Did I make a mistake

I had a pacemaker installed in February and two subsequent checkups showed that I was being paced at less than 1 percent. Prior to the installation of the pacemaker, I had four dizzy spells in a two week span I actually passed out briefly on the last episode. I was wearing a heart monitor at the time (I got it that morning) and the complete heart block episode was caught on the monitor. Two days later I had a pacemaker. The doctors said it is too dangerous to walk around without protection..I could hurt myself or someone else. I am only 51 and am in perfect health otherwise. Did I act too hasty or did I have to get the pacemaker?

7 Comments

I think you know the answer, Jody !

by IAN MC - 2014-04-09 05:04:03

It seems to me that you could have died in one of those "less than 1% " moments and worse still, you could have killed someone else !

I suggest that you move on and stop asking yourself whether,or not, you should have had a PM. You have it now; it is stopping you from passing out. Celebrate !!

Best of luck

Ian

1% pacing

by bluebowtye - 2014-04-09 05:04:23

Hi Jody,

When I had my first interrogation 3 weeks after getting my PM implanted it showed I was only pacing at 14%. My husband did not think it was necessary for me to get a PM but my Dr. explained that 2nd degree heart block (my diagnosis) can rapidly progress to 3rd degree and that my heart needs to beat correctly 100% of the time, not 99%, not 86%. Like others have said, that 1% could be dangerous. He told me I definitely needed the PM because the block had already gotten worse from when they interrogated it in the hospital (I did not get a copy of that report).Now if it does progress I don't have to worry about passing out because my PM will take care of me and that is the same for you!

I believe you made the right decision. I did not get a choice. My Dr. flat out told me I needed a PM asap after I had 2 fainting episodes in one night with no other symptoms whatsoever.

Good luck to you!

~Sheila

NO!

by Jonny - 2014-04-09 06:04:21

Of course you didn't. John

1%

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-09 10:04:32

It only takes kicking in once to save you from passing out. The few beats that it works are miniscule statistically, but that doesn't mean they're not crucial.

Amazing!

by kmom - 2014-04-09 12:04:25

I really don't know how much i'm being paced yet although the guy yesterday morning when he checked my PM said he thought around 80% but I guess i'll find out when I get interrogated for the first time next week. I can already tell the difference it's made--that could be the higher dose of propafenone too for the a-fib? but stairs don't kill me anymore and I do feel soo much better! just need to get myself back in shape!

no mistake

by judyblue - 2014-04-10 08:04:19

I too am 51. I pace at 4% atrial and less than 1% ventricle. I have had a miserable recovery, yet every time I walk down the 52 cement steps from work, I think about passing out and falling down them! I also have a new Dodge Charger that I would not be able to safely drive. And in the ICU right before getting pm, my husband had to experience the fright of my heart rate dropping to zero. But I questioned it at the beginning too. From what I have learned all these conditions worsen over time. So our low pacing now may increase in the future and we won't have to worry about hurting ourselves or others.
good luck to both of us with this new way of living.
judy

Yeah, it's worth it....

by nickp - 2014-04-29 08:04:12

I too got my pacemaker after passing out. Unfortunately, I was driving at the time I passed out.

Over the river, thru the woods, down an embankment, and into the front of a house we went while I was in la-la land. My poor wife had to take the ride awake. I woke up wondering why the airbags were deployed. Only blind luck kept me from killing somebody.

That night in the hospital, my heart stopped again, and the PM became my best friend.

I too am pacing <1% of the time, and only in the upper chamber. But I'm figuring that 1% could be at 65mph, and this technology that we've all taken to heart is keeping me from taking out more than a house.

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.