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Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Nov 15, 2023 | Replies (874)
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@karinvl

I’ve had a pacemaker since 2016 due to full heart block, so it is my best friend. I was 61 then and now am completing Advance Directives (I live n Oregon). I am curious if anyone has considered the question of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) if in an emergency? The use of a defibrillator cannot be used with a pacemaker, but in speaking with emergency medical persons, they won’t know you have one. I considered a tattoo over my shoulder ( for real) or a bracelet. This just brought up so many questions, and I don’t know who might have even thought this through. Please share any thoughts you might have. Thank you,

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Replies to "I’ve had a pacemaker since 2016 due to full heart block, so it is my best..."
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Jan 4, 2022

Hi Karin, welcome to connect,, Actually I have faced this question. I did have a pacemaker defibulator for many years prior to my Heart Transplant, At the time I worked at an agency that had portable defibrillators everywhere and wanted to know how to handle a possibly emergency. My EP Cardiologist told me Actually pacemakers are designed to shut down if a external defibrillator was in use and don't worry about it. If that ever happen we can reset the pacemaker after the event is over. I also had a fellow worker with afib who had a pacemaker also and did not have a built n in defibrillator but was converted a number of times and it did not affect the pacemaker. So you may want to ask your EP Cardiologist about that.
Hope that helps.
Blessings

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