CRT Implant

Hi all,

I would love to hear from members who have a CRT Device fitted as I am due to have an upgrade from a dual chamber pacemaker imminently and I am really anxious. 
My story starts with three ablations for SVT and atrial pacer for the slow heart rate that resulted from the procedures. I was then implanted with a second atrial pacer when the first battery ran low and then onto a dual chamber upgrade after a finding of Left Bundle Branch Block after taking flecainide. After stopping the flecainide I went back to sinus for a short time but then back to LBBB. I've been doing ok but now I have developed dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiologists can't tell whether the LBBB caused the cardiomyopathy or if it was the other way around. Now I have to have CRT as they tell me my heart isn't pumping as well as they would like to see and it's out of synch. A comment by a pacemaker technician says that there are pros and cons to CRT (worrying) but cardiologist says it should make me feel better (reassuring). Just wondered how others coped and  how everyone with this type of device is getting on with it. Any responses would be very much appreciated. 

4 Comments

CRT-D

by Grateful Heart - 2024-06-10 14:33:01

I was also diagnosed with LBBB, Cardiomyopathy and SSS.  My EF was 24% at the time.  My doctors thought a CRT would help me too and they were right. 

After about 6-8 months my EF was 50% and it has been 55% ever since (16 years ago).  No one has 100% EF.  Normal range is 55% - 75% or 80% I believe so mine is on the low side of normal.  You may be aware of this but I also post it for the newbies.  

I am paced 100% in the ventricles which is the goal to sync the left and right sides.  In my case 90%-96% in the atria.

We are all different and not everyone sees great results but hopefully you will. 

Coping in the beginning was hard because I had a lot of questions but I wasn't aware of this site until about 3 or 4 years later and I did not know anyone who had a device.  I found education is key and knowledge is power to ease your mind.       

Grateful Heart   

Stuff

by godrew - 2024-06-10 20:41:41

I have CRT device put in a few years ago after I had an ablation.  EF was high 30s now most recent echo it's plus 50.  I feel better than I did before having it put in.  I also have hypotrophic cardiomyopathy (discovered at 14-38 years ago) and LBB.  
This is my first device so I don't know about device with less leads, but I do feel better.   Good luck with the decision, hopefully it's the right call for you.  I go for a 6 month checkup this week, I'll let you know.

Hi☮️

by Lavender - 2024-06-10 22:01:27

I'm a CRT-P recipient. Mine's a bit over three years. I have known about my LBBB for over 14 years. Never had trouble with it but had complete heart block after anesthesia for gallbladder surgery. No one did anything about it thinking it recovered on its own. But nine months later, I started fainting dozens of times over six months. Finally a heart monitor caught my rare arrythmia-ventricular standstill. 
I had no options after a 33 second pause. I ended up in the ER. Came home with a pacemaker.  
 

My EF is 55-60%. It improved within months of getting my CRT-P. 
 

Don't be afraid to move forward and hopefully feel better!  💐 

CRT Implant

by Tillyann - 2024-06-16 05:41:26

Thank you so much for your responses. I feel more reassured and less anxious now. It's amazing that you have had a CRT 16 years now Grateful Heart. I am glad that it has been such a success for you and I'm really pleased to hear that both Godrew and Lavender are both doing well and feeling the benefits. it has really helped with my stress levels so a big Thankyou for responding. 

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As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.