Seeking advise for Mother worried....

Hello everyone!! What a wonderful forum! Thanks for your time and energy!

I will try and make this as short as possible. I am very worried about my Mother. I'll try and make a long story short. She is 82 years young and up until 6 months ago a very, active independant woman.

6 Months ago she was DX with afid then 4 months ago began breaking vertabra in her back. Ended up with 7 vertbroplasties. During these painful 4 months her a fib went wild and she became intorlerant of medication. A pacemaker was placed on 4-2-10.

She has been nauestated and vomitting much of the time since then and has no energy at all. She is in a rehab facility recooping from all her broken vertabra but, is unable to do much of anything due to lack of energy.

I was heartbroken to find out that she didn't get the kind of PM that regulates a high rate only the low one. She only has a low HR every once in a while.....her main problem is a high heart rate.....she is on many meds for the high HR that is causing swelling in her feet....

Also I guess her HR is irregular as well. Forgive me I am new to all of this and a bit scared. :(

Other symtoms, lack of apetite, and just not herself.

Her follow up appt is this Tues from the placement of PM. The cardiologist wants her to have cardiac ablation to reduce the heart rate and get her off the meds??

Anyone have any comments, experience, or opinions they would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!!
Sheila

1 Comments

Thoughts

by SMITTY - 2010-04-11 04:04:56


Hello Sheila,

First let me say I'm close to your mother's the age (be 81 next month) and I can relate to some of the health issues folks our age become familiar with and they are not any fun. Especially heart ailments and back problems. I am in my 10th year with a pacemaker (my 2nd one) and have a back problem that has for all practical purposes brings my physical activity to a halt about 75% of the time.

As for getting a pacemaker to regulate a high heart rate, I don't think there is one promoted specifically for that problem. There is a defibrillator to stop ventricular fibrillation (which is an extremely fast beating of the ventricle) by administering electrical shocks. I have heard a little about a relatively new pacemaker on the market that can treat atrial fibrillation in much the same way, but with a much weaker electrical shock. While I have comet believe that the defibrillator is suitable for treatment of anyone with V-fib, I'm not sure the pacemaker with the A-Fib treating capability is suitable for everyone with that problem. That may be a question you will want to ask your doctor.

As for her feeling so poorly and being nauseated and vomiting much of the time since then and having no energy, unfortunately those are some of the symptoms that can accompany some heart medications used to treat arrhythmia. So, while having an ablation is not the most desirable treatment in the world, it may be by far the best treatment for your mother, considering she could possibly get off some of the medications she is taking, which may be causing other problems for her. Below is part of an article on the treatment of A-Fib that may give you a little more info on the problem.


"Many options are available to treat atrial fibrillation, including lifestyle changes, medications, catheter-based procedures and surgery. The type of treatment that is recommended for you is based on your heart rhythm and symptoms."

I wish your mother the best,

Smitty

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