a little advice requested

I am sure that somewhere and somehow my questions have already been asked. But I have been so busy taking care of my husband and his sight problems.
does anyone know if we pacers might ever need cpr if so, any precautions?? what would be symptoms of a problem? any first aid suggestions?? thank you, Ann

3 Comments

Hi rvrs708175

by clockman1 - 2014-02-04 01:02:26

Hello there. Yes, you definitely can be defibrillated when you have a pacemaker fitted. I had my PM fitted and two months later I had a massive heart attack and had to be defibrillated back to life 3 times. Yes it's OK, lets face it when you get to the state when your heart has stopped anything is worth a try,you won't even know its happening!
CPR I am sure will be OK too. JOOney has good advice to wear a medical alert band , I do, and it helped the paramedics at another later cardio event. The PM won't, unfortunately stop you having a heart attack caused by coronary blockage or other diseases, it just keeps your electrical system working reliably.
I hope you never need to try all this out, and I wish you well.
Keep warm and vertical,
God Bless,
clockman1

Pacers and CPR

by J00ney - 2014-02-04 04:02:29

Hello Ann,
I have been advised and taught that as pacers are just making sure the electrical current pathway of the heart is running smoothly and maintained at a healthy rhythm.
So a person with a pacemaker can still develop coronary artery disease where arteriosclerosis or blockages can still develop in the coronary arteries which leads to heart attacks.
External CPR is still performed on someone with a pacemaker who does have a coronary event. If a defrillator is used ...and just about all places have them ( bus stations, swimming pools, shopping centres and gyms seem to have them) then caution is taken as to where the pads are placed so instead of the top left side of the chest ( where the pacemaker usually sits) the pad is placed on the left side of the chest . This then raises the important advice that all people with pacemakers or ICD should wear a MedicAlert bracelet.
Hope this helps
j00ney

CPR

by Tracey_E - 2014-02-04 10:02:04

Pacers were covered when I renewed my CPR last year. It's done the same as anyone else. j00ney, if a defib is used, you just have to be careful to not sit the pads on top of the device.

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.