Hi, Pacemaker Club! My name is Robbie (but I'm most commonly called 'Rog'), and I'm from Hillsdale, MI. I just recently joined the PM Club. (I've read the forums for a while now, but I officially joined a little bit ago) It's encouraging to see lots of people in the same boat that I'm in. In October, I was diagnosed with AV node failure, and as a result, I have an EP test scheduled for January 11th. The Dr's have all told me that there is a 99% probability that I'll need a pacemaker, so I'm pretty much just counting on leaving the Dr's office with my new friend for life. :P My questions aren't really specific to the surgery, as I think that I know what to expect there. I'm not too worried about the surgery or living with the pacemaker, as...

 

Hi All, I love this forum, it has helped me so much since my PM insertion in Oct, 2010. I cannot believe it has been a year.
But, having said that, I am still not "me". I am irritable, quick to temper, depressed, I have gained weight in places I never did before and cannot shake it.
I went through a really upsetting experience with my insertion- it was a botch where the doc actually nicked a vein in my chest and long story short, my left lungh 100% collapsed and my right was somewhat deflated due to the fact my chest was full of blood. No one listented to me when I said something was wrong. They only offered me morphine. I had blood clots, I had allergic reactions I now have a total inability to deal with doctors on many levels...

 

I have had my Guidant double lead pacemaker for four months now. I feel great with the exception of when I am in my car. My car has a "smart key" which allows me to keep my key fob in my purse and enter the car by pressing a button on the door handle. I also do not require a key to start the car. What I have noticed is that whenever I am in the car, I am "pacing". It does not matter if I am the driver or the passenger ... I seem to pace all the time when my car is in motion.

When I am in my husband’s truck I seem to be fine. A key is required to start his truck. Has anyone else experienced this??

 

I am about to retire and I will be a caring for my husband, full time, who has a pacemaker/defib.  

However, for no apparent reason, he starts shouting at me and when I ask him what have I done wrong, he says he can’t remember.

This is really starting to worry me.

Has anybody else been in this situation?

 

My last message about me being ready to go didn’t tell all of my problems. First my wife died 10 years ago on the 20th of this month at the age of 33 and I miss her like it was yesterday. I remember when I was little I didn’t ever think that I would find anyone to love me with all my scars and health problems, but she did.

I have a lot of other health problems: my heart is enlarged and surrounded by scar tissue, my lungs only function at 65% and my heart ejection fraction is down to 24% as of two years ago. I had a spot on my lung in 1999 and when they tried to get a biopsy I aspirated and had to be put on the ventilator.  They told me that I only had a 20% chance of living and that I would have to be put ...

 

i am going on 15 years with this latest pacemaker its a st. jude and my dr. says its the best ever made. i am waiting on it to wear out because im not getting a new one i am simply too tired to fight to live longer. i have never had a pacemaker last me over 5yrs. but now that im ready to go this thing just keeps going.

 

Well after a year and a half of having my PM installed to cure A-Fib, I had a major episode again. The doctors said they were 95% positive that having the PM in would cure my problem, I guess I am part of the 5%. Don't know where to go from here but we will see.

 

My posting was not directed to anyone in specific. For those it did not appeal to, to those it would help, that is a personal choice. I have no need to apologize for my faith and belief. If something I can offer to someone who is having problems may help or comfort, I see nothing wrong with that. Yes, I may be rather zealous, not trying to preach. This is medical, yes, but even if you don't believe, mental status helps a person cope and deal with health issues if you have a desire to fight and beat an illness or just succomb to it. I don't have to be pushed to the wall for my beliefs anymore than you for yours. Like I mentioned my comments were for those it would touch in a positive way, those not believing or in need of some compas...

 

I haven't had time to read a lot of the questions and statements, for this is the first that I have been on the site since getting my stent and pacemaker.

For those that have depression and anxiety and other issues before and after: I have found my way into a church that has taken me in their hearts and I have found the Love of God who has Blessed me and changed me in such positive ways since coming to know him. Through both of my surgeries and a recent hospital stay for a blood clot, God has answered prayer and has touch me, physically as well as emotionally. He has placed people and other things in my path as I have needed them. Something no one else could ever do. I have a peace and belief inside that I have never had b...

 

I am 61 and am trying to adapt to this new way of life. I have a 2 lead, which does not provide enough energy, as I had previously. It is a frightening thought to me and even though I should be grateful to be alive, I still find this all very scary. I am 100% dependent upon the device and would appreciate any one's thoughts on adjusting.

Thank you,
purplejay

 

Has anyone experience depression with anxiety attacks after their pacemaker?

A couple months after getting my pacemaker I became somewhat depressed and then started having anxiety attacks on a daily basis. I have had a lot of changes in my life recently (moving, new job, marriage and a pacemaker). I realize the pacemaker has allowed me to feel better in terms of no dizziness and being able to exercise- but for some reason I cant shake the feeling of being quite depressed over it. I have started seeing a counselor and starting zoloft because the anxiety attacks have become unmanagable to the point where I couldnt go to work for a couple days, even with breathing exercises, meditation, herbal supplements, exercising ect. I b...

 

Just thought I'd post this on the main page as well - as I had posted it under my last comment and thought it might be lost with all the new posts:)

Thanks:)

Comment posted by Pookie on 2011-12-01 01:51.

Actually since I have SO many friends from here, and some have my email address and some are on FaceBook, I have received oodles of communications about my latest "luck" and some of them have gone thru what I've explained only to find out during their next interrogation that somehow/some way the lead stopped draining the battery.

While there last week, they did "up" the threshold but the Cardiologist said there is still plenty of room to set it up a few more times before I would be in a dangerou...

 

This is what really neat about this website. Free advice from non-experts who are usually in the ball park or close on their advice. And a place to go to when no one else understands.
I'm in the 9th month of having my PM and I've had euphoric days and days that were so bad I wanted to end it. We're all different and yet have the same commom purpose for having a PM which is to have a better quality of life.
I love to seach this site and read mostly how I'm not alone in how I feel about having heart disease. When I read about someone who has the same symptons that I have I feel connected to them and know I'm really not going crazy.
I've had conversations with a 12 year old up to an 80+ year old and connected only i...

 

Hi,
Just had a 2 lead pacemaker put in on Tuesday... Its not all the way calibrated as yet.. Feel out of breath when up doing things.... its set at 80-130 for now. i work a very physical job actually 2 jobs and hoping this is not going to effect either, i do alot of heavy lifting,, so I'm concerned. i'm 56 years old have a family history of vagal A-Fib and arrhythmia's . i had tried 3 different meds that didnt work and felt leary of the new ablation in the left Atrium, so went this route as i was having heart rates well over 180 and irregular beats of 18 hours at a time, this was starting to happen at least once a week. Any comments would be appreciated, also is it common to be depressed after this procedure/

 

im really scared to be honest.I have been told that i will have to have a pacemaker soon.im 29.I have a heart rate that averages 40 to 41 during the day and low 30's when i sleep.My heart doctor is waitinf for it to go to the twenties before he installs it i dont know why.But here latley i been having a tighness feelign in my chest and my face always feels hot like im running a fever when im not.and sometimes i get a little dizzy and i am tired all the time.I can sleep a full night and within 1 hour after waking up i feel drained again.I made a new appt to my heart doctor its in a week.Im afraid for my health cause i have a young daughter.Can u live many years on a pacemaker ? any wordw of wisdom or advice would be appreciated i didnt kno...

 

Husband will be going in for difibulator/pacemaker ( I honestly don't know which one) due to cardiomyapothy and low EF. EF started in August at 10 and now only up to 21. My question is, what if he just needs more time for is EF to increase with medication? What if he goes through surgery and has pacemaker installed and his EF rises to normal levels? Was it all for naught?

How long can someone survive with very low EF and pacemaker?

 

Hello,
I was hoping to get a little advise about having my pacemaker turned off and where I might find a good counselor that knows about this type of situation. I have tried the hit and miss approach but haven’t found anyone yet. I have tried going through the phone book and asking a lot of questions of them but no luck. I have tried asking my cardio Dr. and he really wasn’t any help, he just told me to ask his secretary and all she did was refer me to the yellow pages.

I am currently on my second device. My first devise was put in in 2003, it was a two wire ICD with pacemaker. My doctor wanted me to get a pacemaker/ICD since almost the beginning and for a long time I refused. But on Valentine’s Day in 2003 I woke up in the...

 

Hi,  My brother (51 yrs old) just had a Pacemaker and Defibulator put in. It was sudden and unplanned. He told me he was feeling like his body was not his own after the surgery. He was awake for the whole thing and could feel the wires being snaked through his veins that has caused him stress.

Next thing he was told not to lift anything ever again and if he becomes too excited or worked up he could set the Defibulator off. He is scared to do anything because he was told if the Defibulator goes off it will feel like a mule kicked him in the chest and an alarm will sound until he reports to the ER were they will turn it off and have to replace it. This worries him, can anyone give me some insite on this.

 

Medtronic sent me some of their advertising stuff. With my phone number in big bold numbers, right under my misspelled name. Wonderful advertising, almost as good as their TV spot. I am really angry about my telephone number on the package. I called the company, no one knows anything about the package. What a waste of resources, I can think of a number of better uses for advertising $.

 

Hey Guys,

I'm a new member here. My name is Eran. The reason why I made an account here is not for myself. I do not have a heart condition but I do have a friend who does. He's 24 with scar tissue on his heart and a defibrillator. Recently I started noticing that he's been having a lot of trouble coping with his new condition. I tried helping, all his friends did but it's clear now that he needs someone who is in the same boat and can understand his frustration.

I'm looking for a resilient, positive person. A fighter if you will that can talk to my friend and show him that life is far from over.

Is there anyone who would be able to help me out?

Thank you for your attention.