atrial lead is broken

[berlinerin]

HI, I'm new here, so please bear with me. I had a pacemaker implanted in 1999 (AV block 2nd and 3rd degree, Mobitz II), had a pacer revision in 2003 due to pacer corrosion. Now my atrial lead is broken. My cardiologist sent me to see a doc in the hospital yesterday who confirmed the damaged lead. He turned the lead off, leaving me basically with  a single chamber pacer. He said I could live like that until the battery will die in about 3 years. I shouldn't feel dizzy, die or pass out (his words, not mine). He also recommended lead revision and made me an appointment for that at the end of September. So, what now? Live like this for 3 years or the procedure? I didn't feel comfortable with this at all, he didn't answer any questions (I'm in Germany right now, I guess a doctor here is still G.O.D. and won't talk to a common patient such as myself). Can I even keep going like this or is it my imagination that I feel a whole bunch of palpitations to the point of being so dizzy I can't even walk anymore?

[berlinerin]

hi there, love your nickname btw :-), my daughter is the biggest dolphin fan... I think you're right- I was so anti getting this thing fixed cause the doc didn't give me any clues about what he's planning, plus he told me I'm on my own with the discomfort (must be a German thing, they don't believe in pain relief it seems). I couldn't sleep last night, I switched between afib, SVTs and who knows what all that quivering was all night ( I guess that happens when your atrial lead is off and when it usually has the afib algorithm going to keep the heart from fluttering). I can't take the surgery date they suggested, though, since I'm the only one at work that week, so I have to re-schedule, probably into November, they're booked out.
Oh, I'm in Germany for good I'm afraid...I got a permanent job here, so that's an upside. If only it wasn't for the crappy socialized medicine they have going on here...

[dolfnlvr]

I seriously doubt that you are "imagining" the palpitations.  Since the artificial pace maker has stopped functioning in a certain part of your heart, some of your "normal" heart cells are probably trying to take up for the loss.  However, not being the natural pacemaker center, these cells fire at inappropriate times causing what you are feeling as palps.  

As for what to do, I can only tell you what I would do.  I would get the thing fixed or replaced ASAP.  This has much less to do with any problems that the situation may cause, but because I would not be willing to live with the fear that it would cause me to know that only 1/2 of my heart was being controlled.  Yeah...it might not kill you, but geez!!!  If you have a fully functioning pacemaker and 1/2 of it stops working then fine.  But if you know that only 1/2 of the thing is working then what the heck happens if/when the other half breaks down!!???!?!?!?!?!

I'm not saying that to frighten you.  I'm 100% sure that you are completely safe and that the situation is not dire, or even emergent.  However, I can TOTALLY understand your concerns.

How long will you be in Germany?