Micra Transcatheter pace maker

On December 15, I received the Micra pacemaker. My situation is different than what I have read in other posts. I have A-fib with high blood pressure and high pulse rate in the 90's when I am sitting. When told about the Micra, it took me 5 second to decide, as my heart could not continue to beat at 170 or higher when walking. If medicine controlled my blood pressure, my heart rate would increase, controlling my heart rate caused my blood pressure to drop. Six days into life with a pace maker is great, I have had no problems, my blood pressure is in range and my heart rate is in the 70's.. My Micra was programmed for 70 to 120 heart rate. I do not even think about the pacemaker. I still have a bit of a sleep problem, but even that is coming around. It will take a few weeks for body to get used to a heart that now has a regular beat. Kottkejr

3 Comments

Two things

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-21 09:12:28

Great positive report. Hope things continue to go well for you. Two things.

They keep the voltage high on your PM after it is first inserted. It helps the leads to attach to the heart. The high voltage can make your heart beat harder - it would keep me awake sometimes. So in a few weeks they'll drop the voltage and you should start sleeping better. No big deal on the voltage drop I was watching the tech when he did it and didn't feel a thing.

You have afib and a Medtronic PM. The Medtronic PM has a setting called APP (Atrial Preference Pacing). I had it turned on five months after I got my PM. APP is supposed to help with afib. You may want to discuss APP with your EP and see if it's something he wants to use.

I have afib and get it frequently. Between the APP and ATP with my Medtronic my afib sessions have been reduced. I hope between your medication and your Medtronic your afib sessions will be reduced too.

Hope things continue to go well for you.

Do not feel heart beat

by Kottkejr - 2014-12-22 02:12:32

I forgot to mention that I was hit with lightning in 1975 and do not have feelings in parts of my body. I have not felt my heart beat for a number of years, which in some respects is good. But, hard to explain to Doctors that I have no pain. That has to be a horrible feeling the heart beat and its irregular .

I only had light headedness and shortness of breath to know that something was wrong.

Kottkejr

PM working great

by Kottkejr - 2015-04-22 01:04:46

I rushed the Doctors and Medtronic in January so we could spent time going South. Two months and every thing worked out. No problems with PM,. But since getting home I have other health problems and my BP is way to high. Scheduled for Kidney stone surgery on the 27th. I am lucky tho, I feel good and getting good sleep with apnea machine.

For you folks that don't know about transcatheter PM, its about the size of a big vitamin tablet and its placed in the heart, no external wires or battery.

You know you're wired when...

You get your device tuned-up for hot dates.

Member Quotes

Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.