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Pacemaker recipients: Looking for support from others
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Nov 13, 2023 | Replies (413)Comment receiving replies
Here's my story
A little background on me back in 2008 I caught a virus that caused major damage to my Heart. I was rushed to the hospital barely able to breath when lying down. After a couple of days sleeping sitting up I realized the flu I had was not getting better. I went to the er only to discover that fluid had built ip around my lungs and heart making it hard to breath. After massive doses of IV diuretics they were able to dry me out enough to be transferred to a Cardiac Hospital in Chandler Az. There they discovered I was pretty close to death and recommend a pacemaker plus antiarrhythmic drugs. I left for home with an ejection Factor of 5%. I did recoup from that and for a couple of years felt back to normal. My ef did get up to the 45% range and life was pretty normal. I enjoyed hiking and camping working around the house etc. But it did not last forever. In 2011 i received my first shock from the pacemaker and my cardiologist at that time recommend me see an EP Cardiologist. He recommended that I needed an Heart ablation to find the reason for my heart going into a bad arrhythmia. So he did find some bad paths and ablated them. Things were better but after a year i was still having arrhythmias more than he liked so we did a second ablation. That one was very successful. Things were good for a while but my heart got worse so in 2015 i had a bad set of arrhythmias about 8 shocks before they got my heart to settle down. After about a week and trying different combinations of drugs we got it better but still I would probably need my ablations. Well in Nov of 2017 my heart started having many arrhythmias and after a couple more ablations it was time to look at a heart transplant. My EP doctor recommended me to Mayo clinic to get evaluated. Well after getting to Mayo my heart got even worse. It got to the point that only IV drugs could control my arrhythmias. Well about the end of December 2017 i was put on the list for a heart. Then a miracle happen on January 4th the Lord provided a heart. So on 5 Jan 2018 the surgeon came in and let me know that he was going to pick up my new heart. With the Awesome Support om My Wife and caregiver plus the Prayers of my Church , Family and Friends here i am 2 years post transplant with a bright future ahead of me. Im doing well walking 3-4 miles 5 days a week, Hiking and i'm back on the golf course. Life is looking pretty good.
Replies to "Here's my story A little background on me back in 2008 I caught a virus that..."
Congratulations.......The Lord has helped you recover! Don't know how old you are but that doesn't matter....My dad had heart trouble, but wouldn't do anything about it. He died at 73. I did not have any problems like you. Mine were small almost missed the signs. I saw my doc in a 2008 visit told me I needed the pace maker. Might just as well do it now and get it over with. I will be 87 next month and have had 35 different surgeries. Not proud of that but I'm still alive and have the two different kinds of Lung cancer. The Lord has been my friend for a very long time!Nancy )shortshot80)
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I am a little confused . Demand pacemakers usually are set at a level. Mine is 60 The issue for me is to make sure the battery is normal. I check 2 times a week in the cardiologist office and the vendor tech for St.Jude provides the testing back to the Cardiologist. A shock from the pace maker would indicate a failure that should result in replacement. Leaving a pacemaker that has gone sour in and killing the sensory nerves with abatments is strange to me. Have you considered a second professional opinion. I have had spinal abatements but killing nerves to prevent a pacemaker shock doesn't seem reasonable.I am 90 years old. Please excuse my bluntness. Arrhythmia is not cured. It is controlled by the pace maker to avoid a stroke and with a suitabe blood thinner.