Pacemaker dependent

Complete block changed

by marylandpm - 2018-05-18 08:41:11

     In 2015 I went into complete block and heart failure. Received a PM and was 100 % paced.

I was informed that my heart will always dependent on the PM.  During a recent checkup when the rate was lowered my heart took over without the help of the PM. I now have left bundle branch block not complete block. I was very pleased to see thiis.  Who knows? 

Pacemaker dependent

by 3degree - 2018-05-18 10:08:40

Thanks Marylandpm. Having followed these posts on the forum - esp 100% pacemaker dependents posts like Tracy's (thanks Tracy) and conflicting info in books and articles as well as cardiologists comments, it would seem once you are diagnosed with high degree block and/or unreliable escape rhythm, then you are pacemaker dependant and it is in your best interest to accept this. From the cardiologists point of view 'You need a pacemaker - Job done' Was I just lucky to survive the aystole (cardiac arrest) then?  Any help or comments appreciated. Regards Alan

Not sure why

by Theknotguy - 2018-05-18 12:02:43

We aren't always sure why we recover and others don't.  Similar to you I was on a hiking trail.  Was lucky to be found.  Heart rate was 20 when they got to me.  CPR, collapsed lung, and heart stopped at least two times.  Nurses in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) didn't think I'd make it, but I did.  

You didn't say anything about your activities before the problems.  I work in a woodshop.  Moved 2000 pounds of wood on Thursday, hiked 3 1/2 miles with the dogs on Friday, then collapsed on the trail.   Doctors and nurses said if I hadn't been in good physical shape I probably wouldn't have made it.  So maybe you had an active enough life style and that helped?  Maybe not.  Maybe you have a stubborn attitude and don't like to quit?  A lot of members on the forum will tell you that attitude is just as important (or even more  so) than physical ability.  So a don't-like-to-quit attitude can be a real help. 

Same as you, I'll have a real problem if the pacemaker stops working but pacemakers are very reliable.  While you're having problems getting over the initial shock eventually you realize the pacemaker keeps working and you're OK otherwise.  I think it was nine months after the event before I was able to get out of the car and walk across the parking lot without thinking about my pacemaker.  Similar to you I went from 40% pacing to 80-90% pacing.  It just depends upon what the heart needs.  You can worry about it but worry accomplishes nothing.  You pace what you pace.  As long as you're alive it's all good. 

There isn't too much we can do about the fact our grandparents swam in the wrong gene pool.  Sometimes we get the genetic short straw in life and have to deal with the corresponding problems.  The only difference is a hundred years ago (sometimes it's as short as 10 years ago) we'd be dead.  Now with the wonders of medical science we can survive and go on to lead a fairly normal life.  Then, working with doctors and using modern medicine and devices such as pacemakers we can go on to mitigate the effects of being in the wrong gene pool.  As I said, it's all good.  

Hope your recovery comes along very well.  
 

Pacemaker dependent

by 3degree - 2018-05-20 07:55:54

Thanks for the comments

Yes life goes on as it must

After all the anxiety and concerns myself and partner finally managed to make our romantic Thames river trip with wine and food in 2017 - as well as two holiday trips to tenerife. This forum has been a godsend and although this has been my first post - I have been learning from you all over the last 18 months! Very useful to me and lots of others I'm sure.

Thanks to you all regards Alan