Mobitz 2 Block PM Wearers

Hi! New member to the club with two chamber Boston PM surgery about 5 weeks ago.  I am 77 male with family curse of heart disease, couple stents 20 years ago, AFIB about 10, and now Mobitz 2 Block for slow heart beat, PM is set for 60.  I have taken my pulse at rest for years day and night, it has never been below 59?

Have no symptoms, had the second of two afib episodes over 10 years a couple months ago that self corrected, but the cardiologist had me wear the halter for 30 days. After 10 days, got the dreaded call to come in and see him - slow heart beat the block, you need a PM. It was a shock since I am pretty active with taking up mountain hiking a couple years ago, Grand Canyon, various peaks in Texas and California...still in denial.  I have started training with walks/jogs of 3 miles since the surgery, hoping to do Pike's Peak in the Fall?

Have had various inputs from professionals/techs, but the prognosis for blockage II varies from very optimistic, no big thing with the  PM to ones of caution.   So if there is anyone on the board with the blockage II any comments on how it is going, progression of the disease to III  and prognosis with the PM would be appreciated. Thanks.

3 Comments

normal life

by Tracey_E - 2017-04-26 17:45:07

The pacer steps in when we are in block so it leaves us with a normal heart rate. Yes, it can often progress to III, but you've already got the fix in place so you won't feel it if/when it happens. I was born with III so I skipped over the whole progression thing. Having 3rd degree block with a pacer is no big deal. I'm healthy and active and do what I want.

If your doctor clears you to hike Pikes Peak, go hike Pikes Peak! If anything, you should have more stamina now and be more safe when you hike. I have a picture in the gallery of me and my daughter in front of the sign at a hike in Yellowstone warning it was not for cardiac patients. Taken after we completed the hike, of course :) 

TracyE Comment

by MtHiker - 2017-04-26 21:07:27

TracyE :

Alright !!, a positive upbeat prognosis from a fellow hiker. Thanks for your insight, total block seemed extremely ominous. No big deal, I'll take it!

As far as feeling better, so far the same as before the PM? Though, an appointment with my regular cardiologist, he said three times, I won't feel any improvement, it is there to prevent passing out .... Though, a post surgery appointment with the cardio surgeon a few weeks after, he asked, if I felt better with the PM? Would welcome the extra stamina on the trails.

Again, thanks for the post!

Mh

not ominous

by Tracey_E - 2017-04-27 08:12:55

It sounds worse than it is. What it really is, is a short circuit in an otherwise healthy heart. Afib and clogged arteries are more serious and harder to fix, but you've already overcome those. 

I discovered hiking (and pretty much everything else active that I now love) after getting the first pacemaker. My block is congenital and before being paced I had very limited stamina, grew up unable to do sports and being the scorekeeper in gym class. Pacing doesn't hold us back, it can be just the opposite.

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.