Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 i go thur to be seen about this.i have 1 defib already,they are now gonna put in a two one for each chamber of the heart,i have been in afib constantly since march. robyn IF I HAVE TO KNOCK ON EVERY MANSION DOOR,WALK MILES OF GOLDEN STREETS,SEARCH OVER A MILLON SAINTS THAT REST AT JESUS FEET,I WILL RUN ALONG THE JASPER WALLS,CALL YOUR NAME UPON THE WIND, I WILL FIND YOU AGAIN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Are pacemakers ever used to control AFIB. DH will be going for a cardioversion soon (has had controlled AFIB for a number of years) but has concerns with " what if " this does not work. He is asking me if they do use pacemakers for AFIB now??? best, manda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Manda: My Card. said a PM would help me with Sick Sinus Syndrome (preventing my heart from going too slow or skipping a beat here and there or stopping entirely), but, would not prevent afib. So, I waited for 3.5 years to have it...because I had only passed out twice and each time it was in the hospital, while I was there for a Cardioversion. It was not until I got a Polar Watch that I saw that my pulse would vary from 20 to 220 and an alarm would go off each time there was a variation from my norm whether I was in afib or not,,,give or take about 20 points up or down. Polar watches are not very accurate but did serve the purpose and made me decisive, within 5 days I had the procedure done. Since my PM implantation I have had afib/flutter numerous times but now that a month has elapsed it may become less frequent....since it helps to prevent my pulse from going below 60bpm. I understand that sometime in the future it may be raised to 70bpm--- and this may reduce incidence of afib according to one listmember. Many Cardioversions do not last a long time and with me they often lasted just a week. Do not have your husband get a Pacemaker unless you need it especially since it does not help with afib. Isabelle AFIBsupport , Surkont wrote:> > Are pacemakers ever used to control AFIB. DH will be going for > a cardioversion soon (has had controlled AFIB for a number of years) > but has concerns with " what if " this does not work. He is asking > me if they do use pacemakers for AFIB now??? > > best, manda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hi manda I have one that is fitted with Afib suppression, but it did not work form me, my heart rhythm was able to override the threshold and that caused me problems, it was switch off after 5 days, fortunately I was still in hospital and the doctors were able to monitor the situation, however it must work for some people. ine Pacemakers Are pacemakers ever used to control AFIB. DH will be going for a cardioversion soon (has had controlled AFIB for a number of years) but has concerns with " what if " this does not work. He is asking me if they do use pacemakers for AFIB now??? best, manda Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Ahh, I wondered about this but never hear about anyone with one. I am wonder what the actual response rate is? Did they take it out or is is now a permanent part of you :-)?? Is is like a port, in that it is just under the skin and somewhat visable? I think we might inquire, my husband thinks it may be worthwhile to explore, but I would want to hear something positive about it first...:-) Thanks for the feedback, manda ine wrote: > Hi manda > I have one that is fitted with Afib suppression, but it did not work > form me, my heart rhythm was able to override the threshold and that > caused me problems, it was switch off after 5 days, fortunately I was > still in hospital and the doctors were able to monitor the situation, > however it must work for some people. > ine > > Pacemakers > > Are pacemakers ever used to control AFIB. DH will be going for > a cardioversion soon (has had controlled AFIB for a number of years) > but has concerns with " what if " this does not work. He is asking > me if they do use pacemakers for AFIB now??? > > best, manda > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or > should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hi manda I have a permanent pacemaker, which kicks in when my pulse rate goes too low, It is fitted by surgery and so I have been told is a very modern one that has many settings. The AF suppression is one of those setting which is supposed to work by when the heart goes into a fib the pacemaker starts pacing above the rate at 135 bpm in sinus and gradually return the heartbeat to normal. It my case my heartbeat went about 135 to 150/180, that is why it was switch off. Any adjustments done to a pacemaker are done in the pacing clinic by putting a specially shaped computer mouse over the site area and adjusting accordingly. I think that this type of pacemaker is in the experimental stage and would only possible be given to someone who needs a pacemaker, it was three years ago when I had mine fitted so there may be different now. ine RE: Pacemakers Ahh, I wondered about this but never hear about anyone with one. I am wonder what the actual response rate is? Did they take it out or is is now a permanent part of you :-)?? Is is like a port, in that it is just under the skin and somewhat visable? I think we might inquire, my husband thinks it may be worthwhile to explore, but I would want to hear something positive about it first...:-) Thanks for the feedback, manda > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or > should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 I just got a pacemaker/defibrillator because I have congestive heart failure and this device will help my ventricles contract at the proper time. It paces all the time in order to do this. My afib has been under very good control with meds, so I don't think my pacemaker deals with that. It is not a difficult surgery (certainly compared to bypass surgery which I had last summer. I really can't tell it's there except my defibrillator went off (gives you a shock) when my heart rate went very high not long after I was implanted. It was a sinus rhythm, though, and not considered " bad " and my cardios say they don't know why my rate went so high. My theory is that my heart gets mad at me when it's fiddled with, 'cause this happened after my open heart surgery last summer. They reprogrammed my device not to go off with a high sinus rhythm and changed my meds slightly, so I hope they have fixed my problem and my heart isn't mad at me anymore!! Brenta Pacemakers Are pacemakers ever used to control AFIB. DH will be going for a cardioversion soon (has had controlled AFIB for a number of years) but has concerns with " what if " this does not work. He is asking me if they do use pacemakers for AFIB now??? best, manda Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 , You asked a question about a PM for your DH (designated hitter???) to do some AF control. In the past year, two nurses and me (a scientist) have been on the AF board with tales about our PMs for rate (if not rhythm) control. I'd suggest you visit www.pacemakerclub.com for more postings about PMs. There are PMs with many special settings. Medtronics and St. Jude are PM manufacturers in Minnesota, and both have excellent reputations. It is a very individual decision. In my case, I passed out and was sent directly to a cardiac surgeon, who, of course tried only surgical cures for heart problems. He did several failed ablations, mentioned taking away my driver's license, and then put in the PM in 2003. In my case, it was a surgical response to the passing out symptoms. The PM did indeed take over control of my ventricle -- to prevent my heart from beating so irregularly. It was a quick " solution " to the symptom. As for the AF algorithims, I'd shop the various PM manufacturers for information on their latest PM models. Medtronic has technical expertise available. I don't know about St. Jude. I'd suggest you visit www.medtronics.com, as well as the pacemaker club. It never hurts to be informed. If I can answer any questions about my PM research and misadventures, just ask. LJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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