Permanent Afib and pacemakers

Hi. I'm new here and would like to ask for advice from any members that have permanent afib and a pacemaker fitted.

I've been in permanent afib for years now, had ablations and cardioversions but all have failed. I have recently spent 10 days in hospital while my cardio experimented with medications as I had heart failure caused by uncontrolled afib - my ejection factor was 13% and a h/r of around 130. Meds have worked to get my EF up to 28% but are failing to get my h/r down and feel terrible. Cardio suggested last resort may be a pacemaker.

I have very little knowledge of pacemakers and when I questioned another Cardio a few years back was told that a pacemaker would not help with afib as it only assisted patients with a very low h/r.

I'm feeling so unwell that I'm tempted to take a chance with anything but I'm wondering if any members have had a high h/r with afib and had a reasonably successful outcome with a pacemaker.

3 Comments

You sound like I was in 1999

by janetinak - 2012-10-31 02:10:51

thru 2000 (all year, both yrs). I tried to ignore my SOB fatigue & after a few days went to a Dr for my "sinus" well I was in CHF & pulmonary edema. Got checked out & was the "we don't know what is causing it" answer. Started the meds, cardioversions, etc & nothing worked. On the highest doses of meds & still very fast pulse & low EF. So in late 2000 I saw the EP & my only choice was an AV node ablation & PM. Best decision I ever made. I am off all meds except Coumadin (which I have had no problem with since 1/99). I am still in afib but my EF is between 55-65 depending which test we look at. I don't know if that answers your question but it is my story.

Welcome to the club,

Janet

pacer for afib

by Thumping - 2012-10-31 09:10:32

You heard correctly that a pacemaker only (mostly) assists with low HR and can't really prevent afib (with the exception of some devices which overpace the atrium in an attempt to stop afib). But it sounds like in your situation when everything else is failed, they are thinking about an AV node ablation, which will essentially burn the bridge between the top and bottom of your heart. When this is done, the afib cannot conduct down into your ventricle and make your bottom chamber go fast. You will however need a pacemaker after this procedure, which will ensure your ventricles beat at a regular normal rate. Does that make sense?

CRT-D

by Bill T - 2012-10-31 11:10:44

I had proximal AFB for years and finally had a total AV Node ablation. Still have afb episodes several time a month but usually don't feel them and don't have the fatigue afterwards.

My EF is in the 30 and the CRT synchronization of both lower chambers raised my EF to the 52, almost normal.
And I feel much better and can again attend to my piddling around the house and yard.

Best to you, Bill Tt

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

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