3rd PM in 11 years

What am I doing wrong, is it me. I was diagnosed with a 2:1 heart block in the AV node. I have always been an athlete Soccer since 5 (travel, CSL, OFSAA) took up weight training in high school, lamented not playing football, and then took up crossfit a while ago and have since ceased as my affiliate is a poor environment. So to my question, i went for a check up on nov 22, they noticed my sensing lead was damaged(the outer portion i believe something about a coil) the technician consulted a doctor who consulted the surgeon who implanted the last two who said since he is asymptomatic we shall send him home for 10 weeks with the orders to not lift heavy not to press outwardly rotate my arm do handstands or things that will crush the lead. It was vague they did not explain things well to me and i did not like that i was not included in the discussion where it was determined I am asymptomatic. SO am I doing something wrong to be needing a 3rd PM by the time the first should be dying. At this point i do no excercise of any kind am to scared to start any program and am not playing soccer and do not know when i will be able to return to my first ever love.

2 Comments

I understand

by Good Dog - 2016-01-14 06:01:11

I can certainly understand how you feel! If I were you I'd schedule an appointment with the doc and insist that he give you answers. You deserve it. You certainly can't blame the doc for things that may go wrong with your PM or leads. However, you can blame him for not keeping you abreast of what has occurred and the prognosis. It is understandable that doctors get swamped at times and can overlook our personal needs. That is when you need to step-up and say "hey, I need your attention". You should explain that you are very active and this problem has diminished your quality of life. It is important for you to get that back as soon as is reasonably possible. Since it seems like you have had more "equipment" problems than the norm, I would explore the possibility of changing to a different manufacturer.
Lastly, If you can't get satisfaction from your doc, then you should explore your options. I am sure you can find a new Cardiologist EP if this one doesn't give you the level of treatment you deserve. Just remember, he is working for you. Not the opposite. Ideally, you work together on restoring your quality of life.
Sincerely,
David

it's not you

by Tracey_E - 2016-01-14 07:01:44

Can you sit down with your dr and have a discussion about exactly what's going on, what caused it, and make a plan to fix it? It sounds like the insulation is ruptured. The analogy they gave me when I had that happen was they have to crank up the juice to get the signal through. So it still works, but it kills the battery quickly, like running the AC with the window open. The house cools but the power bill jumps. That has nothing to do with how active you are or anything you are doing. I don't know why they'd limit your activity now once the damage is already done, unless they're worried about further damage, enough that it stops pacing. If that's the case, you can still run and do other activities, get your rate up without stressing the lead.

If it's pacing there's no reason you'd have symptoms, just a battery draining quickly, so I don't see why they'd be worried about whether or not you're asymptomatic. They will probably wait until the battery is dead to fix the lead as long as it's pacing, that's what they did with mine. Ask that the new lead be placed where it can't be crushed. They can put it lower and deeper than where your current one probably is.

I'm about to get #5 since 1994, longest I've ever had one last is 7 years which is about average. Plenty of people have them last longer, but 5-7 is considered normal. They told me my next one will have a different type of battery and should last 10-12, fingers crossed. Let's hope both of our next ones last a lot longer!

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