new to this

Hi folks
Male 36 - Brisbane Australia
Just been diagnosed with Sinus Node Dysfunction - Sinus Bradycardia and Pauses. I have just started to get dizzy / blurry vision, pre-syncope etc.

Quite stunned & emotionally struggling. I am a strong & well man regularly training / doing triathlons and distance swimming, all came as a shock and it seems there is no going back.

I have read some posts on here and realize that I must sound pretty lame for complaining as many of you have far more traumatic journey's than mine but as I am sure you all know it doesn't actually make me feel any better immediately.

I am sure that with time I will adjust and be thankful for the chance to keep living and being a dad and hubby, hopefully I can find some encouragement from chatting with some of you. Look forward to reading and chatting more.

Cheers
Julian

8 Comments

you are not alone

by nat36 - 2009-06-11 03:06:43

I am 36 also and diagnosed last year with sinus node dysfunction. I did not want a pacemaker so I tried everything else first. I was on medications then when that was not working I did a sinus node modification. That did not work either and made me have to get a pacemaker last month. I am still struggling to adjust. I am a mom and had a pretty hectic life before all this. I am trying slowly to get back to normal. It does take time, but know you are not alone.

give it time

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-11 07:06:00

First of all, electrical problems are completely unrelated to your level of fitness, so know that there's absolutely nothing you could have done differently to prevent it.

There's no going back to a lot of things! Life is about moving forward, and you will get back to all your activities you enjoy. I'm much more active since I got my pm, I have much more energy and stamina than before it. There are other members here who run marathons and are very active. I'm not one of them, lol, but I love to hike, ski, rollerblade. The pm doesn't hold me back at all, it only enables me to do more.

Know that everything you're feeling is perfectly normal and will recede with time. Give yourself time to heal emotionally as well as physically. Take the time to learn about your condition and how pm's work. Vent with us here. Acceptance will come!

I choose to see each day as a gift. Without it, I wouldn't be here- my husband and kids would be alone. I consider myself fortunate to have something so easily fixed. Would I choose to have it? Of course not. Could it be a whole lot worse? Oh yeah. This isn't the end of the world, just a little change in direction.

Welcome to the club!!!!

by harley63 - 2009-06-11 09:06:27

Julian~

Before my pacer implant I was a power walker (9 miles/week) and had a very low blood pressure and pulse rate all of my life. Never knew what life was like with a pulse rate higher than 50! One day out of the blue.. boom!! Flat on my back in ER and whisked off for pacer implant due to non functiong SA node. Not much of a choice at that point of getting a pacer. My pacer is set at 60 bpm and I'm totally loving it!!

All that happened 2 1/2 years ago. It's probably taken me all of that to finally be in a place that I can say I've squarely dealt with the 'events' of that day and the life long embracement of having a pacemaker. It's more then just the incision line healing. It's the full gammet of emotions and physical aligment that one needs to do as well. I tend to sort the emotions in compartments and deal with them in pieces. You'll find what works best for you. Remember that we all have experienced very similar emotions and thoughts. So come and share and ask all the questions you need to ask.

Thanks to Blake for having this totally awesome site!! You will find many friends here and much support.

Zoom on and keep smiling.. it gets better!!!
Harley63

I've sent you

by petrolhead - 2009-06-11 10:06:54

a private message :)

Emma xxx

Same Boat

by tripastor - 2009-06-11 12:06:53

Julian,

Your story sounds exactly like mine. I am also a triathlete and diagnosed with the same condition as you have at the same age.
Fortunately, I am a year and 3 months removed from my implant and have learned a great deal about dealing with having a PM.
Here is the great news for you...with your condition, your training should not be hindered! I just completely the Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman in Panama City Florida.
Give yourself some time to adjust to the idea that you have a PM, and remember the joys of being a dad!
If you want to send a private message, go ahead. Also, check out www.cardiacathletes.com. This is a group of athletes with heart conditions that seek to push the limits and offers encouragement and support to one another.

Tripastor

hi julian

by Hot Heart - 2009-06-12 03:06:49

You arent lame at all, its a massive thing to come to terms with, we all think we are invinsible and for those of us who were, or thought we were, really fit it seems to hit us hardest.

Use the site, the people are fantastic, they pulled me through my bad times.

HH

thanks

by velvetparlour - 2009-06-12 08:06:27

thanks 4 all the replies / encouragements
just trying to get thru the days
dizzy blurry days and scary nights
appt with cardiologist on tues will cement the way forward
will keep ya all posted
thanks all
Julian

I'm beginning to wonder

by ElectricFrank - 2009-06-12 12:06:19

I'm beginning to wonder why we are having so many young athletic and otherwise healthy folks developing cardiac rhythm problems. Is it something that has been there for years or is there a root cause of it.

One of the places I would start to look is at all the meds advertised on TV and pushed by the drug companies. There are a number of drugs that have arrhythmia's as a side effect. It would be interesting to conduct a survey of pacer recipients as to what meds they had taken for a significant length of time before needing the pacer.

frank

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