Where my Peeps at?
Howdy everyone!
I just joined the club seconds ago and cant wait to test the water with a first post, and send out a call to arms (hearts)
Just wondering if there are any younger people who also have pacemakers out there. I've asked around on other sites with with no luck. Im twenty-four now, but I was sixteen when I was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and got my pacer. I never thought twice about it untill It started coming up in conversations. "I dont believe you." people say, and "don't only super old people get pacemakers?" I apologize to all the seniors out there, but Im starting to feel like... perhaps they're right.
I guess in the big shceme of things, it's not importent to know If anyone my age has a pacemaker, and perhaps has had a few similar experiences. I cant help but wonder though, if someone is thinking "I guess in the big shceme of things, it's not important."
My twenty-fifth birthday is right around the corner, and I know a new pacemaker isnt far off as well. I just can't stomach the thought of a guaranteed hospital visit, surgery, recovery, and inevitable medical bills, every three or four years for the rest of my life.
Anyway, I hope this finds everyone well and in good spirits.
Thank you Pacemaker community
Justin Deines
9 Comments
We're out there!
by pmgirl - 2010-01-29 06:01:37
Hi Justin,
You've come to the right place...welcome to Pacemaker Club! I was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome last November and have had my little electric friend for just over 2 months now...I'm 27 years old, however I have had SSS since I was 13...it took 14 years for my doctors to discover why I would feel faint all the time! So had they known earlier, I suppose I could have had a pm much sooner, maybe at 16 like you?
There are quite a few of us on this website who are considered 'too young to have a pacemaker' but like another member on this site once reassured me, if you need a pacemaker then you are NEVER too young! It's better than the alternative, and we are lucky in a way that we have a condition that can be very effectively treated with a pm. I know there are surgeries etc, but in the end, that's something we just have to learn to accept as a part of our lives...but hey, we are all in the same boat together and as medical technologies advance I'm sure pm's will only have longer battery lives!
Again, welcome to the club...you'll find a lot of love and support here!
I'm still around at 59 and....
by FirstDuely - 2010-01-29 07:01:04
when I got my first (7 more after that so far) at 36 I thought I was the youngest. I'm still around and kicking so the value of a pacer to me cannot be measured. I still am active although not as much as when I was younger. Older was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up. I ride lots of miles on my road bike and will continue doing so for as long as I can buy tubes and tires. Oh, BTW, I just retired from 33 years as a high school science teacher and am in better health and fitness than while teaching and, get this, I can do whatever I want to anytime I want to.....well, my wife does keep me in line from time to time.
I also had SSS with an AV block that now is about 100% although I wonder if my riding is actually reversing that. Don't know if that's possible but it would be nice to know. Will be asking my doc soon.
The Med bills: Yeah, they can be a pain but don't we all know non-pm types with worse problems?
Surgery: each time we go in we get a better pacer with more whistles and bells....you will hear about several different types and maybe decide you want something with more adjustments, more monitoring, and there are ways the doc can set things to prolong battery life. Being active I tend to wear mine out pretty fast and my doctor sometimes makes comments about wanting me to slow down.
This site is excellent for getting your Qs answered. Glad you found it. I wish I had had a site like this a long time ago (24 years) but I managed to get by without somehow.
Read on and learn. You will be fine and live a long life.
(i.e., "Live long and prosper")
Gary N. in Hemet, CA
Surprised also
by DanaT - 2010-01-29 07:01:20
Hi Justin. I am 49 and just joined today myself. When I was reading the posts I actually saw more people on here my age and was surprised by that discovery. I thought I was too young also! Can I say "welcome"?
not alone
by dwelch - 2010-01-29 08:01:33
I am 42 now, born with heart block, first pacer at 19. The FAQs on this site are interesting too, the pie chart covering pacer implants at different ages.
I suspect most of us even now at my age are still the youngest one in the doctors waiting room.
Member list search
by ccmoore - 2010-01-29 08:01:46
This site has some pretty cool tools.
The member list search is one of them.
Log on, in the upper left hand corner click on member list. Several search boxes will pop up and you can search on any or all of them.
If admin is watching maybe DOB [or a DOB range]could be added so members could find members in their age range.
Later,
Charlie
Hell ya!
by Sariah - 2010-01-30 03:01:05
Can I tell you how awesome it is to find someone else my age that has one of these dumb pacers (which I'm grateful for, btw)?
I'm 27 now, but my first pacer was implanted right after I turned 17. Ten years, baby... I'm on my second one now, and it was fun to joke with the OR team right before I went in for it. I took my mom, as she was my ride home, who was 63 yrs old at the time. They didn't believe I was the patient at first, and we just went with the joke. I had several experimental procedures when I was 16 and yeah, it was hella weird being the youngest on cardiac floors at hospitals. No one believes I've got a pacemaker, and half the people my age still don't know what one is.
A couple years ago, my cardiologist freaked out on me when I accidently said something about having gone skydiving to a friend over my cell. She would always shake her head at the motorcycle helmet I carried into our visits, but she finally had to say something. She informed me that engaging reckless activities were NOT in the best interest of my cardiac health. I laughed and said, "Yes, you may be right, but remember - it's your job to tell me what I can and can't do, and it's my job to tell you I'm going to do it anyway." Before I left her office, I told her I had just gotten a skydiving license.
She started laughing too. =)
Good to meet you, Justin.
Hi
by Lyds - 2010-01-30 09:01:58
Hey Justin, how are you going?
I'm also 25 and had two lots of heart surgery last year. I got my first pacemaker last year (at 24), but 5 months on a i had to go back and have it moved. I'm just on 12 months since my first op and recovery is letting everything finally come together. I have Neurocardiogenic Syncope - so i faint A LOT! I was undiagnosed for over 6 years and after finding a Dr that cared enough to do every test and finally diagnose me, i ended up with a PM. I was fainting every couple of weeks to every couple of months and i was starting to do some real damage when i hit the ground, so a PM was really the only option. Although the PM doesn't cure me (there is no cure), it's definitely helped in giving me enough warning to sit down before i hit the deck.
Although i'm not on here often enough, i've found much more information and support from here than any other internet sites, social groups or local information sessions. I've been treated in hospital quite often enough since i got my PM and more often than not i have Dr's (both interns and fully fledged Emergency Dr's) coming up to me asking questions about my condition, my PM and what it's like living with one. My x-rays always seem to intrigue the Dr's and nurses - especially when it was floating around my chest cavity. My PM was originally put behind my breast tissue, but after it was moving too much it now lives inside my pec muscle. They went behind my breast tissue, through the connecting wall and took a section of my pec muscle out to house the PM. It's strange having it so deep and it'll be really hard for the next Dr to do a battery change - but was my only option if i didn't want it sitting below my collar bone.
I know what you mean about finding people our age with PM's, i know i've found it especially hard as i have a rare condition, made rarer by a PM and ever more rare by having it hidden in my pec muscle. If you ever want to chat - just give us a shout.
All the best Justin...and Welcome!!
Lyds
Home Sweet Battery Powered Home
by JustinD - 2010-01-31 02:01:27
Wowza Everybody!
Thank you ALL so much for the responses!
I've had some trouble posting a response of my own. So far I've written two diffrent messages with individual thank yous to everyone, and neither of them went thrugh. Just know that Im so greatfull to each and every one of you that posted. from the bottom of my bum heart!
I'll continue posting, and feel free to message me as well. I have a bunch of questions I'd like to ask within the next few days.
Thank you all again,
Justin Deines
You know you're wired when...
Your heart beats like a teenager in love.
Member Quotes
I am very lucky to have my device.
the baby of the group
by Tracey_E - 2010-01-29 06:01:02
We have quite a few people your age here, but most of them do not post regularly. Hopefully they will say hi!
I'm 43 now and got my first pm when I was 27. I'm still the youngest in my dr's office by a good 30 years. I don't want to wish a pm on someone else young, but it would be nice to go in one day and not be the only one not retired in the waiting room!