New and newer. advice wanted

Hello ! I am preimptevly joining. I am going to get a pacemaker because of a junctional rhythm . I am not informed about all of this and have gotten a lot of info in two days. Do y'all have any advice on things I should consider or tell my Cardiologist ? Ant websites you suggest on info to educate me. Thank you so much !

3 Comments

learning the ropes

by Tracey_E - 2016-01-13 05:01:14

Your found us, that's a great start! If you have questions about the procedure or living with a pacer, ask away. You didn't fill in the profile so we don't know anything about you. Depending on your age, talk to your dr about activity. If you are very active, that may affect which device they choose for you and where they place it.

St Judes website is a wonderful resource. It has animations that show how the heart beats, many of the problems that lead to pacing, and how the pacer works.
http://health.sjm.com/arrhythmia-answers/videos-and-animations

Write down your questions! Don't know about you, but I have a list of things I want to ask, then I get there and get amnesia. So now I write it down.

Questions

by BillH - 2016-01-13 05:01:40

Hopefully you will have a cardiologist that will discuss your condition in details.

Do you have an junction rhythm that is too fast? Or is the an escape (backup) rhythm because the sinus node is too slow or pauses?

What kind of PM, single or dual chamber?

How will the PM over come the problem?

Would an ablation and/or meds also be needed.

If meds what is typical side effects.

Is rate response needed (where the PM senses activity to increase pacing rate)? If so what is your activity level and what kind of activities?

Complications

by Terry - 2016-01-13 06:01:56

Your doctors should warn you about the well known risk factors of apical pacing in the ventricles. Google cardiac conduction system, You may want to suggest that they not bypass the cardiac conduction system. There is a 7-minute movie that focuses on that at His-pacing.org.
All the best,
Terry

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.