ONE YEAR SINCE IMPLANTATION

Its just over 365 days since I left hospital after a AV node ablation and a bi-phase resynchronising guidant pacemaker fitted. Only 2 leads were fitted as I have permanent Atrial Fibrillation which adding the third lead could not help.(this approach surprised the makers of my pacemaker who were taken aback when I told them the third lead was not fitted).Instead my ventricles only are beating in synchrony between 70 and 120 beats per minute. The decision as to whether or not to have the AV node ablation after having had the pacemaker implanted was left entirely up to me as the doctors thought It might be best not to have it done. I chose to have it done. It turned out to be a very wise decision. I have gone from what was expected to be certain death in intensive care , ( not my opinion but the doctors) to being able to do physical work all day long if I want to. My heart which also had left ventricle cardiomyopathy and a regurgitating mitral valve has completely remodelled itself. It only needed a little help from a pacemaker to restore it to its near former glory. Ive got another 6 years before the battery runs down. I can now look forward to seeing my grandchildren grow up and getting my old age pension in a few years.If you are in the same position as me with an AV node ablation and biphase synchronising pacemaker I would like to hear from you. You can contact me in the first instance at bayhoecott@yahoo.co.uk
cheers Peter

1 Comments

Also have a-fib, AV Node Ablation & Bi-Vent Pacemaker

by ADalsmom - 2008-04-22 08:04:32

Hi Peter
I was happy to find that there is someone else, other than myself, who has made the decision to get an AV node ablation with a bi-ventricular pacemaker implanted. I was much like you....nothing seemed to help my a-fib and I was experiencing heart failure....my body was swollen and filling with fluid. The EP said that this was the last hope that I had, to ever resume a half-way normal life. It was a major decision for me, to pull the "natural electric plug", that was trying to keep my heart beating and depend totally on a PM with the fear that should there be a technical malfunction, everything would shut down. I had my procedure done about 6 mos ago and it's made such a drastic difference. I was wondering if you get some chest palpitations at times? I get them at times, but I've learned not to be concerned about them. My EP said that it was caused from nerve contacts with one of my leads and that he could go in and try to rearrange the leads (don't really want to do that!). I was also given 3 leads, for whatever reason. I've never heard the terminology of "heart remodeling"...do you think that may be a Brit expression? All I've heard it called is heart resynchronization. I was also told that this heart procedure that you and I share doesn't eliminate a-fib, that once you have it, it's a permanent condition and the PM just helps to keep your heart functioning efficiently. I'm glad that I ran across your posting....should you have any further comments or questions....I'd enjoy hearing from you at ADalsmom@aol.com

Thanks for your info.....Claudia

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