PM for A-fib. Tips?

Hi there, I'm a newbie on here and I'm after any insights/watch outs ahead of a consultation to discuss insertion of a pm.
I'm a spritely 38 years with two very active boys aged 8 and 12. I had SVT when I was younger, cured instantly with an ablation 11 years ago. I've been active and fine until the beginning of this year when I started getting increasingly prolonged bouts of a-fib (average 10-14 hours), with second degree heart block thrown in randomly. These episodes wipe me out for days and my condition has deteriorated to the point where I'm unable to work, I'm mostly housebound, and any outing I do make requires a few days either side of rest and recovery.
My resting heart rate is too low for medication so a pacemaker is my only real chance at hopefully regaining some normalcy. Thankfully my condition isn't life threatening, just very debilitating and frustrating. I have a consultation with my cardiologist in two weeks to discuss surgery and wondered if there's anything I should be asking, or should be aware of going in?
Many thanks for your insights
Michelle, NSW Australia

3 Comments

A-Fib control

by Roys - 2013-11-17 04:11:34

I had AF for 8 years, and was treated by an cardio, and had not much improvement, until I went to an Electrophysiologist, who did a PVI ablation. Things got better from then on.

I was 78 at the time, so at 38 I would get the best treatment I could find.
Cheers Roy

PM and Afib

by Bas - 2013-11-17 11:11:47

I had a pacemaker implant back in January this year! It was put in after bouts of Tachycardia and Bradycardia were not able to be controlled by meds. My lowest pulse was 40 and highest was 257. So the pacemaker is set at 60 bpm's which is great. The high pulse is something a pacemaker cannot control......so meds included Digoxin, Metropolol, l took Sotolol for a while until my heart became used to the meds and now on Amioderone and Warfarin.
I believe having the pacemaker was one of the best things to happen. This coming Thursday I go in for an Ablation which will hopefully cure the AF!
Namaste
Barry

PM helps treat afib

by Elleninminn - 2013-11-17 12:11:42

I had a similar situation to yours -- afib occurring frequently and longer, with scary incidents of heart block that sent me to the ER. My electrophysiologist told me a pacemaker would prevent heart block and, while it won't cure afib, make it easier to treat. Mine was implanted on Aug. 6, and I'm feeling great. I'm on a high dose of metoprolol that controls my heart rate. The episodes of afib are less frequent now and shorter, 3 to 6 hours as opposed to 24. At first, the drug made me sleepy, but I"ve adjusted to it and feel like my old self. With two young boys, you need all the strength you can muster. If your doctor recommends a pacemaker, don't be afraid to get one. I would ask the doctor what he expects the pacemaker to do for you and what drug(s) you will be taking. Sometimes, afib does disappear after a PM implant. That happened to two friends of mine, but not to me. Best of luck!

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Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.