New member saying hello

• by Indikat
• 2010-05-23 11:05:33
• Coping
• 1248 views
• 7 comments

Hi , I am a new member and am still somewhat angry at having a pacemaker placed.
I know i should not be but I am.

Last year 2009 October ,I had open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair (luckily) as it was supposed to be a replacement .Thankfully it could be repaired.

After having the mitral valve repair my pacing wires were removed after 5 days and unfortunately my electronics did not kick in and I flatlined 5 x within the space of 9hrs, so drs decided to put me back on pacing wires and watch me for a further 11 days and decide if I needed a pacemaker.

After 11 days extra in hospital as I was having a very low pulse rate 45 to 50 , which actually under normal circumstances as an elite athlete which I had been was good but under my current ciscumstances was not.
Drs decided to implant a pacemaker .

So it was back to surgery again .

I had been in hospital for 3 weeks endured 71/2 hrs op during open heart for mitral valve repair and now had to go again for operation.

Whilst everyone assured me it was painless after what I had been through I can only say it was more horriffic than open heart surgery .
The pain I experienced not only at the site of the implant but in my jaws and teeth as was the side of my neck was excruciating as was the back of my head.
The pacing wires also had to be removed the day after surgery that had been placed into my heart during the open heart surgery.

Removal of these was the pits , I thought I was going to die on the spot.

I had already been through so much I just wanted to die.

Anyway , 7months down the track I am not reconciled with the device as I still have tenderness at the site.
I cannot sleep on that side of my body which i expect will always be the case.
I feel a snapping sensation at times which is uncomfortable when I lift my left arm .

I have more energy at times but other times I get weak when I exercise and dizzy in the last month.So it is an up and down roller coaster at present.

I was always very fit and active and find I am still restricted.

I realise I need to give things time and I am still fresh from some major surgeries.

Unfortunately my vocal cords were damaged duering intubation and I acquired an intubation granuloma.
Up till now an ENT specialist was watching it and monitoring whether it would slowly go away but it has not and it has doubled in size.
So last week I was told it has to be removed.

I am back in surgery next Friday for removal of the granuloma and then no speaking for 10days .

As you can see I am just going from one surgery to another and I am unhappy about it all.

Hopefully this is it and I can find a nice rhythm to my life again.( Heart rhythm!!!!! and all)

In the past 7months my working life and my personal life has been turned completely upside down.

I am though alive and I am thankful for that gift .

Just I suppose flat and despondent about it all .

Glad I found the site as I can at least vent my concerns over these dramatic events in my life at present.