Newbie, implanted 3 weeks ago.
Glad to find this where I hope there are some just as young as me on here (33). I've grown tired of doctor visits, hanging in the pacer area with a bunch of 70+ year-olds and everyone telling me I'm much too young to have to go through this. Tell me about it. I've had a difficult adjustment so far with everyday bringing me something different. My transplant was unique in that I am one of less than 1% of the population that has a heart like mine. I have PLSVC (Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava). Needless to say, in the last 3 weeks I have been to the doc once or twice a week to be tweeked and closely monitored. My doc has done 1000+ pacemaker implantations and my PLSVC was his first case so I feel like a guinea pig.
I'm hoping everything normalizes soon. The last 2 days has been a lot of irregular rhythm feelings and a feeling of chest fullness/achiness, which is a downer after feeling pretty good for the most part last week.
There--I vented. Anyone out there have PLSVC?
10 Comments
I know how you feel
by nee nee - 2010-06-09 07:06:27
I had a pacer at 52. Sure didn't want it...and yes. there are alot of older folks in the waiting area. But the story I have for you is as follows. A friend of my has a son, who is very active. Had irregular ryhtums, etc. They went in to do an ablation, and had to put in a pacer. He is 17 years old. I do not know all his complications, but I really felt bad for him. Talk about being so young.
young dude here!
by jonnypacker - 2010-06-09 10:06:02
I am 31, have had a pacer since age 3!!! Have lived a normal life thus far...sometimes too normal! good luck to you!
Same age!!
by wenditt - 2010-06-09 10:06:57
Hi there!
I am not diagnosed with the same condition as you, but I am 33 turning 34 in July. I can empathize with those doctors visits where "we" are the only ones!
Good luck finding someone with the same condition. But I am sure no matter what your condition you will find plenty of helpful and wonderful people on this site!
WELCOME! :-)
Hi!
by Genie - 2010-06-10 03:06:23
Hi there, I'm 31, had my PM in March. I know how you feel - everyone I meet says "you're too young". But this site tells you otherwise: there's loads of us here your age! But you'll also find the more you talk to people here that age really is just a number - some people are in there 20s and 30s and have years of wisdom, being paced since they were young. Some people in their 70s being paced for the first time, feeling just like we do now. We're all in it together.
Frank is right - in the UK (where I am) an estimated 12 young people die every week from undiagnosed arrythmias. It might not feel like it a lot of the time, but we're the lucky ones.
Don't have the same problem as you, but I really identify with the "something new every day". It's been a roller coaster for me too. But you will get there. It tskrd longer than the doctors say it does, and the healing is as much mental as physical. You had a good week. Soon you'll have two good weeks. Then you'll have a good monrth, and so on (I've done the good weeks, but not the month yet, so I'm right there with you!). Just hang in there and try to have faith. It will get better.
Genie
young
by LS - 2010-06-10 09:06:22
I was 56 when I got my PM almost 5 months ago.
It came out of the blue!! What a shock to be so healthy & boom...in the hospital having surgery! (I hadn't been in the hospital since 1975 when I had my son (naturally I might add) LOL)
Do I feel better? I didn't feel bad before!! I only had a few weeks of "episodes" & then a PM!
I've learned (am learning) to just get used to it! I pace 99% of the time so obviously I needed it!
There are many here close to your age.
Wising you a speedy recovery & many blessed days ahead!
Liz
Only 27yrs
by Mel P - 2010-06-10 10:06:00
I know what you mean by the young thing, everytime we go to the hospital im the youngest one there,Im 27yrs and have had my pm for 3weeks.All the older people we meet though are lovely and they usually keep my partner company whilst I have to have tests or we are waiting to see the doctor. They usually start asking him questions about cars, computers etc.
I don't tell anyone about my pm because I have had enough already of explaining to people and then them saying but your 2 young. I have even taking to wearing cotton scalfs to cover my bruising and scars because i felt like people kept looking at it.
Hope you feel better. xx
One of those 70+
by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-10 12:06:03
In fact I turn 80 in a few days! I think back over the years and remember several kids my age in my teens that suddenly dropped dead of cardiac arrest. Another friend who was very athletic suddenly wound up disabled with a heart problem. In those days we didn't have all the sophisticated knowledge about the workings of the heart. I suppose most of them developed a simple block and just couldn't survive. No pacers available then.
So consider yourself lucky that you live in a time when you can go on living with a pacer. I think you will see advancements in them over the years.
One other thing to keep in mind is that a pacemaker can only fix electrical conduction problems in your heart. If you have a plumbing or muscle problem you need other treatments.
by the way I may be 80, but I still enjoy wild 4x4 exploring in my Jeep and have run around the Rockies at 13,000'.
good luck,
frank
34yr at implant
by ShadowWeaver - 2010-06-11 08:06:34
Again, I understand the young thing in the waiting room. I was 34 when I got my pacer and am 35 now. I would go to the doctor's and the older folks would be asking me if I was there with my parent or grand-parent. sheesh. I have always been healthy as an ox up until my heart problems started. I don't have the same condition as you, but I really understand where you are coming from on it all. Remember to give yourself time and to realize that it does get better with time. The emotional part was the hardest thing for me to get past as many here can attest, but I did it and you can to. Hang in there, you're not alone.
Michael
33 and PLSVC as well
by heather1723 - 2010-06-23 04:06:26
I must be the other part of the 1%, because I just had my pacemaker implanted recently and I have also been told by my doctor that I have PLSVC as well. I have been to the doctor alot but I realize that where I was before all my symptoms and problems started was way worse than it has been now. No more passing out at work, in the store, shopping, walking at the forest preserve and the other places where I have passed out at. Now I am just waiting for all the bills to arrive and how much it will cost me once my insurance pays there amounts. Good luck with you PLSVC and hope to hear from you again.
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not exactly the same...
by macoymom - 2010-06-09 05:06:30
i too was 33 {now i am 34} when i got my pacemaker... don,t have mine for same reason but i tottally get the young feeling thing amongst the wiser bunch :) hope you like this site like i do i have found bunches of pm people younger than us here ... hope you have a blessed day!