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Getting a pacemaker fitted, help needed please

Posted , 3 users are following.

maureen63102
maureen63102

My son has Complete Heart Block which the specialist thinks may be congenital but as he is 36 years old and has never had any symptoms she thinks there is a chance that is aquired rather that congenital.

She has told him that they will definatly need to fit a pacemaker befoe he reaches 40 but as he is having no symptoms she is happy to leave it for a while and dosnt need to see him for 12 months from his last appointment (that will be May 2015).

Now the issue is that he has had an interview for his dream job and got through all the stages and had a job offer conditional on a medical.

When he went for the medical he was knocked back due to the heart block as the job will involve getting a passenger vehicle license. He was told that if he had a pacemaker already fitted then there would be no issue and he would be given a start date for the job.

So my question is- would it be acceptable to explain the situation to his specialist and see if she would be willing to fit the pacemaker as soon as possible. She told him in May that they may need to do it in the next 12-18 months.

If not, is it possible to pay privately to get it done sooner if the specialist refuses the request.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • linda346
    linda346 maureen63102

    Posted

    Hi there, I definitely think you should speak to your son's Consultant about this, if she thinks he will need a pacemaker anyway within 12-18 months then I can't see the harm in bringing it forward to enable him to go ahead with this new job.  Obviously his Consultant will have his best interests at heart but this needs to be balanced by how he would feel should he lose this much wanted job.  Discuss it with her and see what she advises.  This is an awful dilemma for you and your son, I send all my best wishes and hope that something can be sorted out. 

     

  • wim24663
    wim24663 maureen63102

    Posted

    Hi Maureen,

    Has your son been tested for borreliosis ( tick bite )

    This can cause 3th degree heart block ( lyme carditis ) but once it is treated with anti-biotics it is

    quite often reversable. Would be worth looking into !

    Good luck

  • maureen63102
    maureen63102

    Posted

    Thank you for the replies. Unfortunatly the consultant has refused his rewquest on the grounds that the betteries need replacing every 7 uears or so and the leads mayneed ajusting. She said that if he was 70 or so it would be feasible as it would not need doing so many times but due to his age she wants to delay as long as possible and dosnt think that it would be right a this time. However we are thinking of trying to appeal this as she has said it will definatly need to be done by the time he is 40 at the latest so to me thats only going to be a matter of one extra battery change if he had it done now.

    Does anyone know if you can have it done privately at your own request?

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