Not as Worried

This is my 1st post and my 1st day as a member. I was implanted with a st jude medical dual lead pacer on feb 2nd of this year after experiencing total heart block in the hospital and being flatline for a total of 50 seconds before being brought back. And after being brought back I had a very irregular heart beat with tach and then periods of brady. After becoming coherant again I was constantly worried about dying and had to be medicated to even sleep. I was so anxious and afraid I was going to die for about a month. But over the last month I have began to feel much better and I have come to realize that my pacemaker will "most likely" prevent my nerve problem from stopping my heart again. I have finally became accustomed to feeling it pace. It rarely goes off but when it does it really takes my breath away but im finally used to it and im no longer worried. I just wanted to write this to possibly help ease the mind of anyone else who recently had a pacer imstalled. Steve

9 Comments

Thanks!

by Genie - 2010-04-18 03:04:07

Dear Steve,

Thanks for this posting: I am three weeks into my first pacemaker and (as those who have seen my previous posts will testify) am definitely in the 'worried' stage. I had second degree heart block, but since the procedure have started to have episodes of tachycardia, which have made me really anxious. So knowing it gets better and that there is light at the end of the tunnel really helps. It makes a real difference when it comes from someone who has been there.

Welcome to the site: I've found everyone so helpful, so willing to answer questions or just to chat: it's been a real blessing.

Genie

Glad to Help

by stealthrecon - 2010-04-18 04:04:05

Im so glad to help. As worried, axious, and so sure I was going to die as I was.... And I can honestly say I'm not hardly worried at all anymore. I had others at the hospital tell me how it gets better and how ill get used to it and i wont worry after a while...but i really didnt believe them. lol But after 10 weeks of having it; they were so right on. A lot of my family died young from major heart problems. So at age 31, with a pacemaker, im sure i have many more years ahead of me. You just have to accept that the pacer really works. lol It took me a while.

Same age!

by Genie - 2010-04-18 07:04:29

I'm 31 too! So that makes your post even more reassuring!

Genie.

definitely

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-18 08:04:02

The pm will not most likely prevent your heart from stopping again, it will definitely stop it!!!! That's what they do and they're unbelievably dependable. They watch our hearts 24/7. It's great that you're learning to trust it and feel better. I'm 100% paced so every beat my heart takes is with the help of my pm and it hasn't let me down in the 16 yrs I've had it, also for CHB. I was 27 when I got my first one. I've had babies with it, learned to ski, taken up hiking and rollerblading and become a gym addict. I don't let anything slow me down!

You really shouldn't feel it go off. When is your next check? Sometimes they turn the voltage up high for the first 60-90 days until the leads settle into place and our hearts get used to pacing, then they turn it down. That might be what you're feeling. Regardless, it's really rare to feel it pace. Even cranked up, we're not talking about a lot of voltage.

Feeling The Pacer

by stealthrecon - 2010-04-18 10:04:17

My next cardiologist visit is May 28th and my next pacer check is June 5th. Im still under the 90 days. The Dr. said he will order some adjustments to it for my June visit. So probably it will get turned down. But as of now i definately feel it when it takes off with a pace or two. It usually feels like a slight squeeze deep inside my chest. But sometimes its a little stronger than other times it seems. Dr said the same thing you just did actually. He said that usually people dont feel it when it goes off. So he was a tid bit bothered by it and made me wear a holster monitor to see just what the "atrial flutter" might be as he called it. And apparently im just extra sensative. Because when i noted that i felt it go off I did have a pacer spike according to the strips. Learning to ski... Ive always wanted to do that but living in florida makes a bit difficult. lol I think when i go on vacation again i will try and find a ski resort somewhere up north, Steve

Steve

by LS - 2010-04-18 10:04:35

Welcome to the club!!
I'm sure your post will help many.
Glad you're doing so well.
Liz

The tapping...

by bobbifiddler - 2010-04-18 12:04:11

Hey Steve....me too.
Went into full heart stop on St pat's Day. Thank God I was out in public! Had emergency PM implanted.

So, I'm a month in, and the tapping/fluttering whatever is going away. In fact, can't remember the last time I felt it.

Fear of dying: oh yeah, took me about 3 weeks to realize the fabulous procedure wasn't done to prevent my death, but to allow me to live.

I'm allowed to fiddle again as of today! yay! But here's the insane thinking...I collapsed while performing...fiddling caused the heart stop...fiddling again will kill me. So crazy! I'll check in again after I fiddle for 5 minutes. My guess is, I'll still be alive.

skiing

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-18 12:04:52

I'm in Fl also, two hours south of you. No skiing here but my parents live in the mountains so we try to get out once a winter to ski, and once in the summer to hike. I hope you feel it less (or not at all!) after they turn it down.

Bobbi, go get your fiddle! LOL

Glad Everyones Doing Well

by stealthrecon - 2010-04-19 03:04:38

Bobbi, I like how you phrased that. You got the pacemaker NOT to keep you from dying, but to let you live. That's an excellent way to think about it. Enjoy fiddling. I've always like the charly daniels band. Boy he sure can fiddle. I'm so happy I found this club. Everyone is so helpful.

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

Member Quotes

Your heart’s electrical system has a manmade helper. A helper that only knows to do what it is programmed to do and will perform that function day in and day out, without fail. Now, go enjoy your new grip on life.