cyborg?

[Ronkom]

 I have  "left bundle block" heart issue diagnosed many years ago. Recently I wore a monitor for a week & "glitches" showed up on the right side. Dr says I might pass out or get light headed & "fall off my motorcycle" (Guzzi content). He wants to install a  pacemaker. He rattled on about how routine this operation is & how many hundreds he's done etc. etc. This line & his general attitude spouting it  didn't exactly encourage me. So, any of y'all been down this road? Experiences?
Thanks,
Ron

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Does your doctor need money for a new condo?

[StuCorpe]

Because of my work in a high power RF environment it has been recommended that I do NOT have a pacemaker put in as they are susceptible to failure in a high RF field. 

[cloudbase]

A couple of ferrite beads should take care of that!

[Matt Story]

I was diagnosed with heart conduction issues a few years back.  Causes my heart to run abnormally fast because it is out of synch.  To make a long story short, I went thru several doctors.  I started with a prescription for a blood pressure med (beta blocker) meant to slow my rhythm down.  It slowed me way down - like 37 beats a minute.  Then I was told that I would need a pacemaker and that the beta blocker would be used to slow me down while the PM would bring my rhythm back to normal.  Had a second opinion that concurred and so did my primary Dr.  Through happenstance, I was warned by someone with a personal history with the first cardiologist not to use him and a recommendation to use someone else.  After a bunch more tests the conclusion was that my heart is strong but has an abnormal and slightly fast rhythm (sinus node delay and minor branch blocks).  Their prescription was and has been since - no device or medication is necessary and to closely monitor the condition.  My body has somehow adapted so the symptoms are no longer as extreme and I have become accustom to an elevated heart rate.  I can pretty much do anything I want except stuff like distance running.

I am not discouraging you from following your Dr's orders.  My problem is completely different than yours and the specifics don't correlate.  My take-away is that if you can spare the time, get a second opinion or more.  Maybe consult your primary Dr for a reference.  If you do end up going forward with an implant, there are a bunch of options and ultimately your Dr will have to approve.  A primary difference between units is battery life.  The longer it lasts, the less number of times you need to be cut open going forward.  Another thing is that some are MRI safe and others are not.  You may want to be able to have an MRI in the future.  On top of that, there are newer MRI standards that use higher levels of magnetism (or frequency I forget).  Another consideration is that sometimes the pacemakers need to have their firmware "re-mapped" to match the patient.  You want a brand and type that is popular so these adjustments can be made anywhere you may go.  Some devices can connect thru a home blue-tooth device and relay the diagnostics to your Dr over the internet.  I wonder if these are vulnerable to hacking or malware.  There is a wireless pacemaker option that is simply placed into the offending chamber.  It has a treble hook to stay put and contains the battery and complete circuitry so your veins don't need to have wires in them.  By the time I was counter-diagnosed, I found a device that had a 12 year expected life, was MRI compatible and had advanced respiratory feedback to make real time adjustments for activity level changes.  The specifications for pacemakers are somewhat difficult to access as a non-medical professional.  You ought to at least ask about these options with your Dr so you know you're getting the best device possible for you.

I hope that was helpful and not too long winded...

[Joe A.]

As stated earlier, 2nd opinion is always wise. However with a LBBB it may be a realistic option (risk v. reward) I worked many years in the Cardiac Cath lab and pacemakers / defibs were a routine procedure performed. As far as the actual procedure, it is rather routine (not so much for the guy on the table obviously.) And, if everything did go tits up, you are where you need to be 

In the hundreds of procedures I was involved in, I never saw a bad outcome. If you are a hunter / shooter, make sure you tell t he cardiologist so they can place the pacer appropriately.

Best of luck and keep us updated.

[Ronkom]

Guys, thanks much for the  response so far. I am on BP meds (ace inhibit). Had it all my life (failed entrance physicals for both Annapolis & West Point w/high BP at age 18). Just went off cholesterol meds after the second one crippled me up w/muscle pain. Have tried niacin, red rice yeast, garlic will be starting on oatbran concentrate. Part of problem here is 10K gorilla Centra Health Care that owns both hospitals & controls most of the Doctors in Lynchburg. Second opinion means going out of town. University of Virginia is 60 miles up the road, and over-all is higher rated than Centra. That's my best 2nd opinion option, problems include getting a referral from a Centra Dr. to another "outside the system" so insurance will cover, then there is the issue of getting all my test results sent.  etc. etc. Amerikan "health care" system....a high profit racket since Nixon in '72.
Ron 

[bigbikerrick]

 Hey Ron, Matt and Joe have given you some good advice here.IMHO, You for sure need to get a 2nd opinion, even if its a big inconvenience, its worth it for your own peace of mind. This is an "elective" procedure, and you can take your time, and get all your ducks in line, before you make a decision.
Good luck, Sir!
Rick.

[n3303j]

During a routine physical they do an EKG with sticky pads, a computer interface and a laptop. They take a 5 second sample. My primary was impressed that I had no heartbeat for 2.6 of those 5 seconds. This earned me an expedited 24 hour relationship with a portable heart monitor. I guess my longest "time out" was a bit over 5 seconds. My primary was pushing for a pacemaker. Test results got handed over to a cardiologist. He looked it over and told me to skip the pacemaker unless I had visible symptoms like lightheadedness, black outs or fatigue beyond my normal 73 years. I liked this recommendation best and am following it to the letter. (Two doctors. Both whom I trust. Recommendations 180 degrees apart. They are PRACTISING medicine.)

[Lannis]

Guys, thanks much for the  response so far. I am on BP meds (ace inhibit). Had it all my life (failed entrance physicals for both Annapolis & West Point w/high BP at age 18). Just went off cholesterol meds after the second one crippled me up w/muscle pain. Have tried niacin, red rice yeast, garlic will be starting on oatbran concentrate. Part of problem here is 10K gorilla Centra Health Care that owns both hospitals & controls most of the Doctors in Lynchburg. Second opinion means going out of town. University of Virginia is 60 miles up the road, and over-all is higher rated than Centra. That's my best 2nd opinion option, problems include getting a referral from a Centra Dr. to another "outside the system" so insurance will cover, then there is the issue of getting all my test results sent.  etc. etc. Amerikan "health care" system....a high profit racket since Nixon in '72.
Ron

I had an appointment from Congressman Dan Daniels to the Naval Academy (my dad was a career sailor), but I bailed out of the process when I saw that training ship's masts and realized I'd have to go up there!   Never been able to do high climbing.

Interesting to think how different life would have been for either one of us had we gone to one of the Academies.

Also interesting to think how different life can be for two people in the same situation.   I have 4 current medications I've been on for years (2 for BP, one for glucose, one for thyroid), I've had a bout of "tachycardia" where my pulse went up to 280 bpm and they had to stop my heart for 6 seconds (while I was awake!) and then let it restart again, sort of like rebooting your computer.

I live in the same area as you, with Centra Health the service provider.   And yet I've never had a problem of any kind with my doctor.   The doctor I use in Lynchburg was an old college roommate of mine, and I've literally put my life in his hands more times than one (including letting him kill me and bring me back to life!).   

He has my best interests at heart, he's proven time and time again that he is competent and knows what he's about, and I would never think of going to get a second opinion if he told me I needed something serious.

It really surprises me to hear that folks our age don't have a doctor they trust, and treating them all like they're carnival hucksters.   Hellfahr, we've got guys that we trust our bikes and our money to to fix our Guzzis, and we don't even think of going to anyone else.   Like, who would go to Charlie Mullendore and ask about their Loop, hear his diagnosis and then say "Nah, I don't like him, he's just in it for the money, I think he's incompetent and talking crap.  I'm going to talk to someone else"?    We ought to be able to at least do that with a doctor ...

When my doctor retires, I will talk to him, talk to doctors, talk to people I know, and find someone I trust rather than randomly "shopping around", BEFORE I get sick!

That's just my has-worked-for-me-for-40-years approach; everyone's got to go their own way to find happiness ...

Lannis