V-tach after pacemaker

• by Bu
• 2008-02-18 04:02:33
• General Posting
• 1564 views
• 1 comments

I got my pacemahker last June and thought that I was "fixed". It took me awhile to adjust to the idea that at age 39 I needed a pacemaker but reading everyone's messages here made me realize I was not alone nor was it that unusual for someone my age. I thought when I got the pacemaker that I would suddenly have abundant energy to exercise. Well it definitely helped but it was no quick fix. During an interrogation of my pacemaker about 4 months after I got my pacemaker it was found that I was starting to have frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia with a HR as high as 282 beats/minute. During these episodes I would have palpitations and get very short of breath and exertion seemed to be bringing them on. I was started on Toprol XL which helped. Thankfully I have received wonderful care at the cardiovascular center at the University of Michigan Hospital and was referred to cardiologist Dr. Frank Bogun who was wonderful, he is rare among doctors. He always has time to answer my questions and he is very thorough. After many tests he quickly arranged for me to come in for a v-tach ablation. The procedure thankfully went well. It has only been a week and I aleady feel the difference. I can walk up the stairs without palpitations or shortness of breath. I look forward to exercising and finally getting into condition. I love to hike and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to. I hope my story helps someone else out there to know they are not alone.