evaluating implant of Pacemaker

I seek some advice on whether to go for Pacemaker or not? I am absolutely normal 74 yrs South asian male-walk 5 miles daily- climb stairs and carryout normal house hold work without any symptoms -no pain-no palpitation-no tiredness. Normal sleep of 7 hrs. I have wel controlled Diabetes type 2 and high BP for last 12 yrs. Av built- 133 lbs and 5'- 4" ht.. 

My PCP says I have Bradycardia conditions. The Cardiologist performed Echo/Nuclear Stress, and both are normal. But Rhythmstar Event Monitor( 14 days study) shown 60 to 35 BPM with Heart Pauses Varying 3 sec to 5.9 sec  280 times in total of 2 weeks study.  Now my Cardio Dr suggest a Pace Maker implant. 

Here are my questions :

1) Is the pacemaker a good choice in my case?

2) Any knowledge of common complications and precautions after the implant ?

3) Can sleep apnea happen because of the implant , as I read somewhere about the relation between the two?

 

 

 

 

 

 


4 Comments

My answers (but your EP's answers are far more important)

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-09 01:24:42

1) Without a doubt, in my mind. The 6-second pause nails it.

2) There are all sorts of complications but all fairly rare. The most common would probably be infection. This is almost always treated successfully with antibiotics without and further problems. Lead implant failure is up there, too, but involves replacing the lead, not a huge deal in the first couple of weeks. There are other extremely rare complications, too, but they really don't stack up to dying, or worse, which is what you're looking at if you don't get the pacemaker.

3) No. It's the other way around. Sleep apnea can cause rhythm problems that require a pacemaker to correct.

 

Please, please, discuss these questions, and any others you come across, with your EP.  You need to form a trust relationship with him.

That's NOT a sterling record!!!

by donr - 2018-09-09 02:25:03

280 events in 2 weeks is 20 times per night or about twice per hour!  That's pretty lousy sleep in my book.  Couple that w/ a 6 second pause & it appears to me that an infinite pause is in the ofting..  Can you schedule it for yesterday?

Donr

Your choice!

by Theknotguy - 2018-09-09 08:10:52

1) Is the pacemaker a good choice in my case?
Per your study - "Heart Pauses Varying 3 sec to 5.9 sec  280 times in total of 2 weeks study."  Which means you're leading up to the heart stopping permanently.  Your choice but I wouldn't chance it.  

2) Any knowledge of common complications and precautions after the implant ?
Just common complications and normal precautions we all see with a pacemaker implant.  You can lead the same lifestyle you live now.  

3) Can sleep apnea happen because of the implant , as I read somewhere about the relation between the two?
Sleep apnea isn't caused by having a pacemaker implanted.  Sleep apnea and heart problems are usually seen together because of pre-disposed genetic conditions.  i.e. your grandparents swam in the wrong gene pool and gave those flawed genes to you.   

My story is the same, old, tired story you can see repeated many times on this forum.  I had the heart pauses but no one, including the doctors, saw them.  I, of course didn't see them either.  I moved 2000 pounds of wood on Thursday, walked 3.5 miles with the dogs on Friday.  On the same Friday, turned the corner to go on the exit trail while walking the dogs, everything started to go black, woke up six days later from a coma.  If a person hadn't been on the same hiking trail as I was about 100 meters back, I would have been coyote meat.  In other words I died on the trail.  Because the person was able to call for an ambulance and they got me to a hospital within an hour I survived.  But it was touch and go.  I died on the trail and they revived me.  I died in the ambulance and they revived me.  I died in the hospital and they revived me.  In the hospital they attached a temporary pacemaker and waited four days to see if I would live.  Otherwise I wouldn't be here to write this comment. 

Because they had to do CPR they broke all the ribs on my right side.  The nurses in the hospital had to do CPR again and they broke ribs on the left side.  They had to put me into a medically induced coma.  Otherwise I would have gone into shock and died in spite of having a pacemaker  

It took me two years to get back to "normal".  Once again I am able to move the 2000 pounds of wood.  Now I hike 5 miles with the dogs instead of 3.  I can't tell you how unbelievably lucky I am to be here.  Oh, and my heart doctor told me over 50% of the people who have CPR two times are vegetables.  i.e. they are alive but no brain action. 

You feel good now because of your active life style.  But with your heart pauses, I wouldn't put off getting a pacemaker.  Your choice.  

 

EPS needed prior to PM implant ?

by jayant_hvac - 2018-09-10 21:57:35

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the members for providing me the answers on my earlier post that has actually helped me taking a decision to go ahead with the Pacemaker implant. Now, I have one more question.

My Cardiologist referred me for the Pacemaker Implant without going for EPS. As I had said earlier, I have no symptoms at all but my Event monitor 14 days study shows 280 Pauses varying 3 to 5.9 sec & pulse rate varying 35 to 60. My Echo and Nuclear Stress are normal.

My questions :

  1. Does everyone go through EPS prior to the Pacemaker procedure?
  2. Is it true that doing the EPS prior to the PM procedure would help in deciding the PM requirement and its type?  If so, I would request my Cardiologist to refer me to the EP first.

 

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Member Quotes

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.