PACEMAKER HERE I COME..

Hello from Aussie..
Have had the problem of irregular heart beats since 1992 which has been controlled by medication (Tambocor), however the medication has not been able to control the problem for the last six months..
Had a cardioversion eight weeks ago and felt great for three weeks but the heart decided to play up again.
My doctor still relluctant to put in PM and we are going for another cardioversion next month..
It does look like a PM is to come..What I would like to know is do you have to take medication for rejection of the devise..
Regards Ron.

1 Comments

Meds after Pacemaker

by BABlocker - 2007-04-29 11:04:52

Ron,
It is very rare that rejection of the pacemaker will occur, and unlike transplantation of an organ, prophylactic dosing of antirejections are not routinely used.

You may have to continue taking your antiarrythmic meds after the PM, as the PM will not correct the arrythmia, but may control and limit your heart rate set at parameters set by your doctor.

Pacemaker Syndrome is not so much a function of the body's response to the pacemaker settings but rather to the settings that may cause a backward pacing from the ventricles to the atria, causing a pacemaker mediated tachycardia. The solution is to change parameters and settings to address this issue. (That is a simplified explanation and a more concise one can be found by googling "Pacemaker Syndrome".)

Finally, some people do react to the titanium metal used to encase the pacemaker, and then rejection, infection, etc. can occur, but this is rare.

Good luck to you with the next cardioversion and if needed, pacemaker implantation. Feel free to ask questions as they come up.

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