Congestive heart failure.

RBeckom

Two years ago I was diagnosed with AFib of the lower ventricles and had a pacemaker installed. As time progressed I was later diagnosed with Congestive heart failure as well. Now my cardiologist is planning to remove my pacemaker and install a duel pacemaker and defibrillator and wire all four ventricles. No blockages. No bad valves. A otherwise healthy heart, just slowly dying. Anyone else with similar problems?

ShawnOL

Sorry to hear of your health troubles.  Hope all goes well with your next surgery.  A relative of mine has been in CHF for many years now.  Good luck.

NOGILLS2

I have a fib, also, have had a defibrillator and pacemaker for a number of years now. A few months ago the lights went out I hit the ground and the defibrillator kicked in and revived me. The biggest thing is it is very rude, you don't know it is happening. Changed my cocktail of drugs and I live on! Dr says that we are in a higher percentage of sudden death syndrome from a fib, and pm/dfib will bring you back, where you wouldn't survive by the time someone could respond. The sucky part is no driving for six months after an event. they also sped up my pulse with pm.

deadman

Sorry to hear this. Having health problems sucks. 

peter4jc

I had an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, which I'm pretty sure is what you all are calling a pacemaker/defibrillator) put in about 4 weeks back.  It showed conclusively that there's no Afib going on so I got to go off of the Xarelto which was good because that crap is expensive.  I debated for months whether or not to agree to have the ICD installed because I don't think I'm at risk for what it's trying to prevent, the ventricular tachycardia, but decided it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.  With CHF and/or cardiomyopathy, the function or output of the heart which is measured during an echocardiogram and assigned a percentage known as an ejection fraction, they say if an irregular rhythm starts and escalates it will lead to sudden cardiac death.  In essence, the heart is weak enough that it's not pumping enough blood, the brain says we need more blood, so the heart tries going faster to keep up demand, and before long it goes nighty-night and you're dead.  An ejection fraction below 35% indicates you will need a defibrillator should you go into that death spiral, as a shock will reset the heart to a more normal pace.

From what I was told Afib has the risk of stroke because when the atrium is fluttering instead of pumping blood tends to pool in the atrium and the blood can clot - then when that blood manages to get pumped out that clot goes north and you end up w/  stroke.  It's the ventricular misbehavings that lead to the SCA, sudden cardiac arrest.

jlmarta

That’s some scary s h I t, Bro. Hang in there....  that’s an order!

Amos_Umwhat

RBeckom said:

Two years ago I was diagnosed with AFib of the lower ventricles and had a pacemaker installed. As time progressed I was later diagnosed with Congestive heart failure as well. Now my cardiologist is planning to remove my pacemaker and install a duel pacemaker and defibrillator and wire all four ventricles. No blockages. No bad valves. A otherwise healthy heart, just slowly dying. Anyone else with similar problems?

My first instinct is to do what others have done, commiserate and encourage.  Then I remember some of your psycho-social experiments on us, a few years ago, when you'd ask a question or make a statement or tell a story, just to see what the group reactions were. 

I have to ask myself, at that point; is this going to end like some of your other threads, with you telling stories about smacking your wife around so you can see if we'll try and get you kicked off the forum?  

So, all I can say is best of wishes managing your health problems, whatever they may be.

RBeckom

Health problems are never a joke I assure you. I still take five pills a day just for my heart. 23 pills a day in all.

RBeckom

My everyday routine. Three and five times a day. One good thing though, I never have to go hungry.

Rhamlin

That’s a lot of meds brother 

Rain

Afib is impossible to have in your ventricles. Hence the A. Sorry to hear about your luck and best wishes to you.

RBeckom

Just going on what my cardiologist stated. Thanks  for the sympathy.
We all have take the cards dealt to us.