suggested pacemaker for T7 spine injury

Hi everyone!

I am wondering if you can help me about my aunt’s situation and if you can give me a feedback if a pacemaker would be a help in her situation.

My aunt’s name is Mirna, she’s 63 years old, with T6 and T7 spine injury she acquired 30 years ago from an accident. Because of her injury she has so many complications in the kidney and dysautonomia.

Currently she is experiencing seizures; the reason why her doctors suggest for her to get a pacemaker. Our concern, however, is that her heart is so frail, BP and heartbeat are very low.

We are wondering if a pacemaker can be of help if it is possible with her situation.

ANY comment or suggestion is highly appreciated.



4 Comments

Hi:)

by Pookie - 2012-05-03 09:05:51

When you say that her doctors (plural) are suggesting a pacemaker - are one of these doctors a Cardiologist? If not, I truly believe she should be seen by one as you mentioned that her heart is so frail...has she been given any diagnosis of a heart condition/disease? A low heart beat & low blood pressure can be quite normal depending on the person & situation.

I guess we need a lot more information before we could even give you an opinion - and it would be just that - an opinion because none of us are medical doctors (that I am aware of).

Take care,
Pookie

thanks pookie and smitty

by princessfionzy - 2012-05-04 02:05:46

Hi Pookie,

The suggestion came mainly from her cardiologist and is now supported by her neurologist. She wasn't diagnosed with a heart disease. Her slow heart beat is more likely a condition of dysautonomia. It has been 30 years that she is in a wheelchair and she can only move her arms. I'm not in the medical field so forgive me if I am sharing simple and not in medical terminology.

I'm more or less worried if her body can cope up with the surgery in putting a pacemaker.

:)


Hi Smitty,

The doctors are ruling out that the seizures are caused by her slow heart beat..the reason why she should put have pacemaker.. HOwever, this seizures happened just last week and we are ruling out if it could have been low sodium level.

In case she decides to put a PM, we are wondering if the procedure would affect her or if she can undergo the stress of the surgery.

Thank you for feedback about the pacemaker. I certainly hope that we can get some sort of assurance if ever a PM will be installed.



Sincerely,
Fiony


Getting A Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2012-05-04 05:05:04


Hello Fiony,

I can understand your concern about the PM surgery for your aunt. However, it is not as bad as it sounds. I have had two PMs implanted since 2000 and both were relatively simple surgeries. The PM is implanted under the skin or muscle (Drs option) just below the collar bone. A vein close by is used as the conduit to get the leads from the PM to the heart. No major incision is necessary. Below may give you an idea of what your aunt would be facing with PM surgery, based on my experiences.

I arrived at the appointed time and was given a some of the hospitals latest fashions to put on and told to lie down and get comfortable as it would be a little while before the surgery. I read the paper and watched TV for a couple of hours while other PM patients were also being readied for their PM . After about an hour I got an IV and spent the next 3 or 4 hours being "prepped" which consisted mainly of getting about a quart (at least it looked like that amount) of antibiotic through the IV and the surgery area cleaned and cleaned real good.

About noon the doctor showed up and examined the area for the implant. After another hour or so I was wheeled off to the surgery area where I spent another 30 or 40 minutes being "dressed or draped" for the surgery. Sometime after I got in the surgery area I received some medication to make me relax so they said, but what it did was make take a nap in about a half-sleep mode. I vaguely remember being told they were injecting a local anesthetic into the area where the surgery would be performed so I would not feel the anything. About 45 minutes later I was told, "okay Mr. Smith, we are through and your pacemaker is working just fine." I was wheeled back into a room where I had to wait for awhile to be sure I had no adverse reactions to any of the meds I had received. About 5 PM I was told I could go home.

I was not unexpectedly sore and my healing was no problem. I did have restricted use of my arm for a few days, the main thing being not to raise my elbow above my shoulder, or lift more than a few lbs. with the arm on the side of the PM. All in all the pain was less than most dental surgery I have had, and since I was retired even with the first one, it did not interfere with any activates.

One last word, we all go home with your Drs best guess on PM settings. Most of the time these are good, but occasionally some people need to have those settings tweaked. If anyone thinks their PM is causing a problem, if they just think something is amiss, let the Dr know, otherwise he will have no way of know everything is not perfect.

Good Luck,

Smitty


Getting A Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2012-05-04 12:05:11


Hello,

I'll add a few words to Pookie's comments which I hope will help.

If you Aunt's seizures are due to a low heart rate then a pacemaker could prevent them. As for her heart being frail, the pacemaker should help it with its work. All a PM does is monitor the heart's natural function and when it sees the natural pacemaker not sending an electrical impulse to make the heart beat the manmade PM will send one. A PM has adjustable settings, one of which is a low set point. If it see the natural heart beat dropping below that low set point the PM will step in and prevent that.

So far as I know a PM adds no stress whatever to our heart. It is strickly a helper, when needed.

I wish your Aunt the best,

Smitty

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I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.