One lead not "working".

Hello...so glad to find this group!

My husband had a dual lead Pacemaker installed after several fainting episodes, and then three 5 days later he was told to self isolate because of possible covid exposure at the hospital. But he was not recovering - feeling dizzy all the time. Fianlly he went to get checked out yesterday. One lead is not connecting (upper chamber). Now waiting for Xray and wondering if anyone can comment or speak from experience. Will the lead have to be replaced/repaired, and how seious is this? Some adjustment was made, and his vertigo is a bit less. It was very hard to get info from the tech person, and until we speak to the cardioloigst we are most unsetlled and stressed. 

2 Comments

My Experience

by doublehorn48 - 2020-05-12 14:02:52

When my first pm was implanted one of the leads quit working almost immediately.  The Doctors simply went back in and replaced it.  Sounds like they may have to do the same thing for your husband.  But it's well worthe the aggravation.  My youngest daughter was 4 years old.  She now has a daughter 5 yrs. and a son 2 yrs.  I'll be happy to send pictures.

Hang in there

m scott 

leads

by Tracey_E - 2020-05-12 17:27:37

Sometimes the heart wall gets cranky about having a new lead, sometimes our heart is shaped so that they can't get a good spot, sometimes we just have bad luck and it doesn't stay put. They will go back in the same place and reposition it. It should be super easy. They will use the same incision and same lead. 

Sometimes they can correct it fully or partially with the settings, but that's not ideal. It's going to be there for a long time so it's best to fix it right now while it's easy. The longer it's in, the more scar tissue grows to hold it in place. So you want it in a good place before that happens. 

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