Second doubts

to implant, or not...that is the question

by The real Patch - 2018-04-10 18:37:22

I can appreciate your dilemma but sadly I cannot advise you on your decision, only you can make that choice. I can however explain some things to hopefully help in your decision as to what is best for you.

First, let's be clear right up front, it's a crap shoot. You've gone all this time with no problems but frankly tomorrow you could drop from sudden cardiac arrest. Then again, you could get a device and get hit by a car the next day. Life is a gamble.

It sounds like you have what is commonly referred to as Brady Tachy which simply means slow and fast heart rates.

Brady cardia (slow heart rate) at rest is considered to be anything below 60 beats per minute. Normal varies by individuals and is anything from 60 to 100 bpm.. What happens with Brady Cardia is that your organs and tissues begin dying from lack of proper oxygen and nutrient rich blood flowing out to your body. Symptoms such as tired or lack of energy, shortness of breath, dizzy, light headed and fainting (syncope) are all effects you may experience.

Tachy Cardia or fast heart is any heart rate above 100 bpm while at rest. Even with exercise the rate of 269bpm you reported is dangerous. What happens is that the heart is going too fast and doesn't piump as efficiently that plus it can go out of control and go into a rhythm known as Ventricular Fibrillation which is where the heart is going so fast that no blood is being pumped and you black out within seconds and usually go into SCA (sudden Cardiac Arrest) also known as flat lining, no heart beat. Very small percentage of people with go into VFib survive without having a defibrillator device implanted. Now on this we are strictly talking about the bottom (ventricles ) of the heart. If you have tachy cardia in the top of the heart (atrium) that's a whole other set of issues, but no where near as risky.

Getting a device is quite common and highly successful, but not without risk. I had one of the top docs install my second device and had all kinds of problems for 6 months resulting in removal of my device and wire and recovery during that 6 month period. There arew other thimngs that can go wrong, and some people even report feeling wortse after geting a device.  So when they tell you there are risks don't let anybody downplay the possibility.

One final thought, I didn't quite get your comment about end up dying anyway...nobody has ever survived life and I seriously doubt getting a device is going to improve those odds.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Doubts

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-04-10 22:58:00

A device can help manage the much more severe consequences of not having one.  In other words, it may help you enjoy many more years of life.  You mention having dementia.  This covers a wide range of abilities and progresses at varying rates.  I would do whatever I can to make the most of the years ahead.  There is so much to live for....

Lack of Oxygen

by marylandpm - 2018-04-10 23:22:18

How do you know that the dementia is not caused by the slow heart rate and getting the pacemaker might fix that. I know I got reality slow thinking just before getting my PM. 

I had doubts too

by Jenni.k - 2018-04-17 22:47:08

I was told I needed a pacemaker when I was 26. I avoided it until a month ago at age 41. I have rarely had bothersome symptoms, but the risk was that it could spontaneously get worse one day. All that to say that I have rationalized all the reasons why I didn't need one. I was terrified of the surgery, of the pacemaker causing some kind of problem I never would have had, of somehow shortening my life. I'm four weeks post surgery, and so far...it's been pretty anti-climatic in a good way. Surgery was fine. It doesn't even look that bad. I can tell that once my incision heals and I can fully use my arm again I won't even notice it. So, obviously I can't tell you what to decide, but for me the fear was much worse than the reality!