confused,scared ect
- by mmjackson
- 2013-01-25 07:01:56
- General Posting
- 1801 views
- 6 comments
I'm 33yrs old i just had a advisa DR pacemaker implanted back in Aug 2012. My Doctors nurse called twice this month the first call was a few days after i did my 1st home pacemaker check and ask how i was doing and felt i let her know i was having episodes daily still and still sore @ the implant site and that it stings and feels like a shock to the point my whole body will jerk she said its probably a nerve so she said she would relay what i said back to my doctor and that he would speak with the other doctor that has helped in my care. I never heard anything until today and she said that a transmission came across that was a red flag she never said what it said just told me my doctor talk to the other doctor and that he said there is two options to do another ablation see if that will work and if not then do a AVnode ablation which then i will depend on the machine so the thing that scares me and my husband is if the pacemaker malfuntions will i die right then will we even realize somethings wrong? what will happen Please help:(
6 Comments
I'm PM dependent - it's OK
by SaraTB - 2013-01-26 05:01:10
Like the others, I can't comment on the red flag issue, but I hope my story may help your anxiety about the possibility of being PM dependent.
I had an ablation to treat my SVT, but unfortunately it damaged my AV node, putting me into complete heart block. This means the upper chambers work normally but the signal doesn't get through to the lower chambers, which then go off on a rhythm of their own (as my doctor explained it to me). The pacemaker 'joins things up' keeping everything in synch - so I had a pacemaker implanted the next day.
When I had the same worries as you, about what might happen, my medical team reassured me about the reliability of pacemakers generally (as others at this site will tell you too), and then told me about the Escape Rhythm. If my pacemaker is turned off, it turns out I have an underlying rhythm of about 30 bpm, which isn't great, but is enough for me to get to a hospital, for example, without ill effects. Others have higher rates.
Secondly, pacemaker battery life is closely monitored, and you will know roughly the life expectancy of yours: and when it eventually reaches around 6 months, it switches to an energy saving mode, which prolongs it, allowing your team plenty of time to schedule a replacement. It will continue to function well, but perhaps with less sensitivity. I'm one of those people who can tell at once if my rate changes, and I felt at once when my first PM went into this mode: I was on the phone to the doctor within an hour, and they confirmed what was happening. So, firstly, please be assured that the chances of it 'failing' entirely, without plenty of notice, are practically nil. Furthermore, you may well have an underlying rhythm after an ablation that will keep you going.
I realise this issue of dependency is very scary, and this is exactly where this forum can help, by reading other people's experiences, from people who've gone through the same fear and bewilderment. I also know how terrifying this can be for your family: the more you can educate yourself, the more you can reassure them. I know my husband found it awful, as he sees himself as the great protector, and this was something he couldn't do anything about, and he felt completely useless, but didn't want to worry me by telling me how he felt.
I hope this gives you some comfort, but keep asking questions here, as you think of them: there are NO silly questions! There are many of us here who are 100% dependent and have come to terms with it.
Best wishes
Sara
I had a av node ablation Dec 10
by terrythetech - 2013-01-26 08:01:43
No issues. beating right along. Asked doc about what happens if it stops beating. He said my heart rate would drop to a low rate 35-40 bpm or so. He said because it would be so slow I would probably black out but would not die. Scared me too but not a big thing anymore to me. But I guess I might want to think twice about jump starting my car with it though.
A bit of humor
by ElectricFrank - 2013-01-27 02:01:11
So far there has never been anyone on this site post that they had died of a failed pacemaker. See how safe they are.
frank
a bit of humor
by kansasgranny - 2013-02-07 06:02:45
Frank--I LIKE that sense of humor! A little humor often makes the anxiety seem so much smaller!
You know you're wired when...
Your electric tooth brush interferes with your device.
Member Quotes
I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.
Pacemaker dependent
by ElectricFrank - 2013-01-26 01:01:36
I can't comment on the Red Flag condition they mentioned since I don't have the report.
As for being pacemaker dependent that can be a confusing and scary term. The lower chamber of the heart will usually beat on its own even with the AV node blocked. It beats slowly, but is enough to stay alive to get help if the pacer failed.
I have a natural AV Block myself and I have had them turn off the pacer to check what would happen if mine failed. In my case my HR drops down in 30 bpm range. I feel lousy but can function.s
The important thing though is that pacemakers rarely fail completely. Modern electronics is very reliable. Look at it this way: if you drive a modern car much of it's operation including braking is controlled by a small computer. If you fly on airlines the whole flight control system is handled by a computer. If it fails the plane falls out of the sky.
You might also get a second opinion on your condition before having multiple ablations in the hope of fixing things.
good luck,
frank