Pacemaker

I suffer with af and have collapsed a number of times, , It has suggested I may need a pacemaker and would like to know how successful they are.
Regards Beth

15 Comments

To add

by BStanding56 - 2013-04-28 01:04:01

I am currently on Amiodoryn, 200mg x 2 a day Warfarin 4mg a day and Losartan 250mg, also Levithyroxin after the last spate of Amiodoryn. Is there a chat room on this Forum. :) Thank youx

Beth..........................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-04-28 04:04:13


............................I know loads of people in the world of Medicine......

These are not softies....

If you are a potential PM candidate..they will not mess about with any 'dont know' cases.

The big picture of accountability prevents any un nessesary PM implants,....

If you find yourself on the road to a PM implant ,..it is because...

You need one to be certain to ,..not ,..wake up dead

Sorry to be blunt

passing out when you are driving towards a totally innocent guy on a road (been there)

Is a pretty unfair thing to do

Get a PM....save a Road Crash

tattoo Man


Tattoo man

by BStanding56 - 2013-04-28 04:04:24

I am not questioning that, I am just trying to find out as much information as possible about the procedure and outcomes. I would be a fool not to. Where does the road crash come in? I am a responsible person and would not put someone else's life in jeapordy

Hello again Beth

by IAN MC - 2013-04-28 05:04:23

You say that " looking at the net, so many people seem to be having problems with PMs "

It is sad that you have got this impression because well over 5 million people now have pacemakers and the overwhelming vast majority have no problems whatsoever.
,,,, because they don't have problems they never contact forums such as this one.

As for the procedure , it is very minor ( mine took under an hour ) , it can be done under a local anaesthetic and I can honestly say it was no worse than a visit to the dentist.

I am delighted that you are responsible enough not to drive while having the risk of fainting .. not everyone is ! but the underlying message from Tattoo Man was sound . It is impossible not to put your own life and the lives of other people in jeopardy when you faint unless you spend your life in an armchair . We had a case locally where a young mother fainted and fatally injured her baby who happened to be in the way at the time. So anything which prevents fainting is a must.

Presumably you have asked your Dr about likely outcomes in having a PM for your particular condition; I hope he gave you very re-assuring answers !

.. if you have any specific concerns, please raise them here and people will help you in any way the can.

Ian

Beth.........

by Tattoo Man - 2013-04-28 05:04:53


..........................in the real world bradychardic people can just pass out at the wheel...

If you are VERY lucky..you have someone in the passengers seat who can grab the wheel and get you ALL to safety..

BStanding.....think on this

Tattoo Man

Been there..done that..

Hi

by cropduster - 2013-04-28 05:04:54

I can only speak from my own experience. I've had my pm for less than 2 months, for fainting, low heart rate, feeling constantly sick, tired etc. Now I feel great. No regrets. I do running, physical exercise, I don't even think about pm anymore. It takes one or 2 visits to pm clinic post implant to get the settings right as we are all different, but it is worth it in the end.

IAN..................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-04-28 06:04:37


..............................as, so often,..thank you for your endorsement...............when that innocuous sedan crosses the road and is heading in your direction with the driver slumped over the wheel....

Just how many choices do you have ??

Tattoo Man

Beth

by IAN MC - 2013-04-28 08:04:01

The fact that you have atrial fibrillation indicates that you have an electrical problem in your heart.

The fact that have been fainting suggests that your heart rate has been falling to dangerously low levels. When your HR falls you get a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain and you can "collapse" ( although there are many other causes of fainting ! )

If your collapsing has been caused by an electrical problem in your heart leading to bradycardia, and this has been confirmed by ECG then yes, you need a pacemaker and yes, it will be 100 % successful in stopping the fainting.

It is unlikely though that a PM will be the answer for your atrial fibrillation; you will need drugs for that as first line of attack ( if they don't work , you may eventually need cardio-version or ablation.)

But you must sort out your collapsing as a matter of urgency and, I repeat, a PM will almost definitely be the answer !

Best of luck

Ian

why

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-28 08:04:02

Did you collapse from the afib or did your heart dip? Afib is going too fast, all a pm can do is add beats when the heart is too slow. There are three ways they may use a pm to treat afib. If they ablate the av node, then the ventricle never knows the heart is in afib and the pm can keep the heart rate steady in the ventricles. Or, they may want to do a higher dosage of medication to stop the afib, but a side effect of that is a very low resting rate that can be fixed with a pm. Or, there are some new pm's that can try to pace out of afib.

The first approach is usually meds, then if that doesn't work, ablation. After that is when they generally talk pm.

But none of that has anything to do with passing out. If you passed out because the heart dipped too low or paused, a pm will help with that most definitely. But it's not a cure for afib.

pacemaker

by pabrown - 2013-04-28 08:04:22

I agree with Ian, Afib is not anything to fool around with!!
Praying for you, Beth

Pat

Thank you for replying

by BStanding56 - 2013-04-28 12:04:41

I developed Af 4 years ago after a dose of Flue, I was being treated for Asthma for 8 months but after repeated visits to my Doctor saying that I felt so unwell, he happened to take my pulse went grey in the face and told me to go to A&E where it was found that I was having heart failure. I was given a Cardioversion which worked for a short while but again the AF episodes became more frequent, since I have had 2 Cardioversions and Two ablations ,since last October I have collapsed in total 3 times, each time I thought I was dying, each time I have been in Af. since the last Ablation I have felt reasonable well and have had a good quality of life. I am now 66 but these collapse leave me extremely frightened. I am due to go to the Heart and Chest Hospital in two weeks time, where I strongly suspect a Pace and Ablate will be discussed. Looking on the net so many people seem to be having problems with them which is even more frightening. I don't know anyone who has a pacemaker so feel rather alone, so looked for a Forum where hopefully I could talk to someone. The last collaps was when in the shower last week, I ended up in Hospital, they have put me on Amiodoryn, I have been on it before and hate the medication but don't know if I have the choice, this I will discuss when I see my Consultant at Liverpool. I know a PM is not a cure for Af but hooooow successful are they. Thanks so much for answering my postxBeth

Thank you

by BStanding56 - 2013-04-29 04:04:27

Thank youx I feel more reassured now, not knowing what to expect is frightening. when I passed out at Christmas Paramedic said it was a vagus vagal attack and could happen to anyone and nothing to do with my Af although I now have my doubts. Each time I have felt as if going to pass outI have had some warning/notice so have put myself on the floor save falling.I do not always pass out completely. Will be glad to see my Consultant on the 15th to see what he has to say.
Regards,
Beth

Found chat roomx

by BStanding56 - 2013-04-29 05:04:02

Will pop in at 10am, to see what goes on, I am so pleased to find this forumx

is there a chat room

by BStanding56 - 2013-04-29 05:04:10

Niticed it says a number of names now in chat, does that mean there is a chat room or that people are just looking at the posts?

Beth

by jeanlancour - 2013-04-29 12:04:23

A PM is a wonderful tool to keep your heart from dipping to low or stopping. Like all tools it works best fitted to the person using it, it is easy to place and while not painless, it is not a migraine. Without it I most likely would not be here. I love the little guy. Jean

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