Second pacemaker in 6 months

• by jimmy412
• 2010-01-24 02:01:35
• Complications
• 1224 views
• 0 comments

I have not posted in awhile. I have been off work since October. I had my first pacemaker placed in July 09. The cardiologist that did it, said he could not put in my second lead, since I had Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava, which is a malformation of the heart or a birth defect. I tried going back to work in August, and during my time back at work at that time, I left work 4 times to go to the ER. I don't remember how many times they kept me, because I was in the hospital so many times last year. Towards the end of October, I thought I had the flu, was treated 2 times for it, and when I ended up in the ER on the 3rd visit in 10 days, they found out I had Wenckebach (heart block) when my pulse hit 110. That sent me back to the cardiologist/EP for a Bruce test, and another holter monitor in November. Which both tests, I was told there was nothing found. Through all of this, my long term disibility has been giving me problems through work because I had no diagnosis. I persisted and found information for another group of EP's and Cardiologist at another hospital. I found a Cardiologist that started from scratch and gave me a stress test, and echocardiogram, which both came back negative, and everything looked ok. She talked to me 1 1/2 hours that day. I even saw an EP and he said my pacemaker was working fine.

When I left the cardiologist visit, she had me get a 48 hour holter again. I wore it and sent it back. Monday when they got the results, she called me and told me they wanted me to have surgery ASAP either Wednesday or Friday, as I needed the ventricle lead. So I had emergency surgery Wednesday. I saw the results of the monitor. I was having long pulses, and short pulses at random, during certain activities. There were several pages they had when this had happened, After 6 months, they had to open me up again, and put in a new pacemaker, and 2 new leads. Now, I am back home and feeling 100% better. I guess my atrial lead was pumping, and not getting to the ventricle at times, causing alot of fatigue and exhaustion. They said they could not believe my first EP/cardiologist did not see the problem.

I guess the moral of my story is if you know you do not feel well, be persistent. You know your body the best. Get a second opinion, when you need to. I am now with a new group of cardiologist and EP's that I feel comfortable with, and feel they will listen to me when needed. I will not go back to the other one now, as he looked at me and told me he had no idea what was wrong with me, so that is why I went for a second opinion.

I want to give a shout out to the Cardiovascular Institute at AGH here in Pittsburgh. Anyone in my area have health problems should find them, as some of their EP's and Cardiologists are the best. Don't settle for less when it is your health in jeopardy.