biventricular

Hi Everyone, I am a 61 year old male that had total cardiac arrest back in 2010. Had a pacemaker/icd implanted. Since, everything seemed to be going great, I was only pacing at 10% and have not been shocked to this point. My EF went to almost 50%. In the past few months I have felt tried and a little more short of breath.My last echo showed my EF had dropped to 30%. My doctor wants to go back and put in a bi-ventricular pacemaker. What can I expect from this? I guess I am more than a little concerned that my EF may continue to fall and this may just make me feel a little better until the end. If anyone has had anything like this I would love to hear from you. Thanks.


3 Comments

Hi

by Many Blessings - 2013-05-26 06:05:21

Hi Don,

I have a Bi-V (CRT-P) with an AV Node ablation due to cardiomyopathy, heart failure, low EF (28), chronic uncontrolled A-fib, and several other problems. You may have the same or similar problems, or you may have something different that the Bi-V will hopefully improve.

Because I have a CRT-P, it helps resynchronize and the PM part gives me the heart rate. Is that what you're getting? This has improved my EF. I still have all of the issues I had before, but this is supposed to help the efficiency of the heart, thus slowing down the cardiomyopathy/heart failure and their symptoms, and giving me a little more time (hopefully a LOT more time!).

I do feel better most of the time.There are other issues to deal with now, but I am able to lead an active life and work full time. I was able to do that before my surgery/procedure, but things were going bad very quickly.

Make sure to ask your doctor what exactly they plan to do when they do the Bi-V, and what you can and can't expect as a result. Find out what (if anything) it will fix, and what (if anything) it will improve. Ask if you will really feel a whole lot better, or just a little. Let him/her know your goals (mine was to still work full time, stay active, and to be able to continue hiking.) If they can assure you the Bi-V can help you attain your goals, then I'd seriously consider it. Make them tell you ALL of the pros & cons of the procedure (during and afterwards) and what complications you can expect in the years to come.

If you already have a PM, I don't see why changing it to a Bi-V would hurt things, but I'm not an expert. Who knows, it may just help a lot, and make you feel a lot better. Plus, you're already used to setting issues, PM interrogations, etc., so this should be a breeze!

I'm curious to see what others out here will tell you. I know you'll get a ton of great feedback and information! Since it's a holiday weekend, you many not get a lot of comments until tomorrow evening or so.

Good luck with your decision.

Why not?

by Chels - 2013-05-27 09:05:35

Obviously like Tammy said, I would bring a list of questions for the doctor as to pros and cons and risks and benefits, etc. You already have a pacemaker so adding this third lead and new device isn't going to be something totally out of left field, you're familiar with the process. I know you say, will this just make me feel a little better until the end? Well, I'm not a doctor, and I have no idea how much time there is until 'the end' but why wouldn't you want to feel better now and be able to enjoy the life you are living! I know there are some people who have gotten a bi-vent and their EF has skyrocketed back up to normal or near normal and they love it. If there is help there why not use it instead of torturing yourself?

icd/crt-d

by dad4dds - 2013-07-26 12:07:06

In 2009 I had a pacer placed. A year or so later my EF was down to 35%. They decided on a bi-ventricular in Dec. 2012. I have felt so much better since. More leads add but well worth it.
Good luck

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