18
Good luck on Monday with your new implant. You should do fine and hopefully it will make a difference in how you feel. And as silly as it sounds I agree with you on the cleaning the house although I hate doing it. You just want to have the energy to feel like doing things like that again. It has been 1.5 years now since my last implant and my pacemaker is doing a great job. I still have a hard time believing that I have heart problems but I do so I just try to work around it and make the best of it. I do still have some issues but they are related to that leaky heart valve and not the pacemaker. I am still able to do pretty much what I want but just get winded very easy and tired so even though I do what I want it is a lot slower than before.
Take care and good luck. Let me know how your implant goes after you get home!
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It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.
Bi-V pacer
by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-25 01:09:00
I don't have any personal experience with the Bi-V pacers, but the idea behind them is that by pacing both ventricles the individual timing can be controlled. This can improve the efficiency of pumping. It would actually improve efficiency for all of us, but we have enough reserve that it wouldn't be noticeable. With a low EF like you have you can use all you can get.
I'm only guessing, but it would seem the reason they add the ICD to this type has to do with the increased possibility of rhythm problems as well.
Sounds like a good idea.
frank