100% Paced

Hi to all,
I have been 100% surgically induced paced since August 1990 and have had 5 pacemakers since with several leads. I mean that I am surely wired for sound. I worry that a wire will come loose and kill me, I have no heart rhythm without my trusty pacemaker! I was born with WPW, has anyone out there had this experience? As far as I know I was one of the only people to have the experimental surgery done who survived. Does anyone have a similar story? Thanks, Kim

3 Comments

Surgically induced block

by golden_snitch - 2014-11-26 01:11:46

Hi Kim,

while there might not be many here who had a surgically induced heart block, there are quite a few who had an AV-node ablation, which leads to the same result: a permanent 3rd degree block. And there might be a few who had open heart surgery and ended up with a heart block after that, so that's kind of surgically induced (but not on purpose). Don't know why people should not survive a surgically induced block. I mean, all you need to fix it is a pacemaker.

I had an AV-node ablation, the escape rhythm from my ventricles is around 30-40bpm. I'm paced 100% atria and ventricles, but I don't consider myself to be pacemaker dependent. My heart stopped during the last replacement, but we think that was only due to sedation. The heart has several backup rhythms, so there are very, very few people out there who really have no rhythm at all when the pacemaker is switched off.

Inga

Wpw...?

by Xxmikexx - 2014-11-26 05:11:31

I'm new here and reading/learning. what is wpw?

Don't Worry

by Many Blessings - 2014-11-26 08:11:14

Hi Kim,

I hate to just say don't worry when you're worried, but you just can't worry about that happening. Not to say it has never happened, because I'm sure it has with someone out here, but I don't believe it's a very common thing at all.

I had an AV Node ablation, and according to my cardio docs and EP, my escape rhythm is undetectable, which means it is well below 20. Definitely, PM dependent according to all of them. I know of several others on this site who are in the same situation so they are out there. Like Inga said, if your escape rate is higher, you can still survive if you have that happen to your lead from what I've been told. You'd feel like #%$#, but you could most likely make it to the hospital in time or call for help.

Find out what your escape rate/rhythm is and that might put your mind at ease. And, don't worry about what will happen during your PM change out down the way if you are PM dependent. My doctors have already explained to me that I will have a temporary external PM during my change out, so you would have the same thing.

I know others out here will comment with their experiences and put your mind at ease as well.

Take care!

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

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