General Question

I have a Medtronic Thera dual PM. Does anybody else have the same one as me. This is my fourth one since 1984. A classmate of mine told me about this website. I wish I knew about this site a long time ago. One of the things that bother me is that when I tell people I have a PM they look at me funny. Especially when I was younger. I was only 7 years old when I got my first one put in. In HS my teacher was talking about PM for some strange reason and he kept on telling everybody that when you get a lot older you will get one. It was a pychology class I believe. I was 17 or 18 at the time. I wanted to raise my hand and tell him that you don't need to be old to get one. But I was too embarrased to do anything. I never liked him before he made the comment and after he made the comment I couldn't stand him. Has anybody had this expereince? What did you do? So I can try it the next time it happens.

5 Comments

Let this baggage go

by ccmoore - 2009-10-14 08:10:51

You can go to the member list and search using a few fields, unfortunately you can't search by Manufacturer. But you might want to search by city or state and find members in your area.

I see from your profile that you were born in 1976, your 33 dude, let this teacher baggage go and move on with your life. There are members that get PMs literally at birth.

Wear your PM with pride. Can't die because your heart stopped. In fact, if you do die from something else, they will probably have to find a tec to turn the damn thing off. Hell you got it made.

I usually start a new conversation with "Hello I'm Charlie and I've got a PM, what you got?.

Later, Charlie

acceptance

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-14 10:10:21

Hindsight's 20/20 and all that, but I would have raised my hand and said "Last I checked, 18 wasn't old!" insert huge smile "Did you know they're for congenital electrical problems also?" Then use it as an opportunity to educate.

One thing I noticed in the time I've been paced (1993) is people mirror our reactions. So, if you act like it's a big deal, so do they. If you subconsciously project/act like it's bad or only for old people, they will agree with you. There will always be people who are stupid or uninformed, most are just uninformed. If it comes up, I tell them I'm just like you, only my heart gets a little help. It's always said with a happy smile, because that's how I feel about it- happy to have it.

Maybe it helps that I was a child growing up with a heart condition and physical limitations but an adult before I got my first pm, but I've never been embarrassed about it. Why would I be? It's not like I did anything wrong to deserve it, it's just a fluke of nature, and I'm grateful it has an easy fix and that I can feel great most of the time.

But usually the reaction is not negative at all, it's just plain disbelief. People see another crazy busy mom when they look at me. I sure don't act like someone sick! I don't talk about it often, not because I'm embarrassed but just because it doesn't come up in the course of conversation. I don't regularly advertise if I color my hair or my shoe size either. It just doesn't matter, ya know? It doesn't define who I am, it's simply a part of me.

Welcome to the board! If you're anything like me, you've always been the youngest at the cardiologist and never met anyone my age with a pm until here. Isn't it a great feeling to be perfectly average!?

OK

by Beckes76 - 2009-10-14 11:10:05

I haven't been ashamed of it. I Just don't know how to explain why I have one. Not very often do I come across someone my age that had one. Yes I am 33 and I am proud of my PM. If it wern't for it I wouldn't be here like I am today. When I was younger I wanted to play basketball but my parents forbid me to play. When they fixed my two holes in my heart they accidently severed my internal pacemaker because it was in the wrong spot, As long as I could remember I have had a PM. I have read all the complications that people have had. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I have had no complications. I have come out of the surgeries just fine and my battery has lasted quite a while.

???

by pete - 2009-10-15 03:10:07

I think I would have asked him nonchalently, why do you have to wait until you are old and how could you get one sooner. cheers peter

explanations

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-15 06:10:38

I don't usually get into long explanations, I just say I was born with a problem and the pm fixes it. People just want to know we're ok, they don't need our medical history. If they ask for more, I have third degree av block so I tell them my atria and ventricles beat independently and the pm bridges the gap so they beat together. You could simply say you had surgery as a child that damaged your natural pacemaker.

p.s. if you wanna play basketball, go for it! You're too old for mom and dad to tell you you can't ;o)

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.