Pacemaker

Levi continued to have blackouts even after the seemingly successful ablation and medication changes back in December.  The most recent blackout happened while he was at work back in March. He went to the emergency room and the doctors downloaded the heart rhythm records from the monitor that was implanted back in December and found that Levi's heart was pausing at times, the longest time frame being 8 seconds.  They believe this is what caused the blackouts and that a pacemaker was needed to keep that from happening.  

A pacemaker is a device placed in the chest that uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.  They can:

• Speed up a slow heart rhythm.
• Help control an abnormal or fast heart rhythm.
• Make sure the ventricles contract normally if the atria are quivering instead of beating with a normal rhythm.
• Coordinate electrical signaling between the upper and lower chambers of the heart.
• Coordinate electrical signaling between the ventricles.
• Prevent dangerous arrhythmias.

Pacemakers can also monitor and record the heart's electrical activity and rhythm. Therefore, Levi's monitor was no longer needed and was removed.  

Levi was not allowed to drive or lift for a month after having the pacemaker inserted. He feels well and has not had any blackouts.