Hi. Thank you to all of you who have replied to my recent posts. I do appreciate all your help.

It's now 6 days until my EP study/sinus node modification/ ? pacemaker & suddenly tonight I feel really low! I feel tearful & panicky. It hasn't helped being told I might be sacked from work, it's an extra worry on top of the stress & worry of the procedure itself.

I've got to go to the hospital for my pre-op tests on Friday. I know it will really hit me then that all this is going to happen next Tuesday.

My husband & 2 children (age 19 & 17) are doing a great job of trying to keep my mind on other things, but at the moment they are all out & my mind is in overdrive thinking of all that I'm facing! I am so scared...

 

I had to have a rib re-section in April as I had an extra cervical rib (since birth). It ended up pressing on the left artery, obstructing blood flow along w a scar tissue mass from the pocket being opened 6 times in the past 8 years. The pec minor was entrapped as well so had to be cut. Now, after a couple months, I have a scar tissue mass right along the incisional line of the pacer pocket. The second incision for the ribs removal is healed well.

How does one cope with a continual problem of scar tissue in the pocket? The pain and range of motion limitations continue to be a problem!

 

Hi,
I'm 41, generally good health and normally very active. 2 months ago I was diagnosed with low blood pressure and signs of anemia. Several GP's late I was referred to YDH and informed I had a Heart Block which required a pacemaker, one week later I'm in coronary care awaiting procedure.
I'm now two weeks post op and getting to terms with my new elecrical device but needed to talk to fellow patients about what happens next! Forgive me for being naive, but I'm still not feeling confident or full of energy like I was told to expect! Am I trying to run before I can walk?
As I am self employed I have tried to return to work without much success... it seems up and downstairs excercise does not agree with my body. I am yet ...

 

I had my pacemaker operation 4 weeks ago. Scar area feels fine, but i feel very unwell in myself. I feel dizzy and sick, can't eat or drink and have digestion trouble, this is at its worst when i wake up in the morning. Can't go out alone as i feel weak and faint. I feel worse now than i did before i had the pacemaker fitted. Is this normal?

 

Hi, I had my dual chamber pacman fitted in 2001 and reading through some of the comments, realise that most feel the same as I did in the early days after it was inserted.
9 years on and getting closer to a replacement, I find that the little reminders my heart gives me during the night or daylight hours is purely a reminder of how lucky I am to own my little "pacman" as he keeps me alive and we are great friends, just took sometime for us to adjust to the changes, but even those have not been too drastic....it does kick in quickly when I am stressed or tired from any form of exercise etc but now I know to expect it and the little shocks which do not hurt, are just a reminder that he is still looking after me....that is how I look a...

 

Hi Everyone
My name is Linda, I live near Manchester in the UK and I have just been told I need a pacemaker. Im in denial at the moment because its a bit of a shock. Went to the doctor as I was getting palpitations, expecting some medication or something but she sent me for tests. The heart scan was ok, the ecg was ok but when I had the heart tracer on for 48 hours the consultant says that it flatlined twice, once each day for 7.9 seconds each time. Apparently this is called ventricular standstill. Unfortunately when I wore the tracer I had a particularly stressful weekend with some family problems which I know would not have helped and I told the consultant this but he said it would have made no difference. I also told him that one o...

 

Tracey E, C O Brady Bunch & City Slicker Farmhand - you can't know how much your comments about my SSS have helped me. I failed to mention in my first post that I was diagnosed with Right Bundle Branch at my first EKG 16 years ago and was told is was just nothing so I assumed that was true and card. doc says it's unrelated. I will accept that for whatever reason I developed SSS and have a pacemaker and will quit dwelling on how it came about and try to relax. I do walk a lot and have no other ailments.
Thanks again from boochance!

 

I'm new here...a 22 year old female from New Zealand who's lower heart stopped for 4 times (8 seconds is my record!).

In 2008 I started to get tired more easily, I occasionally felt dizzy and felt my heart racing and fainted twice. I went to my local doctor who diagnosed me with Asthma, a few months later I went back telling him I didn't think it was asthma because the ventolin inhaler didn't help. I was referred to a cardiologist who did a whole range of tests - all of which were perfectly normal. I was young (20years old) don't smoke or drink alcohol, very fit (I played two sports (1 at national level) as well as doing a degree in Outdoor Education). I was told to ring back if I fainted or felt my heart racing; there was no e...

 

I had my PM implanted 4 months ago and am having a hard time accepting it. If I could just figure out what caused me to develope SSS maybe I could relax. I thing perhaps the Toprol XL or the Carvedilol that doctor gave me for high blood pressure the past two years (not at the same time) could have caused the problem. I read that these beta clockers should never be given to a person with sick sinus syndrome. I was feed it like candy. I am afraid to ask my cardiologist because he doesn't like me to ask too many questions. He did say my condition probably started during the past two years. I am 71 and angiogram showed I have no blockages at all in arteries probably due to my not eating any meat for the past 30 years. He was shocked ...

 

My pacemaker surgery was on June 2, 2010. I can't stand this thing. I am having the hardest time coping with it. I am sure everybody senses some sort of anxiety over these. But I can't help but think I am struggling a little more than others. Am I alone in feeling like this? I am 32..there are so many reasons I hate this thing. The only person I have talked to my true feelings about is my cardiologist. I am very close to my family and even my boyfriend would be great to talk to, but they don't understand. How could you understand what it's like or what I am experiencing if you have never had a pacemaker? Just like I don't fully understand someone's emotions that has cancer..etc. My caridologist suggested I try a support group so here I am...

 

THNX 4 THE INFO. I GUESS I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT HOW SERIOUS ALL THIS COULD BE. AT 1ST, THE SAID IT MIGHT BE A UNIT MALFUNCTION, BUT WITHIN 24 HOURS THEY SAID NO, IT WAS THE REAL THING. I JUST THOUGHT I'D BE PASSED OUT B4 THIS THING EVER WENT OFF. ANYWAY, IF THEY HAVE TO TWEAK IT EVERY 3 MONTHS, THAT'S OKAY. BUT, YEAH, 4 SUCH A LITTLE UNIT, IT HAS A KICK LIKE A LIVE SPARK PLUG WIRE. I THINK IF I'D EVER FELT ANY OTHER CHEST PAINS MAYBE I COULD'VE SEEN IT COMING. BUT EVEN WITH MY HEART ATTACK 18 YEARS AGO, I'VE NEVER HAD A CHEST PAIN. ONLY A HEADACHE. AND U CAN'T BE SUSPICIOUS OF EVERY HEADACHE.
AGAIN THNX FOR UR FEEDBACK

 

I am 41 and just had a PM put in due to a 3rd degree block, which started last week, but I had symptoms for awhile. My PM is set at 50, and I can really feel it when my Heart Rate drops and it kicks on. The resulting palpatations, turn to anxiety and lightheadedness and more palpatations, which my Dr. says I will get used to.

How long does it take to get "SOMEWHAT" used to this?

 

for those of u in the know, what is the usual adjustment time to these implants? just got the combo pacemaker/defib in april. april and may seemed to go just fine. then june 28th, got a surprise shock. since it was a single event and i had a doctors appt the next week, i stayed home. however, jul 5th got 6 shocks in a row and needless to say, went to the hospital. over 21 episodes of vtacs seemed to be the culprit. with new medication and reasurrances, i have come back home. much more apprehensive than b4. are these problems normal and if so, approx time it takes to get things fine tuned. medication problems are one thing. getting shocked multiple times is a whole new ball game. any insight??????

 

CRT..PACE MAKER.....How long did it take you to get better after getting your crt.....Grey Eagle

 

Has anyone ever been allergic to the metal incasing the pacemaker? What are your symptoms. Thanks.

 

My husband (age 59) had a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted one year ago after a prolonged illness in which his heart was weakened due to a severe infection. Prior to his illness he was always a very active person, healthy & in pretty good shape, although his weight tended to be a bit on the low side & he was/is a smoker (15-20/day.) Nobody would've believed he was in his 50's! (In fact, I'm 16 years younger & I had trouble keeping up with him!)
Now he just looks/acts like a frail old man. He has no energy, gets lightheaded & gasps for air with the slightest exhertion, has all kinds of gastrointestinal problems & trouble keeping food down, is moody & depressed & never wants to leave the house, has terrible-sounding COPD, has a gre...

 

I have had my dual chamber pacemaker for about 3 weeks now. I am clearly still getting used to the idea of being reliant on the pacemaker. I am 38 years old, a husband and father of 3 little ones. I have two issues: bradycardia as well as my left ventricle is dropping beats. So now the EP has me pacing at 60 bpm. I actually feel much better physically, but mentally it's still tough for me to grasp it mentally.

Any coping suggestions from any younger people?

Best,

NoLongerImmortal

 

I want to thank everyone for all the input on my weepyness. It made me feel good to know there is such support out there.
But, now last night i had some complications. I was wondering if anyone has had this reaction.
The day before I got my pacemaker, I had a reaction to something. My hands turned bright red and started itching so bad I wanted to use a knife on them. Then within minutes I was having trouble breathing. I was raced to the hospital and while working on me for breathing treatment, they discovered my heart block, grade 3. They said one had nothing to do with the other.
Last night at 3:30am I woke up with the itchy palms. I got up, felt like my breathing was turning labored. I got everything ready to call 911 a...

 

I have had a few bouts of weepness since my PM just 19 days ago. Is this normal?
Just watched the movie 'Seven Pounds" and it set me off again.
Have others experienced a change in emotions? I didn't think this affected me so much but these tears just come when I least expect it. Am I morning the person I was before for my new life and I just have to adjust to it and I am not there yet?

 

I am really confused on why I had to get a pacemaker.
In 3/10 I was checked out at the Arizona Heart hospital and was told all was good.
Every 2 years a full work up, stress test the whole thing.
I do have right bundle branch blockage but was always told no big deal for me.
On 4/18/10 was eating lunch. Heart took off like a rocket and when I get to the er it was at 198 BPM.
One time deal, never happened before.
They came up with Atrial Fibrillation.
The meds they gave to slow heart rate took it way down and they said my heart stopped at times in my sleep.
The only med I take is asprin.
My highest BP this month was 148/83 with a pulse of 84.
Looking at my charts my average is 125/75 with a h...