Trying to make decision about getting a pacemaker

Decision

by zawodniak2 - 2017-11-11 16:46:35

I had identical symptoms and had a serious passing out event which put me in a hospital with a broken rib after an exciting ride in an ambulance (siren and all------I think the ambulance crew wanted me to feel like I was getting my monies worth??)..Cardiologist suggested a pace maker which I refused due to wanting to do more research.,  Later saw an EP for a tilt table test at which time he said if I did not get a pacer then  I would be needing one in the future.  I got the pace maker and glad I did.  no more  anxiety, no more dizzy spells, no more passing out and no generalized fatigue.  After 10 years, I am on my second pace maker; and the EP knew what my prognosis was as my natural heart rhyhm has .decreased to where I am 100% dependent on the PM to keep my heart  rate at or above 60 BPM>

Personally, with what you indicate, I feel you are definately a candidate for a pace maker.  I don't think the doctor will make your ultimate decision,,.. Symptoms,such as ours do not improve with time and denial is our worst enemy leading to anxiety and sub-quality of life.

                              Rodger

Decision

by Merriashley - 2017-11-11 18:27:17

Thank you!  I definitely have anxiety about symptoms and really feel like I should go ahead and get paced.  I feel better hearing that it's not unusual for the patient to decide when the time is right.  

Hi and Welcome

by Bionic Beat - 2017-11-11 19:36:53

After reading your post, I checked to see where you live.  Im near Toronto, Ontario and not familiar with American medical decision making.  After seeing that your heart rate is about 1/2 the normal rate and that you have two lovely daughters and that you drive a car....Im wondering why the doctor is treating this as 'optional'.  I mean that in the nicest way possible, as a complete heart block here, would be an emergency/urgent pacemaker insertion and of course, you sign a consent and really could refuse....but why would you??

As you say, you could get dizzy or pass out while driving, very dangerous.  Even passing out at home you can break bones, I have broken both teeth and facial bones from my heart issues. (when you pass out, you open your mouth wide and inhale. Ive hit the hardwood face down and once my front teeth were stuck into the floor boards! Firemen wondered why I didnt flip over....lol)  Expensive dentistry too.

Last time I had a pacemaker change over, I met a lady in the hospital who had fallen from a sudden arrythmia, hit her head onto concrete and had both Cardiac surgeons putting in an emergency pacer while the Plastics guys were sewing up her head, all without any drugs as she was too sick for sedation!!

I do hope its not a financial issue, if so please call all of the local hospitals until you receive help.  

Please, for yourself and your lovely daughters get a pacemaker so that you have lots of energy and the peace of mind knowing that your heart is now fixed. 

We are very lucky to be alive at a time when we do not have to suffer or worse from electrical problems in our hearts.

Wishing you all the best.

Bionic Beat

just do it

by Tracey_E - 2017-11-12 22:06:18

I was at the same point as you for several  years. One day my rate tanked, it was 21 when I was admitted for emergency surgery. This is not the easy way to do it, I didn't have time to plan or make choices, ,my family freaked. If it is affecting you, if you are tired all the time, if your rate isn't going up on exertion, imo it is time to do it.  I realized after that I didn't feel half as good before as I thought I did, that I'd been tired for so long, that things worsened so gradually, that I got used to compensating. That's not the same as not having symptoms.

I have a big pet peeve with doctors who put it off because of our age. I should have had mine years before I got it. Instead of struggling, I could have been feeling good all that time. In addition, the heart being out of sync and the rate dipping are hard on the body. Our organs need oxygen to function properly and they are being deprived. Why some doctors think just because we are younger and getting by without means we don't need to fix it is beyond me. If you were 70, would you even be having the discussion or would you already be scheduled? =Age is irrelevant.

And unless you have a crystal ball, waiting until you pass out or things get worse is just plain dangerous. We've had members pass out while driving or fall down the stairs, then they find themselves recovering from injuries as well as surgery. It's not going to get better. It's going to stay the same or get worse, so why put it off? Fix it, get on with your life.

I wrote this a while back .....

by MartyP - 2017-11-12 22:09:43

if you faint and pass out and wake up and didn't hurt yourself or anyone else the answer is self evident you get it.

If you faint and wake up and either find yourself bleeding or with broken bones or had an accident and killed someone or one of your family it's too late and you will torture yourself and everyone you know or will know for the rest of your life and wish you were dead.

If you faint and don't wake up, you  it matter matter as someone else will bury you and raise your children....

This is tough love, I think you know what you have to do, just like hundreds of thousands others just like me and you.  I was lucky that i was in the hospitsl after fainting, heart stopped for 31 seconds, 3rd degree heart block and 4 hours later I got Sparky.

"WHEN IN DOUBT, THERE IS NO DOUBT"

For yourself and family don't hesitate, 3rd degree can be a KILLER, for men it's called the widow maker.

Follow Robin1 advice and get it done

Let us know the day before and the day after .... we are here for you and can guide you through this.

It will always be your decision unless........

by Mapleshaz - 2017-11-13 01:44:01

....... you end up unconscious due to your heart or an accident; then you wake up with it! A device has been “suggested” because they can not force you. Legally, you need to consent. Read my profile, more to come soon.....

I signed the consent on 6/Oct/2017, 3 weeks prior to surgery on 01/Nov/2017. On CRT-D implant day, 13 days ago, I had to give verbal consent then I was asked again as I walked into the operating room. After each of these three times, I burst into tears and whispered to my partner, “I don’t really want it but I have to for my family”. 

My lightbulb moment, when I absolutely knew I was doing the right thing, came about 3/4 of the way through the operation. And that wonderful moment is still with me. Yes, I have had tears, because of pain or lack of sleep or just because. But on day 3, we went out for a walk to the shops. The slight incline that has always caused my SOB, didn’t.......so I burst into tears from sheer joy!

As a mommy, daughter, partner, it’s your choice. Please let us know when you decide and we will ALL be thinking of you on the day. ❤️

Decision Made!!

by Merriashley - 2017-11-14 14:50:22

Hi All!  I am getting a pacemaker put in on Friday!  After seeing my holter results and an average heart rate of 36 decision made!  Thank you guys and I  guess I will be an official member of the club! I had already decided to get paced but wasn't quite prepared for this soon but so glad I am getting this taken care of!

Decision

by Loonylil - 2017-11-14 15:38:34

glad you have made your decision and sending you lots of good wishes for Friday!

let us know how you feel when it’s done❤️

good luck!

by Tracey_E - 2017-11-14 18:04:34

36 makes it a very easy decision! Glad you don't have to wait long.