Pacemaker recipients: Looking for support from others

I neglected to mention that the cardiologist stated that the “pauses” that I experienced were the cause of the fainting episodes and that the pacemaker would fix this. I believe that she was correct, as I have had no further fainting episodes since implant of the pacemaker.

Hi, Betty. I am no expert on the subject, but I can share with you my history that might clarify things for you. After having been previously diagnosed with occasional afib, last April I had about 4 episodes of fainting. Went to ER and was put on a heart monitor and was asked to spend the night at the hospital for continued monitoring. The next morning, I met with a cardiologist who told me that during the night my pulse dropped to as low as 33 BPM, and worse yet, I had several “pauses” of at least 4 seconds when I had no pulse. While she did not say so, it appeRed to m3 that I was a candidate to be someone who mysteriously died in their sleep! She did tell me, though, that I was a candidate for a pacemaker. I underwent pacemaker surgery the next day. The device was then dialed in to hold my pace at no less than 60 BPM. The device seems to have no effect on a fib. I was also placed on flecainide and metoprolol to keep my heart rate from racing during any future afib episodes. Hope this is helpful. Best wishes to you.

Thanks for getting back to me with your experience. I was starting to wonder about pain too because my doctor wrote to me that it should mostly clear up in 10 days, but I'm on day 12 and am still experiencing pain and sensitivity that is completely tolerable (I quite the tylenol a week ago), but I'm wondering when it will ease. Naturally, I re-injure the incision site a little bit on most days as my range of motion improves and my activity level increases. Using some ice tonight! I'm also tired but in a different way, thank goodness, than before when my bradycardia was so symptomatic and scary. This just feels like regular tiredness and I think it will get better.
Thanks again!

Hi: I've had PM for 10 months. I still have minor pain from time to time. After surgery, it was quite painful and that lasted many months. It's a tricky area to operate on. My surgeon was gruff and not at all concerned about my pain level, during surgery and after! I still have pain during some activities. Hang in there- it does improve.

thank you for your informaton , rsteve

Hi Betty, I'm not sure I understand pauses. Unfortunately I'm not super familiar with afib, I had a friend who had it and if he went into afib and either the pacemaker or by itself did not come back into rhythm he would go to an er and get converted. It sounds like these pauses are skipped beats? I used to have what doctors called Pvcs which do feel uncomfortable but are not usually bad enough to need treatment. Could these be what your calling pauses? Pvcs by the way stands for premature Vintricular contraction and are basically skipped beats.
Of they in your case are more often that occasional I understand there are treatments for them but I'm nit familiar with those treatments. I did have them myself but only for short periods and myndoctr sad they were not often enough to be of concern. Sorry I couldn't help more on that area.

Thank you so much! Yes, I stopped and the reflux has stopped too.

I am wondering if the pacemaker stops the afid from happening

But if heart is back I rhythm does that stop the pauses.seems like if in AFib pauses always can happen.One could pass out. So thinking pacemaker corrects pauses but not AFib.Is that right.Trying to understand this.

My husband has a pacemaker since 10 years; he is having the battery replaced today. His Cardiologist has kept him on Eliquist all that time. Your situation may be different only your Cardiologist can tell.