CRT-Defibrilator

I have a Boston Scientific pacemaker/defibilator. I went into cardiac arrest 2 years ago at 24 and they decided to do the implant because they weren't sure why it happened or if it would happen again. I am also on a few different medications for my heart. After receiving the pacemaker/defib, they found out that I have mitral valve prolapse as well. When I was younger I was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat but they weren't worried about it. But none of these things could have caused me to go into cardiac arrest.

Luckily, mine hasn't had to go off at all. Not even the pacemaker to pace my heart. I'm not sure about a-fib so I can't help with that. I just know that if my heart rate goes above 220 or below 40, my pacemaker will kick in. If it can't pace my heart within 1 second, the defib will shock me.

I don't think that helps you as well, just someone who as a similar device.

hello, actually my husband has a medtronics virtuoso. It was implanted the day after obama won the election. It has shocked him a couple of times, and also not worked requiring him to have the big paddles in the ER used. He has also had a cardiac ablation this past year, but it seems that it only worked for a few monthes and he is now in sustained periods of arrythmia again about every three days or so. So far it seems to convert on its own after he takes about three ativan and some old amiodorone. Frankly, He has decide that there will be no more hospital stays and he has no faith in anyone anymore. This all started with ten and a half hours of thorasic surgery for an ascending aortic annyeurism during which time he stroked out on the operating table and had a subsequent heart attack during rehab. all this before he turned fifty. Well, his life now consists of a hospital bed, pajamas, the remote, an oxygen concentrator, and a zillion medications.he had eight hospital stays last year. At 52 he has decided that he wont fight anymore and today I am watching his neck do the mombo as he is out of rythem yet again. Had him to the hospital two weeks ago and by the time we got there, they hooked him up his heart rate corrected itself and they unplugged him, told us he has a bad electrical system and sent him home. I am watching my beautiful husband tire out of fighting and now he is giving up. I can't blame him. Whats it all for anyway? He's left with an ef rate of 20% and takes so many diuretics for the chf that he is in danger of renal failure.I mean, really, what is medicine anyway but the practice of MAYBE. Maybe. If you are lucky it works. If you arent, oh well, huh?

So sorry to hear about your husband. The 10 and a half hours of surgery while on a heart/lung machine puts him in a different league from me. I'm sure that was a contributing factor to the other problems. Are his doctors and the hospital you use highly rated for the treatment he requires? Convince him not to give up. Medical research is always producing new medications, devices, or procedures to remedy previously insurmountable problems. Best of luck.

Thanks for your posting. I was not aware of it until today when I received an email alerting me to another more recent post. Like you, I have the pacing function mostly disabled. It was kicking in when not needed (like at night if I moved about in my sleep, causing me to awaken). Now mine will come on only with a heart rate below 50, They totally turned off the attempt to increase heart rate in response to exercise. I have never experienced cardiac arrest, though my doctors say it could happen. I believe the primary reason for my implant is to resynchronize beating of the ventricles. At age 38 I had a major heart attack, and the subsequent disruption in electrical signals led to that problem which results in a low ejection fraction. I should understand things much better after my upcoming apointment in January when 4 months worth of data collection will be downloaded and analyzed.

Sounds like you really need the defib. function. Hope mine never has to activate.

I will be having a CRT-defbrilator implanted in a week and a half. I have dilated cardiomyapothy with a left bundle branch block. The unit is being put in as a precautionary measure as my efraction rate is very low, I am having symptoms of heart failure, and I am at risk of sudden cardiac death. How was your procedure? I am worried about the surgery.

It was an easy procedure. They kept me overnight afterward. Manufacturer reps are present in the operating room and help with adjustments. As I was in recovery my heart felt like it was trying to jump out of my chest. The technicians used a computer to adjust things and that went away. It happened again later in the hospital room and they repeated the computer adjustment. That has never happened since. I believe it is a fairly routine event having to do with the frequency of the pacemaker and a particular nerve it excites. Have the device for nearly a year now and don't think much about it. Going for bloodwork every 2 weeks to check Warfarin level, and dealing with the dietary restrictions regarding that is more on my mind.

I got one about a week and a half ago....mainly for the synchronization feature but also for the defib function. So far, no "treatments" and I'm feeling great. I had CHF 14 years ago and overcame it really well, but it's happened again and I'm not doing so well with it this time. My EF was 10 at my first cardiologist visit, then 20 about two months later. It's not expected to get much better. Good luck with yours, if's definitely a life altering experience.

I have a Mediatronic pacemaker - about 2 years now. Does nothing for my afib (that's what the drugs are for) but it has stopped me flat lining - well worth it!