Considering Pace Maker yes/No

I have Atrial Fibrillation. Have had ablation and numerous meds. My heart is irregular most of the time and I feel bad. Doc now says Pace Maker is the only answer. Please tell me your experience with pace maker good/bad. What do think? Will it help? Does Pros outweigh Cons? Can you do normal yard work? Live normal life? Travel? Marvin

11 Comments

No comparison

by heckboy - 2008-02-03 01:02:07

My issue is different than your, but I have a much higher quality of life with a PM than without one.

Marvin

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-02-03 04:02:13

I've had a PM for 2 1/2 years due to atri fib. I knew about my atri fib for about 15 years. I could feel it only once in a while but about 3 years ago it became so often and so much harder that I went back to the Cardiologist who had treated me the 18 years ago. I wore a halter monitor and was put on 25 mg Toprol XL. My heart rate dropped to 30 after about a week on the medicine and the monitor. Dr. took me off the toprol, did electrocardiogram, etc and said I needed the PM. I have been very happy with it. The worse is the soreness just after the surgery but it soons passes. I
would do it again.
Take care and I wish you the best.
Margaret

To live or not to live????

by pacergirl - 2008-02-03 04:02:22


Hi Marvin, welcome.

To pace or not to pace..... To live or not to live?
That was the choice for me.

With my heart it was that simple. My heart just stopped working on it's own. My actual heart is fine except for the one little flaw.... my electrical system just quit.
Just like that. Done! The only problem was ... that I was not "Done" I had plenty to do yet!

So the decision was an easy one for me. The choice, to live with a pacemaker or let me go. We had no problem deciding what to do. I now live a full life once again, with a pacemaker.

Whichever way you go......
Please know that Life is Precious, make the most of yours.

Best of luck to you with whatever you decide,
Pacergirl :-)

p.s. I love to garden, travel, laugh and love as often as possible without any complications. Plus I have a full time job! :-)

!5 years of life

by tbe7 - 2008-02-03 04:02:55

I have to go with the Pro side. Since I have now been kept alive by my pacemakers for 15 years now.
My pacer keeps my heart beating quite nicely and without it I would have died years ago.

Yes or No

by SMITTY - 2008-02-03 05:02:16

Hello Marvin,

I had a couple of bouts with A-Fib prior to '07, but have never had an ablation. I have been living with an irregular heart beat since Mar. '07. I describe mine as exercise induced arrhythmia and at the same time have serious SOB problems. I want to say my pacemaker has been little help with these episode of irregular heart beat. I think this is because the low set point on my pacemaker is 70 and I have found my heart rate as low as 43 during these episodes. I'm sure the pacemaker tries to keep my heart rate at the minimum setting of 70 because one minute I may have a HR of 68 to 71 and the next it will be down in the low 50's. That is because my heart's natural pacemaker sends out false signal that fool the pacemaker into thinking it is not needed. The result is neither my heart's natural PM or my manmade PM send an impulse to make my heart beat.

So, based on my experience I would say the pacemaker will not help you, but with your ablation I can see where your heart's natural pacemaker may not be a factor and the pacemaker will help you. As for the normal physical activity you name, I can still do a little of that, but I have to work a few minutes (10 to 15 min.) and rest for 5 to 10 min. It get aggravating, but even that beats staying in the house all the time.

As for whether you should or should not get a pacemaker, I say ask your doctor how and how much a pacemaker will help, If you are satisfied with the answer, go for it. The surgery is not at all bad. I was completely over mine within two weeks. Actually my only restrictions after about 3 days was to avoid heavy lifting. I will add that the PM settings you get when the device is implanted may not be the best for you so changes will be required. This is very common, so don't be surprised and above all don't hesitate to let your doctor know things are not right. Because we are all different and the settings that work well for one person may be a disaster for the next person and your doctor will never know what you are experiencing unless you tell him.

Good luck,

Smitty

PM... absolutly!

by uvagershwin - 2008-02-03 05:02:58

Wow, my title says it all. I have had my pm for 13 years since I was 15 hours old due to congenital heart block. I can hardly tell I have one! The only restriction I have right now is that I cannot play contact sports. When you travel (or go anywhere, really) carry a ID card. I learned that the hard way at the Holocaust museum in D.C!

pacemaker...yes!!!

by pmredhead - 2008-02-03 07:02:37

HI marvin

I've had congenital heart block and i just got my pacemaker on wednesday! I was getting shortness of breath, dizzy, feeling tired, feeling like i'm going to faint and now as soon as I got the pacemaker there's been a big difference. I've felt it right away and let me tell you i feel like a different person. Before i got my pacemaker my cardiologist told me that i would feel better, have a better life, and it would save my life. You can do anything and you will feel better i promise you. keep me posted and let me know what happens! Good luck!
constance

PM after ablation

by janetinak - 2008-02-03 09:02:59

Put up with chronic Afib (had it all the time) for two yrs & SOB/tired all the time. Did meds,cardioversion,etc.w/o results. Finally did AV node abalation & PM. Ablation had to be done again as EP said "my Afib over-riding his PM". Hah.

For me it has been great. Travel wherever I want, live a great life. Volunteer, work part-time, & think I'd be housebound w/o PM.

Good luck with your decision.

Janet

pros definitely

by aldeer - 2008-02-03 12:02:34

Hi Marvin... I battled Atrial Fibrillation for over ten years before my pacemaker. That meant trying almost every med there is and also going thru a failed ablation. During that time the atrial became severely enlarged so my only chance was the AV node ablation with pacemaker. I only wish I had done it about five years ago (at least). I am only limited a little by my age, but swim at least five days a week, and walk daily. It definitely improved my life, but that is a decision you must make for yourself. I have more energy and am not tired all the time as I was when I was in Afib most of the days. Lots of good luck.. aldeer

marvin

by jessie - 2008-02-05 08:02:00

like pacergirl i had no decision to make. it was either a pacemaker or death. i chose life. since i have been to western canada x2 , to alaska x 1 and soon another trip hopefully. good luck jessie i also saw my youngest grandchild take his first communion and the oldest being confirmed this may. i would not have seen all this or been part of all their lives

AF and PM

by Marvin - 2008-02-05 08:02:09

Can you explain what was done to you. My doc says will go in and cut/disconnect something in my heart and put in PM. It sounds like what was done to you on the second trip. Am I right? Marvin

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

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