anticipated operation for first pacemaker in Feb

Hello everyone!

I was told about this group as I am fairly young and a bit nervous about the upcoming surgery.

I am expecting a simple pacemaker to get fitted to repair a bundle branch block and ectopic heart beat. It has been causing great fatigue, dizziness and a bit of chest pain as well.

At first my GP thought it was labryinthitis which I found odd but now he is coming around. I also have an artificial aortic valve since I was about 24 years old due to a regurgitating aortic valve that was also bicuspid.

Please share some words of comfort regarding surgery and recovery. If you have videos or stories please share. I am also deciding between having the surgery in the UK or going to the USA to have it.

I look forward to your thoughts my new friends.

Tubaman

14 Comments

Hello Tubaman

by IAN MC - 2013-02-04 03:02:05

I don't understand your thought processes. You live in the UK ; why are you even thinking about going to the US for a PM implant ?

It is a minor op...it is free here on the NHS, it would cost you a fortune in the US......and the outcome would be exactly the same ! Please explain.

Ian. ( UK. )

PS

by IAN MC - 2013-02-04 03:02:27

Why not see a cardiologist privately in the UK ..You can do it without a GP referral

Ian

The plot thickens

by IAN MC - 2013-02-04 03:02:28

Sorry to ask you another question; but why on earth is your GP refusing to send you to a cardiologist ???

Ian

Why in US

by tubaman - 2013-02-04 03:02:32

Ian,

The only reason I would go back is time. My GP in the UK has been refusing to send me to my cardiologist and it has been 3 weeks out of work. In the US I could go directly to the cardiologist without having to wait.

I agree that it is free here in the UK but it could be 3 months from now and I would be out of work until they make up their mind.

I do have private insurance that is accepted in the US so that would make the costs much less than I would have gotten without insurance.

The time away from work is driving me crazy. Does this make sense? These are the only reasons I would consider getting it done in the US.

Hope this helps.

Tubaman

GP refusal ... diagnosis

by tubaman - 2013-02-04 04:02:02

The GP wanted to chase the Labryinthitis diagnosis first even though the cardiologist said I need to see him again if I have symptoms.

I was not aware I could see the Cardiologist privately without a referral as my GP had to refer me even when I went privately.

I am frustrated as I need to get to the bottom of this!! The GP is the one that gave the ectopic diagnosis and in speaking with others I am not even sure it is correct. What is correct is that I have extra or missed heartbeats several times a second. I am very fatigued, cannot focus and get dizzy as well.

Please advise on any thoughts you may have. I do hope to see my cardiologist VERY soon. If the GP does not send me this time I will see if there is another way I can make an appointment or be referred. My GP is just being stubborn I suppose.

Thanks for your comments!! I look forward to more. I am especially interested in pacemaker operation videos and/or discussions on your operation experience. My cardiologist did say when I experienced symptoms he would likely do surgery to put in the pacemaker. I was not previously experiencing symptoms. Now I am an am not able to work until they are resolved.

Best regards,
Tubaman

Who made the diagnosis?

by golden_snitch - 2013-02-04 04:02:54

Hi!

I agree with Ian.

If your GP is refusing to refer you to a cardiologist, then who came up with that diagnosis? The GP? That is a diagnosis that should not be made by a GP alone, but should be confirmed by a cardiologist or heart rhythm specialist (cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology). No pacemaker, before there is no confirmation that this is really the correct diagnosis and cause of your symptoms.

Also, how can a pacemaker repair ectopic heart beats? I mean, my pacer has a PAC/PVC (premature atrial/ventricular contractions) suppression, but I'm pretty sure that it does not work, and all of my cardios/EPs say that this feature doesn't work in most cases.

And the bundle branch block, is that right or left or both? Is it complete? Loads of healthy people have, for instance an incomplete right bundle branch block. That is per se no indication for a pacemaker. Is your BBB associated with syncope or heart failure? If not, I'd question the need for a pacemaker, at least this would be a borderline case.

Best
Inga

Ectopics

by golden_snitch - 2013-02-05 03:02:06

Hi!

I think, by "ectopic beats" your GP means extrabeats (PACs/PVCs), and those cannot be handled by a pacemaker. Generally speaking, a pacemaker can only help with slow arrhythmias, for instance bradycardia and heart blocks. Since PVCs are often followed by a so-called compensatory pause, it feels like your heart skips a beat. In first and second degree heart block you'll feel skipped beats, too. So, it's sometimes difficult to distinguish what's really going on, but the ECG will tell you for sure, if you have heart block or extrabeats.

Right bundle branch block would not be a pacemaker indication. In left bundle branch block only, if you have syncope or pre-syncope or heart failure due to the ventricles not beating in sync. That'd require a CRT device, a pacemaker with three leads.

Hope you get to see your cardio soon.
Best
Inga

Hi Tubaman

by IAN MC - 2013-02-05 05:02:18

It seems that you have symptoms which are bad enough to prevent you from working and you may, or may not, be a candidate for a pacemaker . Only a cardiologist will be able to decide that.

If your GP is being obstructive , then you need to clearly spell out to him that your cardiologist wants to see you again if you get symptoms and you ARE getting symptoms so you need a referral letter ( You could always see another GP of course.)

As you need to get this sorted asap and you have private insurance, you have the option to see a cardiologist privately but I must say that ,while the NHS has a reputation for long waits for things like hip replacements, this is not the case for cardiac care.

As an example I saw my NHS cardiologist within 2 days of seeing the GP and I was being fitted with a pacemaker within 3 hours of seeing the cardiologist ! If you are really ill the NHS is fantastic. On the other hand, if you have some non-life-threatening conditions then the waiting-lists for surgery can be excessive.

Please keep us informed on your diagnosis and loads of people on here will give you info on the actual PM implant procedure if you end up needing one .

Welcome to the club

Ian

Finally REFERRED!!

by tubaman - 2013-02-07 10:02:04

Thank you everyone for your kind words and assistance. I have been referred to the cardiologist and will report on the outcome when I get to visit him.

Tubaman

REcovery

by LeeT - 2013-02-18 07:02:05

Ok you will surgery which requires time to heal. Do as your doctor says speculate after the first 6 wks. Follow the advice of your Dr. Good Luck

recovery

by LeeT - 2013-02-18 07:02:33

If you can't get what you need in the UK why not here your GP scares me see a cardiologist that critical, something wrong or left out of your post are you being honest. Good Luck

REcovery

by LeeT - 2013-02-18 07:02:57

Me again read more, yes the U.S. is a very good option remember 6 wks recovery time. Of course gets better during that time period.

Honesty - the best policy

by tubaman - 2013-02-18 11:02:14

Friends,

Yes I was being totally honest. I did finally see the cardiologist privatly (FINALLY) after the GP referred me but he said (despite the various symptoms and diagnosis I have) that he felt over a month later it was still related to the virus. I told him I appeared to be over that when I was released from hospital. He is the same cardiologist I would see on NHS but could not see him until 7 March if I went NHS at the earliest. He is going to fit me with a 24 hour ECG later this week so he can see more.

All this said, I have secured an appoinment back in the USA for next week and my employer has agreed to give me the time off to go see him and let him treat me as they did not agree with what he said either. They are well aware that recover could take time. The local cardiologist pretty much just looked at the aortic valve which I had replaced about 9 years ago with an artificial one and said, it is good so you are fine.

Thank you for the kind advice you have all given me. I looked at my records as well and he did say that if symptoms persisted he would recommend fitting a dual chamber pace maker. His notes and what he was telling me were not the same though so I was confused.

I will keep you posted as to what is told me by the US doctor when I go see him. Also, please do not think that I am discounting UK doctors, I am certainly not, I am just not pleased with the one I have and he is the only one around here both private and NHS.

Tubaman

Private Insurance

by tubaman - 2013-02-18 11:02:24

I have private insurance that is accepted at the cardiologist in the USA as well so that means the cost will not be that bad as I have already checked that out before considering my employers suggestion to try a doctor in the USA as my company is based there but obviously I work and live here in the UK.

Just wanted to let you know in case the cost question came up by anyone. I am blessed to have a supportive employer. They just want me back to normal so I can come back and do my job again. :)

Tubaman

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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