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Pacemaker recipients: Looking for support from others

Pacemaker & ICDs | Last Active: Jul 14 1:01pm | Replies (537)

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Profile picture for amalfi1279 @amalfi1279

I'm new to this site. I've been having mini blackouts and found out it's caused by very slow heart rate that you get when you have Afib. I had a 4 sec pause. It caused spatial disorientation. I'm hoping the electrophysiology dr will consider putting in a Pacemaker, but since it's all new to me I'll have to research the latest best safest kind.

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Replies to "I'm new to this site. I've been having mini blackouts and found out it's caused by..."

@amalfi1279 I had a similar experience. My resting heart rate was 40, and it dropped to 35 during sleep. I had afib, diagnosed in 2020. My cardiologist wanted to put me on a beta blockers and calcium channel blocker, but couldn't because of the very slow heart rate. On Aug 31, 2022, we did a Medtronic pacemaker, and set it at 60. It didn't stop the afib, but they could put me on stronger meds to manage the afib better. Every time I saw my cardiologist, he asked if I was ready for an ablation. By April of 2025, I was ready. I was tired of daily afib for 12-96 hours. I always converted naturally, but it was so tiresome and tiring! So I said yes to a PFA a Pulsed Field Ablation, and met with an electrophysiology in Jacksonville, FL. He had been doing PFA for five years, even though it had only been approved for 3. He was part of the testing prior to FDA approval. My last afib was May 6, 2025. My ablation was May 7, 2025. Dropped the calcium channel blocker and cut the beta blockers in half. I no longer avoid making plans because I don't know if I'll be in full-blown afib. So wonderful to have my life back. The reason indudnt have ablation sooner was because I was waiting for something better than the heat or cold version. PFA is the way to go. Get the pacemaker. Or get an ablation if offered. I still technically have afib, I just haven't had an episode in 14 months. Syncopy (blackouts) is not the way to go. Good luck.