New kid on the block

I just had a Dual pacemaker put in last week. I went in for a routine Heart Cath, and my heart beats went down to 7. I am so lucky to be alive. I still don't know alot so I'm glad I found this wedsite. I guess I will learn all the do's and don'ts. Did anyone feel depressed after the pacemaker? I cry on a dime!!

10 Comments

Visit Often!

by 8thID - 2010-09-08 09:09:40

Hello,
I'm a 44 year old male with a new ICD (7/27/10), and yes I was a little depressed and anxious and scared, etc. I think most people do get a little depressed when they're implanted with a device. But just keep coming back to this site and vent and ask questions. There are some really great people here. What helped me the most was I just got outside as much as possible. Of course listen to your doctor on what you are allowed to do physically. I found that just being outdoors with my wife and daughter helped so much. And I know this may be hard to believe, but there will soon come a day when you forget that you have a device. I wish you all the best! Take Care!

Jeff

Yes you are Lucky

by ray - 2010-09-08 10:09:24

Hi...and welcome.....I have had my PM for a little under three months......I thought that i was lucky surviving when my hearty beat went doen as low as 19 but your low count means that you are truely blessed to still be here. I had a complete heart block and now get paced 100%.

I have had no issues at all with the inplant and have ccepted it mentally / emmotionally without any problems.

I suffered from depression and had a strong hatred for my father due to child hood issues as he was an alchohlic, and he actually killed three people in a car crash.....but unbelievable as it sounds my survival has cleared my depression and the hatred / anger has all gone... and i have now been able to forgive him in my mind. Whilst i am estranged from him...I am contemplating letting him know that all is forgiven.
I am slowly weaning myself off of the depression tablets thatIi have been taking.

I mention this as I would like you to look for the positives in what ever happens to us.....

I am just so happy to be alive and to be given a second chance to continue seeing my kids and grand children and extended family.

Please look at this situation as a wonderful gift from God and tell your self your tears are tears of joy.

The world is a better place for you being alive please enjoy it.


Stay safe Ray

Enjoy life since we only have one chance

by Okimbill - 2010-09-09 01:09:26

Depression can whip anyone if we let it. April 24, 2008 my wife and I were delivering Meals on Wheels. While knocking on the door we did not realize a man and woman were beating our client to death. The pair heard us, came out another door and shot my wife to death. Lying on the ground they shot me 6 times. I spent the balance of 2008 and part of 2009 in hospitals for surgeries and rehab. I admit I was feeling down but going back to delivering Meals on Wheels proved to me there are people in worst shape than me.
You guessed it. June 22, 2010 I had a dual PM installed. I told the doc there was nothing he could do to hurt me. Go to it. All has been fine. Yours will be great!

It happens

by TSan1961 - 2010-09-09 02:09:02

Hi DollyA,
Not to worry, it happens to a lot of us. Even though we're thankful that this little machine is keeping us alive, our subconscious mind is still in "fear of death" mode. I personally believe it's due to coming so close to death. I also have a dual lead PM and I'm 100% paced. I never felt sad with my first PM implant (implanted after my 3rd failed ablation and complete heart block) only since it's replacement in 2004. I felt depressed when I came out of that surgery, and it lasted quite a while. Some months later my husband told me that the surgeon said they had a scary moment because it took over a minute for my heart to "kick back in" when they plugged in the new PM. Although I wasn't aware that I'd basically died on the operating table, my subconscious mind was and it made me depressed. It helped me to know what had happened and to talk about it. Give yourself time, it could just be the anesthesia in your system that's keeping you down. It will get better!
I would suggest you do whatever it takes to to keep your mind active and happy. Keeping your focus on the positive and doing things for others will help lift your mood. I'm thankful you're alive and I'm sure you have a lot of family members and friends who feel the same.
Best wishes with your new PM :))
Teresa

Good for you Ray

by Duke60 - 2010-09-09 02:09:41

God-bless you Ray!
I really think and will keep saying it that since people seem to have problems in their mind having a PM put in their body that they should get after care treatment concerning this problem.
MDs only treat the body and forget the mind.

me too, new kid

by Meema417 - 2010-09-09 08:09:44

Hi. My pm is now 4 months & 6 days old. I too went through the fear, depression, lost my job because of the pm, why me?, I'm so scared-I almost didn't wake up kind of thinking. Wenditt is right; the time to worry was before you had your pacemaker, not now; you're covered! I now believe there is first physical healing, then the mental & emotional healing. Get outside every day for fresh air and sunshine. Take care of your body, keep clean, get dressed every day and shampoo your hair. I wear makeup, nail polish and fragrance even at home, because it perks me up. Walk and do light exercise as allowed by your doctor. It will all help. I cried in church, I cried in the shower, I cried on the walking trail. My friend told me not to hold the tears in, because my heart is broken (from all that had gone on) and it wouldn't be good for me to hold it in. Just know that it does get better. I didn't think it would, but by gosh, it did! Visit this site often, because I got to where I am because of the help of some wonderful people, right here!

Oh ya

by wenditt - 2010-09-09 09:09:16

Hi sunshine,
I too have had bouts of depression over the last year after getting my PM. Saturday is it's one year anniversary! But I can tell you it does get better! I am at the point where I realize it's there, it's not going away, sucks to accept it but once you do you won't think about it anymore.

Everyone's time table is different. Some get their PM and celebrate that day so thankful to have it. Others (like me) take a bit longer to wrap their brains around the experience. You will get there...

Just try to take one day at a time and just as you were thankful BEFORE you had your PM....you can be extra thankful now. The time to worry was before the PM....that's when you were in danger. The PM fixed all that....so set yourself free! The time to worry and to be scared is over....you are fixed now! :-)

I know it can be a tough road, feel free to private message me anytime. Try to keep smiling!

Wenditt

you kidding me?

by jessie - 2010-09-09 10:09:58

at first i cried every day most of the day . i cried when it was funny . i cried when it was sad. lucky my husband had read about the emotional part and was really supportive. i then found the p.m. club. it helped like nothing else could have. i took antidepressants for awhile but not now. i am much more in control and i also prefer to deal with what is and for me it is now a sick husband. so i must be there now for him. it is amazing that i feel better. i lost a lot of weight and i feel good. every day is a gift. i no longer cry in church or anywhere else that i don't want to cry. so that is a great improvement. i had some times but it is over . thank god! i get to-gether once a month with my past co-workers. they are from and me as well a physchiatric ward. yes we are the staff who ran the place for 30 some years. i never keep up with it now. it seems like it was another life. i actually don't mind housework anymore and am living a much different life. i love all my friends here and love to keep up with all for now. hugs and xxoo jessie

me too

by wpj - 2010-09-09 11:09:22

Hi, new to here and very interested to read this particular thread. I was fitted with a pm in 2000 and had real depression and was feeling anxious a lot for a year or so.
I had a box change on 01 April this year and am feeling it again, I have an appointment tomorrow as i feel this box sticks out too much whereas my last one really did become part of me, hopefully this one will too.
Anyways, although I’m sad to hear of other people feeling blue, it's a comfort to know I’m not alone, feels good getting this off my chest after 10 years!!
Please note, it's not all bad and we're alive :)

Yea... depression can be part of the package

by COBradyBunch - 2010-09-09 12:09:22

I tell folks from my personal experience to read up on the 7 stages of grief. I went through them all and others I have talked to have had similar experiences. You haven't lost a loved one exactly, but having a pacemaker put in is still traumatic and knowing what you might go through helps make it easier. Won't prevent it from happening, but at least you understand it is normal, others go through it and you will survive.

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