2 Pacers

I am new to this site, but I have some questions I'm hoping can be answered. I am 28 years old, TGA with Mustard procedure. I've have a pacemaker since I was 3, and I currently have 2 implanted; one in my abdomen from when I was 3, and one in my shoulder. I'm on my 4th pacemaker, but I was wondering if anyone else has two pacers like I do. Thanks!! :)

3 Comments

hey

by andrewpacemaker1 - 2012-09-10 06:09:43

never heard of two pacermakers. both are working ?
i mean i heard of them leaving the old leads in if u was to young for them to put it in ur chest. but never heard leaving the device in. I got mine put in at age 15. 3 is a really young age as well.

LATE STAGE MUSTARD EFFECTS

by TGAPacers - 2012-09-10 07:09:09

Hi! Thank you for getting back to me. I'm a patient at JOHNS HOPKINS pediatric cardiology. Yes, they left the old pacer in, but sure its dead now. I haven't had any problems with the one in my abdomen, but I have 3 separate leads from 3 different pacer implants since I was 13 still attached to my heart. I've traveled all over the east coast (Philly, surgery at Boston), for opinions. I have been having some rough symptoms in the last year, the most notable being intense palpitations-can frequently feel my heart beating out of my chest and my breath skip-cant even shower without feeling it. I am on Coreg and losartan twice a day, and they just doubled the dosage and put a holter on me for the wknd, so I'm questionable as to what is going on right now- PVCs? Late stage Mustard effects? From my research, I am thinking a lot could be wrong, but I just want concrete answers! If anyone could offer any insight or opinions, anything at this point is greatly appreciated. I am scared and confused!

Transposition of the Great Vessels

by PacerRep - 2012-09-11 01:09:20

First off I want you to know that I have deep sympathy for you and what your going through. It's a terrible hand to be dealt this at such a young age and unfortuneatly as I'm sure you know, your just old enough to where they were not doing the Arterial Switch yet which is Why you had the Mustard/Sennings proceedure done.

Your question is very difficult to answer to say the least and I can only offer you some insight but I am sure that everything I have to say you have already heard a million times and for that I apologize.

The right side of the heart was not built to handle the high pressures of the left side. The baffles you have just rerouted the blood flow to where the right side of your heart acts as the systemic side and yoru left side delivers the deoxygenated blood to the lungs. I know back in the early 80's they told parents of patients like you that you would never live to see 30 as the right side of your heart would become stretched out and dialated and eventually fail. We now know this was an underestimate but the concept still holds true. The right side does start to stretch and with stretching comes irritation.

In a standard type patient the sensation your describing is definitely V-burst or a run of PVC's as you mentioned. I am also going to take the assumption that all of your leads are Epicardial leads and not intravenous like most other people with devices. Your doctors have taken the correct first step in getting you on a holter. Your pacemaker acts like a holter monitor but clearly it is missing something. I would imagine that they have already done an echocardiogram if not a full blown TEE on you at this point.

Have you had valve replacements at all? The question of what is causing your discomfort most likely cannot be answered in a forum. There are way to many variables associated with Transposition. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find the answers that your looking for. When you do get the answers I would appreciate it if you would let me know what the culprit is. It will help me to be better at my job. I've only seen maybe 10 patients in my career with yoru condition that originated before the Arterial Switch.

You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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