Pondering Pacemaker installation

May 2016: female aged 46. Persistent and complicated a-fib/flutter for past 2 years. Various meds tried including Tikosyn, metoprolol, Flecainide, digoxin, cardizem etc etc etc. Have had Mini-maze procedure, ablation, and 17 electrical cardioversions. Most recent 12/8/15, 3/9/16, 5/8/16 and out of rhythm again. EP wants to implant PM and do AV Node Ablation. Very concerned. This doesn't "cure" a-fib and it sounds like people don't "always" feel better afterwards. I am torn and seeking advice. This has impacted every facet of my life in a negative way and I experience huge bouts of depression and withdrawal every time I have an episode or hospitalization. I see some who regret the implant and some who say their lives are better than ever. I am completely terrified that my heart will depend on a man-made device to beat. Thanks for reading.....

4 Comments

devices

by hopefulheart - 2016-05-11 02:05:27

You mention those who are not happy with a device choice. Have you thought about how many of those would actually be here to complain of their choice for a device had they not chosen to have one? You are so right to question and learn all you can about your particular case and a device for your particular need as well as the quality of medical care you will receive, but from the history of your post, doing nothing is not serving you well. Both support and understanding along with experience are here any time for you,
hopefulheart

Av node ablation

by orangebowls - 2016-05-11 10:05:48

Hi . I was similar to you, all meds did no good .had a cardioversion. was ok for 5 days . then back in af could not do anything without being exhausted and out of breath.
thought this is the end of me. I was 79 so after a lot of thought . I said to my self I have nothing to lose, I cant live like this I had a st jude biventricular pm put in and 2 months after the av ablation . all this was 14 months ago
best decision I ever made . back playing lawn bowls twice a week. going for walks. mowing my lawns etc
I was concerned like you about solely relying on pm. but now rarely think about it, if the pm should fail [ which they don't] i am told you ill still have a heart beat of between
20 - 40 beats that will keep you alive , some other member might be able to explain this better, but the last thing you should be concerned about is pm malfunction
they are so reliable, all the best to you. Norm AU.






man-made devices

by Tracey_E - 2016-05-11 12:05:24

Every time you drive your car or get in an airplane, you are dependent on a man-made device. Just something to think about ;)

Pacers are much more dependable than our wonky hearts and the idea of having one is often worse than the reality of it. Reality is, once we heal and feel better, most of us forget it's there. I'm a few years older than you (49) but have been paced every beat since 1994. It's never once let me down, there's never been anything I wanted to do that I cannot because of it. I have a different problem than you- congenital av block so I was basically born with what you will have after the ablation- but it truly gave me my life back.

Most everyone develops some type of an intrinsic rhythm a few months after the ablation, so it's extremely rare to have no underlying rhythm and truly be dependent on the pacer. We may be dependent on it to feel good, but if it were to shut off (NEVER happens!!!), we would survive until it could be fixed. That said, they do not fail. They have all sorts of safety mechanisms built in so if for some rare reason it malfunctioned, it would revert to a safe mode.

I'm sure some other members will chime in who have been through it so you can get first hand pov, but the vast majority feel significantly better after av node ablation. It's not to be taken lightly, but when you have tried everything else and when you have no quality of life, it's the right choice. You're way too young to feel old.

Thanks all!

by Dmb4500 - 2016-05-17 01:05:03

TraceyE: Outstanding point right from the gate. Quite an eye opening statement. You are also right in recognizing how old I feel and it has become quite a burden that I seek to lift. My biggest concern (I think) is that I will do this and feel exactly as I do right now. I had the mini-maze procedure with high expectations that things would be normal again; after a year, those expectations have not born fruit. 1994 -- so young! I am happy it had been so beneficial for you, and will keep group posted. I have a second opinion set up with Cleveland Clinic for 6/14. I will be getting a cardio version tomorrow (5/17) it's # 18!

Hopefulheart: Excellent point as well! Of course I want to be here but I want to enjoy my time here as long it may still last! Thank you for the point blank advice!

Orangebowls: So glad to hear that your procedure has been so helpful for you! That is the story I want to end up telling. I am still overwhelmed how I got to this point in just two years. I tell people now not to take their health for granted. I did find out my device would be a dual chamber....I still have so much to learn.

Thanks thanks thanks everyone

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.