Pacemaker & ICDs: Introduce Yourself & Meet Others

@amalfi1279 Hello! id experienced this, my Heart rhythm went down to 30 BPM, Fainted 5 times went ER n they went through my wrist to look into my heart n arteries n diagnosed me with Bradycardia wich is low Heart rhythm, due to a medication, this was May of this year. Dr. Mention possible Pacemaker n discontinued 1 of my BP Med n I did good until 2 was ago ths coming Saturday , that day I Fainted at work n was taken to ER, Wich my heart rhythm went down to Zero at hospital n they had 2paced a few times to bring me back, my Cardiologist showed up at ICU N told he was placing a Pacemaker next day, I felt great when I was at hospital. Once I left I started to experience anxiety n pounding of my chest, very scary! Saw my Cardiologist the following Thursday n told everything was healing well n that it was normal what I was feeling, this past Tuesday it got worse, called Dr's office n they told me to go to ER n I did. They did n EKG n monitor my Pacemaker n send data to the company that monitors Pacemakers, everything checked out good, there was not any cardio events wich gave a Great Peace of mind. ER Dr. Diagnosed me with PTSD n anxiety, he said it was normal cuz of the Trauma I experienced. Gonna see my Primary tomorrow to put me in a short possibly long term treatment n that makes me feel no been scare anymore, yesterday I experienced same symptoms n I was able to cope n control my anxiety. Looking forward for tomorrow to se my primary. So don't be afraid. My Heart rhythm surprisingly has gone up in the mid 70s wich has been Great News. Besides all of those 2 symptoms I feel great, energetic n very happy that my Cardiologist decided on the Pacemaker. Do it n Leave it in God's Hands everything would workout. I hope my experience gives you hope😊🙏

@amalfi1279
I had been given Amiodarone for AFib. While the Amiodarone did not stop the AFib, it was toxic to my lungs and it caused my heart rate to drop into the 30's. Amiodarone stays in the body for months, so we were waiting to see if my heart rate would return to normal or if there were other contributing issues. After 3 months, my heart rate did not return to normal, and my heart briefly stopped, causing me to pass out. Fortunately, someone was there to catch me, so I did not have other issues, such as a broken bone. The EP determined that this would happen again, so I was told that I would have a pacemaker implanted the next morning.

You are put out for the procedure. At first the site is tender (in my case also very bruised because I was on blood thinners without the opportunity to stop them), and you have to be careful not to lift your arm over your head for some time. Riding as a passenger in a car is not a problem, but using the seatbelt as a driver is difficult. I found for the first month or so, I had a folder hand towel under the seatbelt to protect the site.

It is now 5 years, and the pacemaker has been GREAT! It keeps my heart rate from dropping, and I feel so very much better with a normal heartrate!

I have a Medtronic 2 lead Pacemaker. It comes with a bedside monitor, so my heart information is monitored all the time. Every three months I am sent a report. Meanwhile, I am comfortable knowing that my doctor is alerted to any problems.

One thing to be aware of, however, is that the pacemaker has default settings; probably not many of us have default bodies! Consequently, at first you may have to have the pacemaker "tweaked" several times to work with you. For example, my setting did not allow my heart rate to increase enough to accommodate any exercise. I found myself frequently out of breath (I did not know at the time that it could be adjusted, so I was very concerned). "Tweaking" is very easily done. A technician has a device close to where your pacemaker is implanted and adjusts settings. Quick and easy! I wish I had been aware of that at the beginning.

Also... you mentioned having AFib. The pacemaker keeps your heart rate from going too low, but it does not stop AFib. I had 3 different AFib episodes after my pacemaker was implanted. I was very surprised the first time it happened, and I was alerted by the pacemaker monitoring.

Anyway, I hope this helps you to feel more comfortable with the procedure. Please reach out if you have other questions that I might be able to answer. I was scared at the thought of a pacemaker. I thought only old sick people had those, and I was only 75! However, I am grateful that I have it.

@scoleo70058
Hi Scott - I have some similarities to PART of your story! I have not had a Life Vest, although I have heard great things about them. Like you, I was on several different medications for AFib. First was amiodarone; that made me nauseous, caused lung toxicity, and brought my heart rate into the 30's. I was also put on metoprolol (which I am still on). Then I was on Sotalol, Flecainide, and Propafenone.

Nothing stopped my AFib, except for cardioversions. I had three of them, and they worked - but not for the long term. I already had a pacemaker (thanks to Amiodarone dropping my heart rate), and my doctor strongly believed that the only ablation that would work for me was an AV node ablation. He was reluctant to "keep shocking me". I resisted the AV Node Ablation for months, but I finally agreed.

I requested a cardioversion some days BEFORE my ablation; I wanted to NOT be in AFib when I had the AV Node Ablation because I wanted to know how I would feel when I would again go into AFib (having persistent AFib - I recognized that this would happen).

As you know, when the atria goes into AFib after an AV Node Ablation, it does not go to the Ventricles (because they "burned the bridge" between them). Hence, the pacemaker is necessary to keep the ventricles beating at a normal rate. You then become "pacemaker dependent".

To answer your question, YES, the AV Node Ablation did affect my arrythmias the way anticipated. Two months after my ablation, I again went into AFib. I had no personal knowledge of this; it was reported to me by my pacemaker monitoring. As I write, I know I am in AFib - but I am totally unaware. Prior to this, every episode of AFib was accompanied by RVR, causing my ventricles to beat very rapidly. Now my heart rate is normal, even though (as my cardiologist said) I will be in AFib the rest of my life! An episode of Shortness of Breath made me wonder if the AFib was causing it. However, that was not the case (my pacemaker was "tweaked" to accommodate my exertion and resulting SOB). I was worried about the AFib damaging my heart; both my EP and my cardiologist told me that is not happening. As much as I resisted, I am glad that I had the AV Node Ablation. I am never worried about going into AFib because I am already IN it, without problems. I wish you all the best!

@amalfi1279

I received an implanted cardioverter defibrillator nearly 2 months ago. I needed this because of wide-complex tachycardias...sudden misfiring of electrical impulses, driving my heart rate to above 200 beats a minute, requiring emergency interventions. The ICD is working very well--and I hope the same will be true for you. I am so very grateful for this technology.

Hi Everyone !
I’ve had arrhythmia problems since about 2007, I had Supraventricular Tachycardia & had an Ablation in 2022. I thought all was good but about September 2025 I started having very fast heart rates & slow heart rates too ! I went to my husband’s Electrophysiologist @ the Heart Hospital my husband goes to & I have Bradycardia & Atrial Tachycardia/SVT. I’m on medication for the fast heart rate but I had a Pacemaker just put in April 2026 for the Bradycardia. I thank God for the Pacemaker & for my health care team. God Bless you !

@amalfi1279 Hello again, @amalfi1279, I see that you are getting a pacemaker in about 2 weeks. You posted on July 11th and since that time you had many responses. You are unsure about the entire process that will be happening and the uncertainty is making you uncomfortable. Every one of us here fully understands and here is an extra hug of encouragement ((HUG)).

On July 11th I responded to your post and included a couple of links that may answer some of your questions. Please do ask your doctors as well, as a unique person with several ongoing medical issues, there may be unique answers to your questions.

Here is a copy of part of my post to you from July 11th: Mayo Clinic posts much information; here are two links you may be interested in reading: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pacemaker/about/pac-20384689 and https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pacemaker/multimedia/pacemaker/img-20008517. Actually, there are more including video presentations by Mayo doctors.

In your browser, you may type Mayo Clinic Pacemaker to see many more items. Knowledge helps us to understand what is happening with our hearts as well as helping us to formulate questions for our doctors. How did you find out that a pacemaker was needed? Do you have an electrophysiologist, a specialist in the electrical functioning of hearts? Your pacemaker will be installed on Aug 13th. Which type - so many new models are now available as other contributors have described. Please keep us posted with both your progress and personal impressions of this journey.

Hi,
5 years ago I was diagnosed with CMD (Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction/Disease). About 4 months ago I started having SVTs and as their frequency increased over time I had 3 cardioversions and was on nitro infusion twice. Last week a team Electrophysiologist completed an EP study and I had 2 ablation (part of my AV Node) and pacemaker (Abbott) installed (5 days ago). My primary meds to manage the CMD are Metoprolol (75 mg/day) and Amlodipine (5mg/day). Since the pacemaker I am unable to sleep even with the help of sleeping meds (Dayvigo/Zopiclone). Weird pains (legs/feet), nightmares, chest pain, nausea, having to urinate every 2 hours to name a few of the issues. I feel like am losing it. During the day I feel great - no issues.
Has anyone experienced similar types of events during the night after having a pacemaker installed? If, yes, what helped with sleep.

@patti9309
When you have heart issues you can become heart focused. This is not my opinion but the medical and mental heath guidance for my medical professionals at Mayo Jacksonville.

During the day (again from my experience and what my doctors advised me) you are busy doing things, you are not so heart focused. When you go or try to go to sleep at night you are quiet, laying there and common to become heart focused and feel every PVCs, PACs, tachycardia, discomfort, etc.

How long has it been since your pacemaker was implanted? It takes about a year for body to encapsulate the device and wires. I am on my 3rd ICD/Pacemaker so have gone through this encapsulation time period. And for me like my EP stated it will feel better after encapsulation.

You asked about sleep medications. I am going to advise of what I take and it was described by Mayo Psychiatric medication specialist. It is Trazodone. What trazodone did for me was it stop my mind from racing and concentrating on heart focus. I was able to sleep with it.

But we are all individuals so what worked for me my not work for you. One thing about Trazodone is for me caused very vivid dreams. My specialist told me because it increases serotonin.

Don't accept the way you feel. Reach out to your medical doctors and advise them exactly the way you feel and mentioned things if they would help you.

How do you sleep. On back, sides, etc. The way you sleep affects the organs inside your body. Thus you will feel more heart feelings like on your left side versus you right side. Talk to your doctors about sleeping positions and on your own try the right side, then see if the left side improves or makes worse.

Good Luck!

@jc76
I have had my pacemaker for 6 days. Thank you so much for your wise words. I have a strong personality and am somewhat controlling so these night time “adventures” were really taking me a loop. I see my doctor on Friday and will heed your advice. THANK YOU!

@patti9309 Welcome to Connect! I just read the two posts you wrote in the last 24 hours. SVT's are a fast heart rhythm (for those unfamiliar with this acronym). Have you spoken to your doctors about your sleeping issue and the other issues you are experiencing at night? Lack of sleep affects other things we are doing, please do address your issues with your doctors at Friday's appointment. We cannot give medical advice. Your pacemaker was installed less than a week ago, sleeping position needs to be accommodating as you heal. I liked a recliner for a while and now I sleep on my left side, I do miss sleeping on my stomach. @jc76 noted that he was very heart focused, especially at night, I did not find that happening to me. I found this article from the NIH, a study, you may wish to read. I am thinking that, even though it's about ICDs, it would also apply to devices that are just pacemakers. It's quite technical, I skipped down to the ending comments. You may read something here that resonates with you and can help generate questions for your doctor. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3681948/ Before you received your pacemaker, how did SVT affect your everyday life?