Pacemaker

I have Afib, average about 1 episode a month. I had ablation in 2010 but it was not successful. My regular heart doctor suggests that I should have pacemaker now. In 2010 my heart surgeon ( the one who did the ablation for me) told me that he did not suggest his patients having pacemaker because it would bother a lot and that because the pacemaker was not the same rhythm with my real one. My niece who works in the heart center also advises her grandmother not to have the pacemaker, just take medicine to control the symptoms...

I would like to know if anyone who has pacemaker, please let me know how pacemaker works. and in case if it doesn't work, can the pacemaker be removed?
Thank you very much.

Hello tudo & welcome to Healing Well. Obviously you have a mixed bag of opinions from two drs. I would have to go with whatever the cardiologist recommends, the heart is his specialty. Granted, I am not a dr but from what you are saying your Afib is mild with 1 episode a month.

Has the cardiologist put you on medication for the Afib? There is medication available to treat it & it is successful with many. One of my dear friends has bad Afib & is on medication & its working. Had the medication failed a pacemaker was next so for now he has dodged the bullet.

My husband has Afib & has for a very, very long time. He has been in Afib for years. The dr did a procedure as an outpatient to shock his heart 3 times to try to get it back in rhythm & it did not work. He now has a pacemaker which is helping him. He goes every 3 months for a check up on it. I am sure a pacemaker can be removed but I am not sure about the leads. This is a question for a specialist.

Again, I say listen to your cardiologist. Perhaps even get a consult with another top cardio & get his/her opinion.

Take care.

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Susie
Moderator in Chronic Pain & Psoriasis Forums

Thank you very much for your suggestion.