Have i to go for a pacemaker?

Hai, I am Venkateswara Reddy 30 m. I have been diagnosed for complete congential heart block last week. It was diagnosed accidently while undergoing tests as per our conpany policy. I have consulted cardiologist and took a 24 hour holter and its results for heart beating are 45/m date time and 25/m while sleeping on an average and i have never had any problems or symptoms of geting tired, fatigue or giddyness. But as per the cardiologist's suggestion I have to go for a pace maker. As per his version this might be form childhood (by birth) and reasons for the same are unknown.

Can any one please suggest me wether i really have to go for a pacemaker?

Please let me know the problems in having a pacemaker implanted.

10 Comments

Special Note to Snitch

by Moner - 2012-03-24 01:03:57

Hi Snitch,

You always have great advice to follow.

Moner

>^..^<

Do I Or Do I Don't

by SMITTY - 2012-03-24 04:03:47

Hello TV Reddy,

I see one person said they know quite a few patients with congenital third degree heart block that didn't get a pacemaker and have lived 20 to 30 years. What about those that didn't make it that long. Oh that's right, I guess most of them are no longer around to tell us whether or not they should have gotten a pacemaker.

We go to Drs for their advice on our health. If we do not like the advice of one we can try for another opinion. Otherwise we take, or ignore, the advice of the Dr we have seen.

On your question of "can anyone please suggest whether I really have to go for a pacemaker?" I will say without fear of contradiction there is no one on this forum that can answer that question for you. You have to consider the advice or your Dr and make the decision. If your don't get a PM and are still with us 30 or 40 years from now will be able to truthfully say, "I was right, I didn't need that thing." But if you leave us because your heart stopped too long or you passed out one day from heart block and have a fatal accident, well I guess we will have to learn about your demise from family or friends, I guess.

As for your request, "Please let me know the problems in having a pacemaker implanted." For the majority of us our PM has been less of a problem than were the symptoms for which we got it. The problems, or no problems, start with the Dr and his surgical skills. But the odds are in your favor here. Although some do have problems after getting a PM, they are in the minority.

Good luck to you.

Smitty

heart block

by lizdonaldson - 2012-03-24 08:03:03

I have a pacemaker for a complete heart block. Just got it 6 weeks ago. The only symptom I had was a few episodes of syncope. I was told that a complete heart block can be fatal, so worth the pacemaker to keep that from happening. I am still adjusting to having the pacemaker.
Good luck!

Venkateswara

by walkerd - 2012-03-24 08:03:28

The question is why wouldnt you get it to help the problem? The question is why wouldnt you get a pacemaker the alternitive is to getting it could be a whole lot worse! If your cardio doctor has advised you that you need one, I would follow his prognosis or get a second opioion or third one. There have been cases that doctors will advise a pm when its not needed tho, I in your case would get a second opinion. But I wouldnt wait on gettting a second opinion if it were me.

best wishes
dave

Pacer not a "must have"...

by golden_snitch - 2012-03-24 09:03:04

Hi!

I know quite a few pacer patients who have congenital third degree heart block, but lived up to 20 or even 30 years without a pacer, although the diagnosis in some was made when they were just kids. They got the pacer when symptoms started to appear, but not as long as they remained asymptomatic. So, I'd not say that per se every 3rd degree heart block patient needs a pacer right away. If you do not have any symptoms now, I'd just have it monitored closely (holter monitor every 3-6 months or something like that), if I were you. And a second opinion is always worth it, I'd say.

I wouldn't say it's definitely a fatal condition, but rather that what it causes, most importantly syncope, can lead to you ending up having a fatal accident. There are people in this forum who have survived even pauses of 20 seconds, because in the majority of heart block patients, an escape rhythm or even normal rhythm will kick in again after a while. There are people here who have passed out numerous times, but they survived. If 3rd degree heart block really was a fatal condition, I'd say, probably one third or half of the members of this forum would not be here today.

Best wishes
Inga

Similar situation

by ReneeV2.0 - 2012-03-24 11:03:15

My issue is slightly more complicated, but long story shortened:

I went in for a regular checkup, feeling absolutely fine, but they found that my heart rate is is usually in the 30s/40s and when i sleep it can hit 27bpm

Since I feel fine its hard for me to accept a pacer. But 3 cardiologists and 2 EPs (peacemaker surgeons) have all said I should get one. They say the reason i don't notice anything is because its been slowing down gradually throughout the years.

They said i might be surprise by how much energy i have, and how good i feel. Plus, I won't have to worry about my heart getting even slower.

I was also told by various people that its not very good to have such a low rate (unless your an athlete) because you might not be getting enough oxygen to your organs, which can cause various problems down the line.

I scheduled my appointment for April, and I'm hoping to be surprised by how good I feel. We'll see.


Since its a surprise and you are probably freaking out, keep in mind that many people on here said theres really no limitations or things that interfere anymore. Cell phones and ipads shouldn't be kept in your left shirt pocket, but other than that you can still use them, use computers, okay video games, workout, travel on planes/boats... Basically live your life but with more energy :)

Go for it

by ElectricFrank - 2012-03-25 01:03:29

Sounds very familiar. In 2004 my HR suddenly dropped to around 40, and then slowly slide down to 26 before getting the pacer. Mine was an AV block which is similar to what you have.

Like you I never passed out or even light headed. I chose to remain totally awake during the implant felt the change when they turned the pacer on. Wow, what a change. I could have jumped off the table and run around the hospital.

So even though you are doing OK you may notice an improvement in endurance and energy.

There are few disadvantages to having the pacer. The surgery is easy and once the incision heals you will slowly forget you have it.

frank

Congenital heart block

by golden_snitch - 2012-03-25 03:03:15

@ Smitty: Kids who are born with 3rd degree heart block are usually monitored very, very closely. Some of them have other heart defects, and undergo surgeries. Yet, their whole team of doctors, incl. highly specialized surgeons, often do not fit them with a pacer right away. If this heart block was fatal, definitely, then no cardio and cardiothoracic surgeon in this world would leave those kids running around without a pacer for so many years. Believe me, I've served voluntarily on a ward for pediatric cardiology, and got to know quite a few of these kids, and heard even more stories. And, yes, I do know quite a few adults with congenital 3rd degree heart block.

Like I said, probably half of the members of this forum would not be here, if 3rd degree heart block ultimately was fatal. They would not have survived long enough to get a pacer.

I did say that this condition can lead to someone ending up in a fatal accident. But I also say that there is a reason why some cardios, especially pediatric cardios/cardio-surgeons do not fit every kid with 3rd degree heart block with a pacemaker. They would certainly not do that, if chances were not good that the kids can live with this condition.

So, if someone is asymptomatic, then there in my opinion is no reason to panic or rush into such a decision as having a pacer placed. If a regularly done holter monitor shows that the heart rate is getting slower and slower or that pauses start to appear (Rodlyn not even has pauses at night, yet), then one can still re-evaluate and decide about the implant. But with just one holter and no symptoms, if I were that person, I'd not go for it. That's no advice, it's just what I would do, if I were this person.

Best
Inga

Inga

by ElectricFrank - 2012-03-25 11:03:30

How low will they allow HR to go before considering it a problem? It there any indication that even without symptoms it would have long term affects on the heart. It would seem that a very low HR would require a larger stroke volume and that might over time lead to an enlarged heart.

Just one more thing to add to my data bank.

thanks,

frank

2nd Openion on my heart condition

by tvreddy - 2012-03-26 07:03:30

Yesterday i have consulted 2 doctors to have 2nd and 3rd openions on my conditon and one of them said that my heart reate is slow and any normal person like him might go unconsious with the rate i have. As i don't have any problems with mine my body has adjusted with the heart rate that i have and it is not an emergency but it is suggested to go for a pacer.
Other said that my upper chambers are normal and the lower chambers of heart are slow and the 2d eco is normal and suggested to go for a pacer.
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions for my post. As suggested above i would rater check for my heart rate in next 2 months and then decide the option on going for a pacer.
Thanks for all your suggestions and points

Thanks,
Venkat

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