Do I need a pacemaker?

Need

by Tracey_E - 2017-07-15 09:10:09

 Could you get by without, could you put it off? Probably. Is that a good decision? Probably not.  It's hard on the body when our rates dip or don't go up enough on exertion because the organs aren't getting the oxygen they need.  If you push it regularly, that makes it even more important that you have good circulation.

You are correct that you will likely get to the point where it's not optional. You don't want to wait to the point you are passing out, that's a great way to get hurt. Many of us find afterward that we didn't feel quite as well before as we thought we did. In hindsight, I wish I'd gotten mine the first time I couldn't do what I wanted to do, when I first got more tired. Instead I waited (aka procrastinated) until my rate tanked and I ended up in emergency surgery, which in case you are wondering, is not the easy way to do it!

If you don't have full faith in your doctor's advice, get a second opinion. Even if you do trust your doc, it never hurts to have a fresh set of eyes take a look. Doctors vary in where they draw the line between should to it/ok to wait.

Have you had a Holter monitor to see how low your rate is getting and how long it stays low? Many times it dips at night when we aren't aware of it, but that takes a toll on the body and makes us more tired. If that's happening, sooner is better than later. 

I'm already paced, I'm 50, and I like naps, too! Just saying this may not get rid of your love of naps lol. 

Pacemaker need

by Loonylil - 2017-07-15 15:11:52

Probably better to get pacemaker sooner rather than later, you should get over the operation faster than if you wait till the need is more urgent

as Tracey said, you could pass out in a very tricky situation and no way of knowing beforehand where that might be!

whatever you decide I wish you the very best and keep napping! Why not ❤️

decision time

by zawodniak2 - 2017-07-15 15:29:18

Would you take a long trip (or even a short one) without a seat belt and air bags??? They put in all the cars these days---JUST IN CASE!!!

Just saying-----go figure!!

When I asked my eletrophysiologist what the down side of getting a pace maker was if I really did not need one based on my symptoms  --- he said  "You will be needing one someday"  I promptly said "Put it in"

That was 10 years ago at the age of 65.  I never regretted it!!

                                  Rodger

decision time

by zawodniak2 - 2017-07-15 15:29:18

Would you take a long trip (or even a short one) without a seat belt and air bags??? They put in all the cars these days---JUST IN CASE!!!

Just saying-----go figure!!

When I asked my eletrophysiologist what the down side of getting a pace maker was if I really did not need one based on my symptoms  --- he said  "You will be needing one someday"  I promptly said "Put it in"

That was 10 years ago at the age of 65.  I never regretted it!!

                                  Rodger

To pace... or not to pace

by The real Patch - 2017-07-15 16:28:37

Your very first sentence says it all. I'm pretty sure he has more med school training than all of the people here. Might just want to listen to him. If you have doubts ask him why you should get it, or what if you don't.

I agree

by Grateful Heart - 2017-07-15 20:34:13

If the Cardio says you need it.....sounds like you need it.  

You can certainly get another opinion but I would listen to the Cardio.

Grateful Heart

Thanks for your comments

by Adrian II - 2017-07-16 02:25:47

I'll be seeing the electrophysiologist regarding my PM in 2 days.  Your comments were very helpful.  By the way, I also need an ablation for atrial flutter.  I think the plan is to give me a "twofer".    It's strange to say, but I wish my symptoms were a little more obvious, then I could look forward to feeling better.  The stress test that got this ball rolling was not due to any problem but a change in insurance.  Well, I did wonder why my running was not getting easier and my times peaked and I couldn't improve.  I stopped running and can do most other exercise.      Sorry about the whining, many have it much worse.  My denial period will be coming to an end soon.  Thanks again for your comments.         Adrian II

The one question I didn't ask

by FitMomma - 2017-07-16 09:59:27

ask your doctor if any medication you are taking could cause your low heart rate. If I had asked that I probably would have come off the medication, my heart rate would have gone up and I wouldn't have needed the pacemaker. I got mine in March and I find out in less than 2 weeks if it's coming out. I was on Bystolic for a benign arrhythmia.

into this medical world

by dwelch - 2017-07-18 11:58:16

The "medical world" you are walking into is the one where you cant do any of those things without a pacer or because you died trying to do those things.   The pacer just makes it so you can stay in the medical world you are in rather than go into another where you cant get off the recliner without help (because you dont want a pacer and cant do anything that stresses the heart).  

So if you want to stay in the medical world you are in and be able to go run and hike and wash the car, listen to the doc, you have tons of support here, a wealth of experience, if in doubt go visit another doc.

As TraceyE pointed out, they can put you on a holter, you can go do those things you do, then they can see what your heart is up to, and perhaps even show you the graph and explain it to you.

There are no guarantees sure.  Most folks here are doing just fine and living normal lives, some have had a bad experience, and there are countless who never made it here because they had a different kind of bad experience.  Can you live your life wihout a pacer, do the things you want to do and be fine?  Dont know, nobody can know.  is your pacer experience guaranteed to be 100% perfect?  Dont know, nobody can know.  The odds though greatly favor the pacer...This site is not an accurate representation of the pacer/icd population, just like reviews at amazon, most folks that bother to write a review are the ones with a bad experience, most folks that come here other than fear of the unknown for their first one, are here because of a problem for every one with a problem I would guess there are thousands out there that didnt bother to show up her as there was no reason to, they know what they need to know.  

I am 30 years in on pacers (im 49 have a long way to go in theory), and no doubt in my mind that I wouldnt be here otherwise.  The only thing you have to fear is not getting the pacer when you need it (which may or may not be right now).

Denial?

by Gotrhythm - 2017-07-19 13:30:48

I notice that your question isn't really Should I get a pacemaker, but Should I wait until my symptoms are worse.

You can wait, of course. But be aware that what you are waiting for might be a crisis, a time when you have to get a pacemaker under emergency conditions. I was the queen of denial and that's what I did.

I can't recommend it as a decision making strategy. You have a lot of control now over when, where, and from whom you get a pacemaker, and they all matter. You want an EP with hundreds of pacemaker implants under his belt, and a hospital with an experienced staff and good infection control. In an emergency, you'll get whoever is available. 

Now, you also have some say over what kind of pacemaker, and since being active is so important to you, the pacemaker with the right bells and whistles can make a difference, too.

Finally, waiting for things to get worse is dangerous to others. You are aware of long pauses now. As you get worse, chances are they will become more frequent and last longer. You could pass out. While you are driving. And your wife is in the car.

I shudder when I think that there are other fools at the wheel in the same denial I was, and too far out of it to know what danger they are putting others in. Because even if you don't pass out, and I never did, those long pauses are depriving your brain of oxygen, and you aren't thinking well at all.

I understand wanting to steer clear of the medical establishment. But now that I have cleared away the denial, I can see that I probably would have benefitted from a pacemaker at least five years, maybe ten, before I got one. And if I hadn't been so resistant to doctors, I might have insisted and kept insisting that something was wrong. Because I knew.