@phil75
The amount of information you provided is very hard to pass on our experiences with this subject.

Why are you considering a pacemaker? What have you been told that you sense you need one?

I am on my 3rd ICD/Pacemaker and have had one since 2006. When my EF got to 30 I was advised to consider a ICD/Pacemaker. I went to Mayo Jacksonville for a second opinion who echoed the advice. I was given both the ICD and pacemaker as had a lot of PVCs and two of my mediation caused my pulse rate to be very low (in 30s). So my pacemaker pulses me at 70 bpm. It also helps reduct PVCs.

The ICD is there to restart the heart muscle if goes into tachacardyia. My ICD will try to pulse me out first and if that does not work it shocks me. Over the amost past 20 years I have been shocked about 10 times.

I was told and it is what I focus on is an ICD/Pacemaker is like having your own EMS in your chest. It will monior and react with seconds if needed. It can take many minutes for EMS to reach you, diagnose and then deliver a shock if needed. The ability of a ICD to bring heart back to rympthm is about 100%. But that is arrymthmias not heart attacks.

Yes the shock can be nerve racking but just shows you the device is working. I would not be typing this message to you now if I did not have a ICD/Pacemaker.