Had a pacemaker er installed 2 years ago. It stopped me from passing out due to low heart rate. Especially while driving.

I am on my second pacemaker in ten years. First one put in because I had Afib first then 3 cardiac ablations done. A couple of years after I passed out and they gave me my first pacemaker that I had and doing well for 7 years. My cardiologist changed my beta blocker medication Atenolol to Lisinopril and shortly afterwards I passed out and was taken to the hospital with Vfib. Immediately they were replacing my pacemaker with a new one with a defibrillator. So far so good and went back on Ateolol because we were not sure that the Lisinopril had contributed to the Vfib. So far so good. I am running on batteries.

I had a defibrillator/pacemaker put in at Mayo Clinic in 2002, at age 48. My pacemaker was set at 73 ( my normal heart rhythm rate is in the 60's) in a study that I didn't give consent to. I went down hill after the surgery and I complained to my Green Bay Wi cardiologist that I didn't feel well. I had abdominal bloating, tired and weak, Short of breath with activity After three years I had a series of cardiac arrests, that the defibrillator treated successfully. I returned to Mayo and was told that I had developed "pacemaker induced heart failure".
I was told that patients with cardiomyopathy and mitral valve prolapse have a higher incidence of developing Congestive Heart Failure. Mayo reduced the pacer rate to below 60...so my native heart rhythm was able to return. I instantly felt better after the pacer was turned down.

I was very upset with Mayo as I had no prior history of rate problems that would require pacing. Congestive heart failure is a chronic illness....once you have it, you will have it for life.
I also objected that I had not signed any consent to be experimented on and I was told "When you walk thru the Mayo door consent is implied, as Mayo is first and foremost a Research Faucillity ". Being an RN this did not set well with my sense of medical ethics. The researchers were able to slip in a clause that states that after 2002 consent must be obtained but it is impossible to hold Mayo accountable because of the ways the laws have been crafted in HIPPA.

I still battle Congestive Heart failure and now need a second Mitral valve replacement. I have Mayo and the device company Medtronics.

Me too. My ICD gave me a second chance. I need to be reminded some days to slow down. My answer to them is I will when I'm 6 feet under. I live life to the fullest, because we all have to go sometime , just not yet!

May 11 2021 I had one put in as my heart was stopping. The medication Iam taking takes me out of afib but slowed me down too far
The pacemaker is doing great. So far