Symptomatic left bundle branch block

LBB

by Tracey_E - 2022-02-23 08:23:01

LBB may seem rare and odds are your doctor hasn't seen it often, but around here it's pretty common! Mine is congenital and I got my first pacer at 27, that was in 1994. I was astounded how much better I felt after! I deteriorated so gradually that I forgot what normal felt like. 25+ years later  I am still healthy and active. My daughter and I are training together for a half marathon in April, two months ago I did a mud run with my Girl Scout troop, I hike or ski most vacations. There is nothing I want to do that I cannot and most of the time I forget I even have the pacer. 

I'm not sure what medications they've tried, but the only permanent and dependable fix for a slow heart beat is a pacer. Block occasionally stays stable but generally tends to get worse with time. If you are symptomatic now, if there are things you want to do but cannot, then it's time to get it fixed. 

If we have to have a heart condition, block is a good one to have because structurally our hearts are perfectly normal and the pacer easily gives us a normal heart beat. Our sinus node typically works normally and sets the pace, the pacemaker plays follow the leader. It watches for the atria to beat, gives the ventricles a fraction of a second to beat on their own. If they don't, it steps in and sends a signal that mimics what the heart would have done on its own without LBB, the heart muscle responds by contracting and the heart stays in sync. 

If you have any questions about the surgery itself or living with one long term, please don't be shy! 

LBBB

by Gotrhythm - 2022-02-23 12:42:45

I have LBBB. It developed some years after I was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome and got a pacemaker.

It comes as a shock to you, but LBBB is a pretty common arrythmia, and many people have it and have no symptoms. Because I developed it after I already had a pacemaker I have never felt any effects from it.

I wouldn't know I had it if it didn't show up in tests. But really, now that I have the pacemaker, the same is true of the SSS. The pacemaker does its thing and I don't feel the pacemaker or the SSS or the LBBB. I just live my life.

Pacemakers are not a cure all. There are some arrythmias which a pacemaker won't help. But thank goodness, Pacemakers do let people with SSS and LBBB and some other conditions get on with their lives.

As Tracey says, feel free to ask any questions that come up. There's usually someone here who knows the answer and we're glad to help.

I have lbbb

by JillG - 2022-02-23 17:00:31

Hi there! I'm sorry you are struggling with symptoms related to lbbb. What symptoms are you experiencing? I have lbbb and I'm now in heart failure. It's not clear whether I always had the lbbb or it was a result of other heart conditions. My heart failure is most likely a consequence of my chemotherapy treatments from 42 years ago. I never experienced any symptoms until two years ago when I went to see a doctor for fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness. 

Surgery is scheduled!

by Mirannda - 2022-03-06 19:11:21

I was actually emotional just reading all of your responses which shows how much this has affected my life the last few years. My symptoms started 4 years ago abruptly while working out. I get an intense pain that stopped when I would rest but as soon as I would start trying to exercise again it came back. It has been there ever since (mine is rate related not constant) I have pain daily just mopping, walking up stairs, picking up my kids, being in the heat... there are countless examples. I don't even attempt exercise anymore unless it's walking in cooler weather. But lately I notice I feel so fatigued and weak, not sure if that's because of the block or the beta blockers I'm on that aren't helping. But I feel much older than 30. I'm scheduled next Friday the 18th for Biventricular pacemaker insertion and while I'm super nervous I'm also excited. Just hope and pray this is the answer for me. The thought of living with these symptoms for the rest of my life is truly devastating to me. This HAS to work