Cardio called, V tach issues

My cardiologist called tonight, seems my chart was flagged after my pacemaker interogation. Gee it only took them 13 days to call..... anyway, he was very concerned because I had a lot of v tach going on during the pacer ck and was symptomatic. The tech had said something about they might want to add an ICD to my pacer... would they have to replace the pacemaker and put in new one with ICD? Confused and quite frankly scared. I did some research, this v tach thing sounds scary. How can I have this when I have a pacemaker?


9 Comments

v tach

by thomast - 2007-12-27 08:12:31

Yes they will have to replace the whole unit to have one with an ICD in it. They may or may not have to add another lead. You can have this with a pacemaker because the PM does not stop your heart from going too fast so to speak. The ICD can do that by trying to step it down when it runs away, failing that it can then shock it into rythem. I have had mine about 2 1/2 years, got shocked twice right after I got it. They changed the settings and I have not been shocked since. The ICD might save your life if it runs away and does not pump enough blood. They will probably put you on a beta blocker and some type of heart rythem drug, sotalol or tikosyn. Sounds kinda like what I have and I am doing OK.

Also

by kyle0816 - 2007-12-27 09:12:53

Just so you know the ICD also is larger than the pacer you have in there right now. Good luck with everything.

ICD

by turboz24 - 2007-12-27 10:12:37

Yeah, I didn't realize how large the ICD was until I saw it installed, haven't looked at it in 3 months. My comment is it's around the size of a flip cell phone, so be prepared. You can ask if he can do a sub-pectoral implant instead. Some docs only seem to do it if you have thin skin, but it protects and hides it a lot better. Being a woman, you could also ask for implantation near or just under the breast, which from people talking on this group, hides it pretty well too.

sounds like me

by Meerkats - 2007-12-28 05:12:05

Your story sounds similar to mine. I had a pacemaker put in in June 2006 for complete congenital heart block. (I never had bad symptoms, so it was more preventitive than anything. I didn't want whatever it was that was making up for the heart block to someday just quit).

Anyway, in Novemeber of that year, I had an interrogation that showed some serious episodes of Vtach in October...all while I was sleeping so no symptoms again, yet still very dangerous.

Thomas is right...when you go into vtach, a pacer isn't enough to slow you down. Sometimes you will correct on your own (as you and I both obviously have done) but I didn't want to count on that.

So in January 2007 I was back at the hospital where they tried ablation (they try to locate the area in the bottom chamber causing the vtach so they can ablate/burn it away) but they couldn't locate the area causing the problem. So, during the same sedation, they removed my pacer, added another wire, and implanted the icd. Yes, it is about twice as big but I had mine place lower into the breast area and you would never ever know if you didn't know (and the standard scar on the chest) and I'm not large chested by any means. I'm only about 125 pounds.

The other thing to know is that unlike pacers, icd batteries don't last nearly as long...only about 3-5 years so replacements are more frequent.

I was seriously depressed at first. Who knew I had two separate congenital disorders putting me at such risk? But my doc reminded me...in a way, I was lucky to have the heart block which required the pacer, or I might never have known about the vtach until it was too late. Your pacer may have saved your life in more than one way too.

Let me know if you want more info or want to talk.

Oh, and I haven't been shocked since I got it and I elected not to take meds. My doc said it's like a car airbag...I might never need it. But, if something happens and I do, it might not be pleasant and will hurt for a second...but it will save my life. He said to try and think of it like an airbag...no one thinks of their airbag every time they drive, but it will save your life.

Take care.

ICD's do work

by zapper - 2007-12-28 09:12:13

I had my episode of vtach on Dec 21 2006. In the emergency room with a rate of 260 and turning gray ( from what I was told later) and double shots of meds would not bring it down. So then came the defib pads and the hit. It straightened my rate and rythm right out.On Jan 3rd 2007 I received my ICD. I look at it this way, a split second shock equals life. Its an insurance policy.

vtach

by Todd - 2007-12-28 12:12:11

think you gavve him good advice, you sound like me, been shocked just onece but damn, that woke me up, don't miss my medicine now

Getting so I like it.

by Todd - 2007-12-28 12:12:45

I go to court every day, Now they don't make you go through the screener, just a cop feels you up, getting so it makes my day

Hope I can help

by Whitman.family - 2008-01-05 11:01:31

I would like you to understand, and this is very serious to me, that V Tach is very dangerous and life threatening. Your pacemaker will not keep your heart from stopping. About the only thing it does is keep your heart from going under a certain rate. If your heart goes into a V Tach, the pacemaker cannot help you because they are incapable to slowing your rate. This is where the defib comes into play. It will shock your heart with a strong current that will cause your heart to kindof reset its rate. What is most dangerous is that VTach can cause your heart to go into a shock and stop. Vtach will cause Sycopy. Please check into getting the Dfib. It's worth it. I know this because my husband just died in Aug. 07 because his heart went into a Vtach. He was over 400bpm. This caused his heart to stop and the pacemaker was able to do nothing for him. He should have had a defib. I feel obligated to share my story because the doctors did not inform us that the pacemaker was incapable of keeping the heart from stopping. Good luck.

Thank you for sharing

by gmnordy - 2008-01-15 09:01:06

Jane, I went back and read about what happened to your husband, and I am so sorry. I pray you find the answers to what happened.
I go today for a doctors appointment. I am going to make sure he answers all of my questions before I go and not let him shoo me out the door because HE thinks there is nothing wrong.

Debbi

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