FREAKING OUT!

Hello, I have a heart defect I was born with. I had my pacemaker replaced in May 2014. Now I am being told that my heart is skipping beats and I need another lead added to my pacemaker for the bottom chamber of my heart. I had my pacemaker placed durning open heart surgery 11yrs ago so the leads are on the outside of the heart. The doctor is taking about replacing all the leads and adding the new one. From what I have read they can not remove the leads placed on the outside of the heart.

My question is has anyone had this done? What are the risks of the surgery? What is the recovery time?
Please help! I am totally freaking out and I'm obsessing about it 24/7.

5 Comments

Don't freak out

by vattens1 - 2014-11-08 10:11:10

Did you ask your Dr this question I have two leads bottom and to both attached to the outside and work fine. Talk to your Dr they will put your mind at ease

Merrilee.........

by Tattoo Man - 2014-11-09 01:11:03


............good advice above here...freaking out is , in my view,..not that surprising....I .mean,...you just don't want it..do you ?

To help you feel better about the procedure, it might help if you asked what experience the doctor had in this area...any true professional will be honest about his / her track record.

I have had a total removal / replacement..leads and all ,...and am just fine.

Tattoo Man

Merrilee.........

by Tattoo Man - 2014-11-09 01:11:07


............good advice above here...freaking out is , in my view,..not that surprising....I .mean,...you just don't want it..do you ?

To help you feel better about the procedure, it might help if you asked what experience the doctor had in this area...any true professional will be honest about his / her track record.

I have had a total removal / replacement..leads and all ,...and am just fine.

Tattoo Man

Ask your doctor

by cabbie - 2014-11-09 07:11:01

Yes i agree better ask your doctors and save yourself all this stress. They should explain any procedures they are planning to do on you by the way.

It's all good

by cheshirealice - 2014-11-12 07:11:37

Hey! It's okay! I have a very similar situation as you. My old PM was in my abdomen and what they did is take it out and abandon the leads. They capped them like wires in a house. They put a new PM sub-pec and ran new leads through. It's not a complicated procedure but 2 procedures in one.

If you have any more questions let me know.
Best,
Erica

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