HELP

I AM A 39 YEAR OLD FEMALE IN ATLANTA. I AM PACEMAKER DEPENDANT AFTER A A/V NODE ABLATION IN 1996. I HAD MULTIPLE PACEMAKERS AND ADDITIONAL WIRES PUT IN SINCE THEN. IN 2002 I DEVELOPED A PERICARDIAL EFFUSION AND HAD A WINDOW PUT IN. AFTER THAT I DEVELOPED MRSA. IT DAMAGED THE TRICUSPID VALVE, PACEMAKER AND WIRES WITH VEGETATION FROM THE STAPH. I HAD A EPICARDIAC SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND BECAUSE I WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION THEY PUT IN A DUAL CHAMBER PACER BUT ONLY A VENTRICULAR LEAD. I WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND THEY NEEDED TO GET ME OFF BYPASS. WE WERE TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE AN ATRIAL LEAD PUT IN AFTER MY HEART WAS ABLE TO GET STRONGER. IT IS 4 YEARS LATER AND I AM ONCE AGAIN SYMPTOMATIC, I HAVE MILD TO MODERATE TR AND PULMINARY HYPERTENTION. I SOUGHT OUT HELP AT TEXAS HEART AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP ME. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? I GET SEVERE CHEST PAIN,SOB, SWEATING AND HAVE NO ENERGY. DIAGNOSED W/ PACEMAKER SYNDROME, RT SIDED HEART ENLARGEMENT, MILD TO MODERATE TR. AND PULMINARY HYPERTENTION. I AM UNABLE TO WALK MORE THAN 1-2 BLOCKS AND I AM CONSTANTLY EXHAUSTED.

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

You should be evaluated by a center that is experienced with pulmonary artery hypertension as will as pacemakers.  In your area I would suggest Emory or the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida.