Survival

We are campers and go out in the boondocks. I had an ablation 2 yrs. ago and am now 100% dependent on my pacemaker. I would like to know how you can tell if you have enough resilency in your heart to survive in case of pacemaker failure until you can reach the hospital. I think everyone is different so who could answer this question for me specifically? Thanks in advance. DD

4 Comments

One Hour to a Grocery Store!!

by TwoCents - 2009-03-10 06:03:38

I actually live where most people go to get away from it all and I am pacemaker dependent. I pace 100% upstairs and 40% downstairs. I was told that if I had a complete failure (very rare) that I wouldn't feel very well and might not be upright, but that I would be able to get to medical attention. This almost happened to me a few years ago when I hit an electric horse fence with my forehead and was knocked out. Fortunately, the current didn't go through the pacer and I just had a few bumps and bruises. Two Cents

Great question!

by tcrabtree85 - 2009-03-11 01:03:32

I highly recommend that you ask your pm tech and Dr this question. When they do your pm checks they drop your rate to see where you are on your own they at least do that with me.
I have had it where my pm has stopped working and it was not that long ago. I am dependent on a pm also. My rate is set at 70 my own heart beats under that sometime 30 and sometimes 50 I am missing my SA Node and other areas gave me the heart beat I needed. I made it to a hospital just fine but felt aweful. They turned the settings up on my ventricle lead to work more until I could have surgery. My atrial lead is what stopped working which is what I use on a regular basis.
I don't know if this helps you but it always reassures me when somebody has experienced my questions. Take care!
Tammy

GO CAMPING

by pete - 2009-03-11 03:03:06

Yes your pacing technicians can tell if you have a rescue rhythym/residual pace after an ablation by dropping your rate to near zero for a short time.Most people do. I dont. But I would still go camping. A failure whilst camping is extremely unlikely to put it mildly. The only time I would not do so would be when I knew the pacemakers battery is in or close to elective replacement mode. Cheers Peter

I'm a trekker

by BillMFl - 2009-03-11 07:03:52

Love to get out on trails less traveled. My risk? About the same as somebody without a PM. Anybody in a remote area is at some risk from an accident or illness that they didn't even know they have. I worry more about snakes, grizzly bears, lightening or wierd people. And wierd people are probably the biggest hazard!

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Try to concentrate on how you’re able to be active again and feel normal, rather than on having a machine stuck in your body.