Has a PM improved your life?

Hi guys,

I was hoping anyone has suggestions or advice for me. I just found out that I have a complete heart block which is congenital. I have visited the cardiologist, and although I am asymptomatic he recommends I get a PM put in just in case I do start showing symptoms or in the advent of complete heart failure.

This condition has never really affected my life, it was a fluke that I discovered it too. I am 29 years old and feel like getting a PM, at this age especially since I don't have any degeneration symptoms, is necessary. Of course the cardiologist said it is completely my decision and he can only recommend and he understands why I feel the way I do, but insists I should think about it.

Is there anyone who has been in a similar situation? Has your life improved by using a PM? Any information would be really helpful. (Also, I'm susceptible to keloids, have has them before and sure that this scar will keloid too)



5 Comments

Pacemakers actually can activate the heat naturally

by Terry - 2016-02-25 06:02:01

Be sure to consider activation of the heart's conduction system to prevent well known deleterious effects of pacing in the ventricles. I suspect you have a viable cardiac conduction system (Google that). If so, you may be able to prevent heart failure hospitalization that is associated with conventional ventricular pacing that bypasses the cardiac conduction system. See the 7-minute movie at His-pacing.org.
Terry

CCHB

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-25 08:02:08

Been there, done that, 20 years ago. I have congenital complete heart block also and was largely asymptomatic until my mid 20's. Unlike you, my doctor didn't want to pace someone young and wanted me to wait as long as possible. In hindsight, I really regret/resent that. When I started getting symptoms, it came on gradually, so gradually that I didn't realize how bad it had gotten until after I felt better. My rate was always in the 40's, then dropped to the 30's when I started getting symptoms, then one day it tanked and my rate was 22 when I was admitted for emergency surgery. In case you're wondering, that is NOT the easy way to do it, lol. Wish I'd just done it when I first started getting tired and dizzy more often. I struggled through two years when I could have been thriving.

I felt energized after, much better than I ever expected. I wish he would have encouraged me to do it at the first sign of slowing down. I was 27 when I got the first one, got my 5th one a few weeks ago. I'm healthy and active, and I've never once regretted it. Honestly, I don't even think about it that often, other than to be grateful my condition has a fix.

Heart failure due to untreated block is highly unlikely. Having the heart out of sync, having a heart rate that does not go up with activity, tho, are hard on the body. Organs need oxygen. The older we get, the less the body is able to compensate.

Heart failure due to pacing happens, but again, it's unlikely. They place leads differently than they used to, they keep an eye on us, and in the event it does happen, treatments have come a long way so it doesn't always mean a change in lifestyle. I don't worry about it much. There are lots of things in life I consider a lot more scary, and not being paced is not an option so it is what it is. I figure having the heart condition makes me more aware of my health. I'm well monitored, I eat well, and I stay active so that probably puts me in a better position than someone else my age who lives on fast food and never gives heart health a thought.

Two questions I would ask myself before making a decision
-Are you able to exercise and be as active as you want?
-Have you had a Holter to see if your rate dips at night?
If you can't do what you want to do, if you are tired a lot, if you start getting dizzy, if your rate is dipping at night, then imo it's time to do it. Until then, just watch.

When it's time to do it, ask your cardiologist about bringing in a plastic surgeon to help with the placement. Mine did and it worked out great. He put it lower and deeper than usual so it's not in my way at all, and he did an amazing job with the scar. I don't know that there's much they can do when you have a history of keloid, but a plastics guy is going to know a lot more than a heart guy.

good luck

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-26 04:02:08

If you have questions or want to chat, just holler!

Congenital HB

by staals - 2016-02-26 04:02:44

I too have congenital complete heart block. My 1st dual chamber pacemaker was placed when I was 32. They had watched me for years and told me when I became symptomatic they would place it. I didn't have the energy to get out of a chair and the dizzy spells were horrible. The holter monitor showed rate of 30 and at night 11. They put me in as an emergency the next day and placed it.

Personally, I feel I waited to long to have it placed. I felt like a new person once I got it. I could have kicked myself for waiting so long. I never realized how lousy I felt because I never knew anything different.

I have keloids also and I just had my 3rd pacemaker placed and I have a new doctor for this one and the incision is healing much better than the first two incisions. I don't know if it has to do with the surgeon?

Good luck making your decision.

feeling confident

by zee - 2016-02-26 10:02:02

Thank you guys. It means a lot to me that you guys took the time out to give me advice. It definitely makes me more confident about getting the surgery done. I'm going to wait for the doctor's letter and then make my final decision.

You know you're wired when...

Lifetime warranty no longer gives peace of mind.

Member Quotes

A pacemaker completely solved my problem. In fact, it was implanted just 7 weeks ago and I ran a race today, placed first in my age group.