April 7, 2016 is install date

Im a 49 yo male. Im getting a CRT-Defib installed on April 7th. This all came out of no where when i went to Dr about my arm that i hurt working out. they talked me into a physical and then said my ekg didnt look right and sent me cardiologist. My EF cam back at 29% after an echo. they did a heart cath but said my arteries are clean. I forget what they called it, but the left and right sides of my heart are not synchronized like they should be causing my heart to weaken. they put me on meds that might make the EF go up but they wont address the synchronization problem, thus the CRT-D. All of this in less than six months. I've never had any symptoms, so I guess I should count my blessings that it was discovered. But everything is happening so fast. I got divorced about 18 months ago and since have become very active, I'm worried how having the CRT-D will effect me.Everyone is shocked when i tell them whats happening so I dont feel I have anyone to talk to about it. I cant even find a pic of what it will look like once installed. The CRT seems to be a lot bigger than a pacemaker. Between the financial burden and being scared shitless about whats about to happen, I seem to be feeling pretty low and emotional these days. if i havnt had any symptoms will i even feel any better once its installed. I feel lost and alone.

4 Comments

Take a deep breath...You are not alone.

by Suz2015 - 2016-03-28 02:03:04

I get what you are saying. I'm 57 and female, but had a very similar Dr.s appt. Mine was found by a very knowledgeable tech, scanning me for "other" problems.
I had my PM (CRT-D) implanted on Nov 19,2015. Yes it is a lot larger than some, but it does a lot more ! My EF was 15%, After 3+ months of meds I went to 20%, that was also while wearing a ZOLL vest the whole time,(not comfortable, but necessary).
I recently had a scare and went to the hospital, and they did another scan, I am now up to 30-35% EF. I think knowing that is is rising is helping my emotional attitude.

While I am not back to were I want to be yet, it is coming slowly and my exercise regimen is no where near yours, but I am very active.
I do Art shows for a living, so I am putting up and taking down equipment 2x's each weekend, and I work about 30 weekends per year. I think not being able to lift my left elbow over my shoulder was the most trying.
As you read more on this site, you will "meet" many others with similar symptoms and life styles, who talk about how they are doing very well, their stories have helped to ease my mind.
Keep positive thoughts
Wishing you "enough"

I could have written this...

by robertc - 2016-03-29 02:03:03

I was in almost the same place you are now. 51 year old male, no symptoms, Cardiomyopathy and Left Bundle Branch Block (causing imbalance in left & right ventricles) discovered during a physical, EF of 20%, on Coreg for 8 months with no change in EF so I needed an ICD to avoid SCA

Got a CRT-D implanted five weeks ago and it was much more straight forward than I thought it would be. CRT-D is larger than a straight ICD but not all that much...don't really notice the lump unless you're looking for it. Scar is about 3" long and mine healed up just fine in a couple of weeks. I have a followup in a couple of months where they'll remeasure my EF...hoping for an improvement and I think I do feel better but since I didn't have any symptoms, it's hard to tell.

Started cycling as hard as I'd like to and jog about 11 minute miles for 5 miles in the last couple of weeks (2-3 after surgery) and feel fine.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions...you're definitely not alone.

Ditto... Ditto... :-)

by DampDog - 2016-03-29 08:03:18

@jwrobb

Ditto... Ditto.. :-)

During a routine follow-up my consultant mentioned it might be me worth seeing one of his colleges who specialised in pacing. Only symptoms I had were becoming a little more breathless when jogging & feeling a little fatigued, which I just put down to getting a little older 53.(and having had heart attacks in the past)

Turns out I have LBBB and the associated dyssynchrony of the left and right ventricles that goes with it. Ischemic cardiomyopathy with my heart already being enlarged by about 20% and an EF of 33%. Plus bradycardia which I knew about.

Upshot is following a shed load of tests and scans I had a CRT-D implanted 4 weeks back. What should have been a day-case implant turned into 10 days in hospital due to a post op infection but antibiotics have now finished and the wound implant site is healing.

It's OK to be scared, it may be a routine procedure but does leave you sore to begin with. It leaves a new "bump" in your chest, that to begin with feels huge, but a month in and it doesn't feel anything like as big as I imagined it would in the first couple of weeks. I'm pretty weedy at 170lbs but I wouldn't say it's overly prominent. I'll be honest and say that I have felt pretty down since having the implant, (probably not helped by the hospital stay which was a pretty rough ride initially) Also as my symptoms were so mild to begin with, so there is no immediate benefit. However that is not uncommon and part of the healing process to feel a little down following the procedure.

I suspect that you're in the same boat as myself and it is not about easing symptoms, more about limiting the damage that the dyssynchrony causes in the long term.

Good luck with anyway.
DD

wait and see

by jwrobb - 2016-04-01 11:04:32

i recieved a call from the nurse yesterday, insurance wants another echo. If its above 35% i guess i wont qualify.

robertc, my situation is almost identical to yours, cardiomyopathy with LBBB. EF 29%, found during a physical with no symptoms. taking coreg. im glad to hear you were able to go back to biking.

Theyve resched me to April 14th, will have to see what the echo shows up now.

Thank everyone for the words of encouragement!! at least im not alone.

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