what is my pace maker’s future?

I’m 62 year old, female. I had a Medtronic pacemaker implanted at the beginning of the year. The first day after my operation, I was hearing and feeling heavy, thudding heart beats on my left chest and went to emergency room right away. My operation doctor reprogrammed my pacemaker. He shut off the lower chamber’s lead as a temporally solution and set the lower limited to 50. He said I had to go to operation room again for relocating the lead. Unfortunately two weeks later the lower chamber’s lead perforated my heart that made me feel pain every day. The doctor had to remove it out in an emergency operation. Now my pacemaker only has one lead implanted in my right atrium that’s much different from the normal one and the lower limited only 50. I don’t complain the fate that’s beyond my control. But I’m wonder what future my pace maker’s is? Can I go through what doctors say further? Can I help myself in any way?

5 Comments

Thanks a lot

by LibbyOntario - 2010-02-26 03:02:13

Thank you for the courage and support!
I passed out once and was diagnosed bradycardia, in Sinus Arrhythmia ranging from 40 to 60 hpm with pauses from 2.16 second to 2.83 second with occasional Sinus/ atrial block in 2:1 rating. My BP is always around 85/50. The doctor suggested pacemaker. He said it’s a minor’s surgery. I didn’t have any more thinking and searching, accept the entire positive side without negative side, just jump into this situation.
My friend suggested I could go Chinese massage therapy or acupuncture that is called jing luo or channels and collaterals. As per this, the body has a network of pathways that transport qi and blood that regulate yin and yang so that the external pathogens are avoided and the internal organs are linked with the exterior. If the jing luo is blocked, this causes pain and gives rise to many health problems. So, the massage techniques can activate qi and blood by raising its activity; overcoming stagnation and guiding flow. Does anybody have this experience?
I’m a positive person and looking forward to it, because that’s been practicing for several thousand years. I hope that could improve my Sinus node’s function and then help me. Any thoughts about this therapy?

Pacemaker Concerns

by SMITTY - 2010-02-26 04:02:06


The first thing that comes to mind after reading your post is get yourself a second opinion.

As for having a pacemaker most of us that are not having problems caused by them, get used to the thing and do not dwell on the fact that we have one. Few of us would die without a pacemaker. We may not feel very good and our physical activities would be much more limited, but nothing else.

I know my pacemaker is nothing but a backup to my heart's
natural pacemaker. If the natural PM lets my heart rate drop below 80, the manmade PM will kick in and bring it back up to 80 BPM. In your case if your heart rate drops below 50 your PM will kick in and bring it back to 50 BPM. I know in my case I will not die if my heart rate gets below 80. I will not feel very good and I will have an irregular heart rate.

One thing about your pacemaker with the present settings and using only one lead, the battery should last until you are into your seventies. As for what the future may hold for you, I think you will feel better and be able to do more things longer because you have the pacemaker as a backup for your heart's natural pacemaker.

By the way, just so you don't think I'm some young whippersnapper giving you advice, I got my pacemaker in 2000 at age 71 and had it replaced in October 2009.

You asked the question "Can I help myself in any way." If I had any advice for that, it would be to not think of getting that pacemaker as being the first page of your death warrant. You have had a tough time during the short while you have had a pacemaker, but can believe me and many others here, things do get better. Go about your life as you if you didn't have a pacemaker. There are very few things that will affect the pacemaker. The only thing I avoid is anything that may give me a direct lick on the pacemaker. It will hurt me, but it will not hurt the pacemaker, although it could damage the lead.

So perk up and go have some fun.

I wish you the best,

Smitty

Hello To A Fellow Canadian!!! eh?

by Pookie - 2010-02-26 04:02:16

Hi Waterfall,

I was 42 in 2004 when I received my Medtronic Enpulse Dual Lead Pacemaker for Bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome.

One of my leads punctured my heart as well and I too had to have emergency surgery to save my life.

Then the bottom lead fell out of place and the cardiologist in Intensive Care tried to convince me it was okay just to turn it off and leave it there!!! I immediately asked why did I have 2 leads put in IF I wasn't going to be using the bottom one? So I went in for yet another surgery and he put it back in place.

Then it fell yet again!! But this time it was sitting in a place that wasn't good ~ it was going towards my pulmonary something or other...so he had no choice put to go in YET again...but this time I didn't trust him, so I got another Cardiologist to do the surgery and it's in the right ventricle and it's been fine since then.

I don't use it much, less than 1%, but I wasn't about to let them install it only to have it OFF or float around in there. They put it in there for a reason!!!!!

I am wondering why your lower limit is so low? And I'm also wondering if perhaps it's time for you to get a 2nd opinion.

Why did you have the pacemaker to begin with?

Pookie

the will to live

by painthorse - 2010-02-26 11:02:38

I truly believe that sometimes we can have such a powerful will to survive that we are able to "help" our body to heal and strengthen. I also believe that when you know that there are other people to care and love you and pray for you that will add to your strength. I have been a part of this site a very short time and I believe that here, you will find that added strength. I will be adding your name to my growing prayer list of my "new friends"

Have a great day!
painthorse pat

you have been through loads xx

by chippy22 - 2010-02-26 12:02:07

Waterfall,
Truth is i think many of us feel in many respects out of control, or at the mercy of the pms/programming/eps/cardiologists....life.....the list goes on. I cannot speak for others and their experience. For me and my pm on the whole i have accepeted and moved on. You will also. Not wanting to sound cliche but 'thats life', coping with change, illness and accepting that you will not always feel this way.
My pm implantation was rough for me and now i face a new challenge as the pm will be upgraded with second lead on the 9th of march....not something i am looking forward to but im going with it. I try to self help by, when im feeling unwell, by reading blogs on this site. it really helps chatting with others in a similar position. Try to love your little pm, took me a while but i'm there now.
Yoga is great for inner strength...there are loads of complementary therapies....but as they say talk to your gp first.
take care....rest well

You know you're wired when...

You take technology to heart.

Member Quotes

At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!