Kiddo - New here...in need of a pick me up

I'm new here...a 22 year old female from New Zealand who's lower heart stopped for 4 times (8 seconds is my record!).

In 2008 I started to get tired more easily, I occasionally felt dizzy and felt my heart racing and fainted twice. I went to my local doctor who diagnosed me with Asthma, a few months later I went back telling him I didn't think it was asthma because the ventolin inhaler didn't help. I was referred to a cardiologist who did a whole range of tests - all of which were perfectly normal. I was young (20years old) don't smoke or drink alcohol, very fit (I played two sports (1 at national level) as well as doing a degree in Outdoor Education). I was told to ring back if I fainted or felt my heart racing; there was no explanation for me fainting...its probably dehydration, hormones, fatigue.

In January 2009 I collapsed at home walking down the hallway - for no reason. I was taken to hospital. I had a reveal device (implanted loop recorder) implanted in March 2009 to track my heart. Every 3 months I had to go to the hospital so they could download (interrogate) the info from my heart monitor. They never found anything of significance for 15 months.

Three weeks ago I felt dizzy a few times then felt my heart racing. I didn't do anything about it because I knew I had my 3 month appointment at the hospital in a few days time, there was heaps of reasons for me to feel dizzy I had just moved out of home into a flat, just finished leading a 12 day camp with some youth at risk....

It turns out that those 4 times I felt dizzy was my ventricles not beating. When they decide to beat again they beat super fast (which is what I felt and why the doctors thought I had tachycardia). I was in hospital for 11 days (I had my 22nd birthday in the coronary care unit), they removed my reveal device, did a cardiac MRI (which was normal) then implanted a St Jude Medical Microny Pacemaker.

It's been 6 days since I got my pacemaker; everyone else in the cardiac unit is at least 25 years older than me (they all call me kiddo) and, like some of you, I'm also suffering from crybaby syndrome, ...the nurse said its coz I've been so brave for so long now its all catching up with me....reading all your stories makes me feel a little better to know that its sort of normal to cry it all out...

I hope we all get better soon!
- Anita

5 Comments

Hang in there

by The Fish - 2010-07-12 11:07:11

Hi
I am a lot older than you but am here to tell you to hang in there. I am very active and never sick a day in my life of 63 years. I had about 5 fainting spells over the course of my life and had been investigated by all the specialists including cardiologist and neurologist. They could not find anything. Then one day this past March, I fainted in the morning while working in my yard. Later I fainted again while chairing a meeting. They took me to the ER and there I fainted 4 more times . They found my heart was stopping like yours, lower ventricle. Usually stopped for about 6 seconds but once after moving me to ICU it stopped for 24 seconds. Anyway, they implanted a PM and for the first couple of weeks I had an aweful time with crying for no reason and even a panic attack. Anyway, all is better now other than every day or two I can feel my PM working for about 30 seconds. You have your whole exciting life ahead of you so don't let that PM get you down. It is going to make your life better. If you cry once in awhile, that is okay and probably a good thing. Hugs,kind thoughts and best wishes to you. All will be well.
Your PM friend, Howard

I call her angel

by rvrs7081 - 2010-07-13 03:07:15

That's what I call my little pm. angel and I keep collecting angels to remind me what my cardiologist said . I must have had an angel on my shoulder to survive the ambulance trip 122 miles to get my pm. Sudden, urgent and unexpected. Put in one day, home the next. We all cry or shed a tear or two. But we are a special group. We are BIONIC. Our lives were saved and for much more than tears. I made up my mind a few days ago to get back to this site and help others who are new as I once was (Two years this Oct). Really still new. I get down and then get up to realize what a gift I have been given. Now I have to use that gift. Hang in there. You may have shoulder pain that lasts a while, but it goes away. You may feel down until you realize you carry an angel. Accept your gift of life and go on to be great in some way. Hang in there KIddo.
we are All on your side and understand fully.
More love sent to you, Ann

You'll get there...

by Genie - 2010-07-13 04:07:39

I am 31 and had my pm fitted in March. You've made me feel old, but I know what's it's like - everyone kept saying to me 'you're so young to have these problems'.

But you'll find here lots of people in the same position as you. Remember, the PM is the solution to your problems. You are better now than you have ever been. You haven't got sicker, you've got better.

I say this, but my first couple of months after the PM were really rough. I have some teething problems, and I felt really miserable. I couldn't stop crying. I wasn't prepared for the emotional effect of everything. Like you, I'd tried to be brave for a long time - then it suddenly all came out.

But now I feel so much better. I hardly think about the PM and I'm no longer tired all the time. My life feels like it's starting over. People on this site helped me so much, and they will help you too. We all know how you feel. And we know, too, that it WILL feel better. Just take one day at a time, and before you know it you're going to feel better than you ever have.

Genie xxxxx

Been there

by wenditt - 2010-07-13 09:07:26

Hi sunshine,
A crybaby you are not. A brave woman you are! I was in your shoes. Same symptoms every once in a while for about 15 years. I am 33. Got my PM last September. I've been through every emotion possible....some longer than others! It was very difficult for me to grasp and accept the idea that I have a PM at this age (or any age really). My father died of sudden death so the whole saga truly freaked me out.

I have a 2 year old daughter whom I was afraid to be alone with for a very long time for fear something would happen to me.

You are not alone. For some getting a PM is a huge shock. Some others are relieved. I went back and forth between the two for a long long time.

But it will get better. You will cry less, you will forget it's there....promise!!!

Best of luck to you. Feel free to send me a message....

xo

Thanks

by Anita Sword - 2010-07-16 01:07:35

Thanks for all your support. It's awesome to know we all feel the same way...

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

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