I will be traveling from near the Florida area to the Nashville, TN area and would really like to meet some Pacemaker friends along the way. If you would not meeting up, then tell me and hopefully we can meet up face to face. I have had 9 pacemakers, 2 heart surgeries, and numerous other medical procedures..... Thanks Charles Nobles

 

hi, i hope everyone is enjoying the new year. Thanks to everyone who was so interested in Luca and his PM. Well, next week, the 11th we finally go to the hospital to close the patent ductus arteriosus(hope I wrote that correctly) and insert a reveal recorder. Operation should be the 12th. Little Luca is very excited about this, although, and I dont know why, he says he wanted the pacemaker!! My husband couldnt be convinced, so as it wasnt life threatening, we will do one thing at a time. I feel better having the recorder so we can finally know what is going on with his heart. cant know now, but imaging the PM is not far off. I notice a big difference between his endurance and that of his friends. Wish us luck!! happy New year to all of yo...

 

Hi to everyone and thank you for all the responses to my 2 posts. (mine and luca's) I have had a very emotional last several days as we are trying to decide how to proceed. I am expecting feedback from another doctor tonight. Trying to shield my son from the indicision/ lack of agreement on the part of his parents, but he is getting very excited about having some kind of surgery. Last night he couldn't sleep because of all the thoughts in his head. Hopefully this will wrap up with some kind of decision in the next few days. Your responses meant a lot to me and I will read them all to Luca when we have decided what to do, for now I only read a few, trying not to dwell on it. He really likes the idea of being in a club!! Happy Thanksgiving t...

 

I had a pacemaker implanted last summer, and I was asleep while they did it, so I didn't feel anything. When I woke up, I was sore, but i didn't really feel bad at all. I was talking with friends and my family, and I was very happy that I knew my heart would work properly again. I think the second and third days I was the most sore, but I would eat graham crackers (and I don't even like them very much) and take some medicine that really helped a lot so that I wouldn't feel too sore. Every day you get a little bit better! I hope everything goes well for you, and I know you are going to be great!!! God bless you and your family, crazyheart628

 

Hi! I am writing for my son Luca, 7 years old, who may be getting a pacemaker. He would like to hear from someone who has a pacemaker if it hurts when they put it in. Can anyone share their experience with him. Thanks! Luca's mom

 

Hi, I just found this site today and it looks very helpful! My 7 year old son has heart block (third degree) discovered before birth. He has been monitored closely his whole life and now they feel he needs a pacemaker. He also needs to close his Botallo's duct soon as his ventricles are enlarged. They want to do two in one as the doctor says he probably will develop problems soon if we dont put the pacemaker. My husband prefers to wait. We live in Italy and wonder what is customary in the states. Whether or not he has symptoms is up for debate, I feel he tires before other kids, my husband doesn't see it. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

Ok...this may sound daft so bear with me...
Now that my hubby has an ICD, will we still be able to have children in the future? I am thinking that the pressure of ’parenting’ maybe too much? I don’t know if his AF is generic or not? I would never want to compromise my hubbies health. I have a million questions, this is just a start!  Are there any partners out there that could give me some friendly advice:)

 

Hi all,

I'm not actually pregnant yet, but planning ahead for the future, and have a silly question...

I know I've got 3.5 years battery life left on my current pacemaker, and the technician told me at my last appointment (last month) that they would probably change it when there's about 6 months left on it.

I know this sounds daft, but I'm guessing this means I need to have HAD a baby before the pm hits the six-month mark, or else wait until I get a new pm and it's well settled in? Am I right in thinking it wouldn't be the most sensible thing to be undergoing a replacement op whilst pregnant?

Anyone have any experience of this sort of thing/similar situation?

Thanks in advance! :)

 

Hi all, my just-turned-three year old has had a pacemaker since two months old, and we've had numerous issues. She's now on her second pacer due to a staph infection on the first abdominal pacer pocket caused by a laproscopic gtube surgery. She has had open-heart surgery to repair two CHDs, DORV and a VSD. Recovery didn't go well and she ended up with heart block with an intrinsic heart rate of about 30-40 bpm. So a pacer was placed. When that became infected at 6 months of age, we went back for another heart cath, removal of infected pacer and leads, temporary wires placed for a week, then a new pacer placed transvenously in her left shoulder. This one has been in for over two years now and she's doing great. We always thought she ...

 

On October 24th I will offically be into my fifth month of life with a pm, and I have to say that I'm feeling better and better all of the time! With that said, my husband and I are ready to pick up the pieces and start trying to have a baby again. Is there anyone out there who's delivered a child with a pm? My OB said that's he's never delivered a child to anyone with a pacemaker, and my cardiologist seems to think that my OB should clear me for pregnancy. Needlessly to say, it's a bit confusing on our end. If there's anyone out there who could share their pregnacy experiences with a pacemaker I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Anna

 

Our 11 year old daughter has double inlet left ventricle with the Fontan repair and complete heart block. She got her first pacemaker at age 5, and had surgery in '08 (atrial lead + new pacemaker); '09 (ventricular lead replacement) and again just on 8/9/10 to implant her third pacemaker and another new ventricular lead. Post-op visit indicated that her threshold was 4, and they can't double that to set the preferred safety margin of 8 -- pacemaker only goes to 7.5. Battery life will be severely reduced since the threshold must be set so high. Dr. says probably because of scar tissue. Probably looking at another surgery way sooner than we care to think about...

Anybody out there with a similar experience with their child? ...

 

Hi
Nice to receive your message. If your mom can get one & doctor don't think she is to old, I would go for it.
I was always so healthy, never weighted over 112 pounds, walked three miles per day, ate good food, never smoke or drink. Was 58 years old & two weeks before had blood test all perfect range. Then brushing my teeth for bed my left arm started to hurt very bad, my husband (Airline Pilot) trained to act fast said I am getting the car taking you to ER. The hospital was about five mins from our home. It just happen a Cardologist & his medical team was on call that night.
He looked at me & said "you are in the middle of a heart attack." To make a long story short, they started the tsp drip to bust clots which took a ...

 

I am not ready to have my second baby...right this instant... but the idea is starting to be discussed more and more. Maybe next year! Wondering what kind of preperations if any, I would need to do before I got pregnant as far as the PM goes.

I have a few other things to square away first LOL....but want to be ready!

I know some of you have had babies with a PM....please chime in and offer feedback!
THANKS

 

My daughter is 14 years old and got her first pacemaker 2 weeks ago. Last night she came to me complaining of shortness of breath and felt as if her heart was to slow. After a little while she felt better, but complained the muscles around the pm site hurt. Her pm is set to fire at 80. Do these symptoms mean that the pm fired? Although I am used to all her cardiac problems - she has had OH 4 times because of a congenital heart defect -this is a whole new ball game.

 

hello...

my son is 8 years old and has a complete heart block. he is having his surgery to place his pacemaker this coming tuesday. my nerves have been getting the best of me lately. his rate is 48 when awake and falls into the 30's with a 3 second pause at night. never shown any symptoms and you would never think he would have an issue with his heart....just looking to see if anyone can fill me in on what to expect...he's getting anxious also....

 

Watched a hospital program late last night. Centered to some extent on Great Ormond St Hospital for Children. One of the patients a 14 year old boy keen on sport was brought in having suffered a heart attack. A flap of skin was discovered inside his heart which was removed during an operation. However the doctors were convinced that he had further problems and he ended up with an ICD after further tests . I was quite amazed when they tested the ICD during implantation. His body almost bounced off the operating table. It took 2 hours to put it in and test it. I must have experienced that during my many cardioversions prior to my pacemaker. They told him it would stop him suffering SDD or sudden death syndrome. His mother was quite tearful a...

 

My doc told me the only reason I have High Grade AV Block is it's congenital. My two kids are now 12 and 13...I was reading that adolescents can start being symptomatic. Should I have them tested - a baseline ECG or something? They are both very active in sports - running, football, pilo's...I truly worry they'll drop one of these days. Would I use their ped or go to a cardiologist?
Thanks!
Tracie

 

Hello

I had my pacemaker fitted 11 days ago, I am currently 25 weeks pregnant. The pacemaker has been placed under my left breast and I am now wordering if I will be able to breast feed on my left hand side once my daughter is born or not?

Has anyone else had there pacemaker placed under their breast so it can't be seen and then gone on to breast feed?

Many thanks

Jen

 

I have gone through several PMs and would like to offer help or assistance to other PM patients. I feel like I would have a lot of experience in dealing with people concerning their PMs and the related issues, problems, and concerns. I can be found on Facebook under my name, Charles Edward Nobles and would invite other PM patients (young and old). I have had more than nine PMs, Open Heart Surgery, and Coarctation of the Aorta. I would be willing to chat, email, or talk on the phone to anyone that would be needing someone else for advice and/or encouragement........

 

Is there anyone out there who has been pregnant/had a baby since getting their PM? My husband and I are thinking about starting a family in the next year or so and am wondering if there is anything I should know. Can there be any complications? Or is everything just like if I didn't have a pacemaker? Can you breast feed? Is there anything that I need to do before I get pregnant to get ready for?

Nikki