Other
Has anyone else had trouble getting close to others with you pacemaker or ICD? I find myself quite distant lately and I'm just not sure how to get over that barrier. Any advice would be appreciated.
5 Comments
I don't understand...
by Pookie - 2010-11-07 08:11:07
I don't understand your question...sorry:(
Are you saying you are afraid to be you again and mingle with other people?
Are you in a slump, depressed?
You mention barrier, so my opinion would be: perhaps you could seek professional counselling. Many of us had to do that after having our heart devices because we were either depressed, stressed or both!!
I too wish you the best, but continue to remain as a member as if your issue is anxiety about getting a heart device, then there are oodles of members here who would be willing to help you. We're not doctors, but some of us might have been where you are now:)
Take care,
Pookie
Hi Alex!!
by donb - 2010-11-07 11:11:14
Good Morning Alex!! It's cold out but Sunny this morning.
Alex is my great-grandson's name also. Now you know, I'm a real Senior. I was fortunate not needing support 18 years ago as my 1st PM changed my life to the plus side in 1992.
I did have heart blockage a few years ago which involved a heart stent implant. The plus factor was I was very encouraged to follow up with Cardiac Rehab through the hospital. Again, another plus. Doing physical therapy while being monitored in a group along with old & young people kept depression out of sight.
I don't know if you were offered this program but it sure works both physical & mental along with the partnership of people of all ages. Most programs also include classes covering every aspect in dealing with associated problems more so than what most "shrinks" have to offer.
I am in Phase 3 now where I can go into their supervised gym getting a ECG strip & blood pressure before each workout. I can go in 3 times a week @ $42.00 a month.
No worries, oxygen right there if ever needed along with RN's for support. Great program, heals your thinking, meet great people, ya, and we complete mentally in our round table before each session. donb
My Advice
by SMITTY - 2010-11-07 12:11:55
Hello PacedICD,
You want advice, I have some. So that you don't have to tell me, I know my advice is worth exactly what you are going to pay for it, but I'll give it anyway.
I say you are preoccupied with your implanted device. Would you feel the same if you had, say dental implants? No difference. Both are to replace or help out some part of the body that needs help. The big difference is I'll bet people seldom think about their teeth or replacements for them. But since we can frequently feel our heart working we more aware of it working.
But the heart is nothing but a pump. Its upper chambers receive oxygenated blood from our lungs passes it through to the lower chambers where it is then pumped through out the body. The only difference in it and many other organs of the body is we can sometimes feel our heart working and we know if it quit working we would die. The same thing goes for the liver, or kidneys, or any of many other organs. While we cannot feel them working, if they quit we would die, just not as fast.
Take the kidneys for example, people with failing kidneys can get dialysis. When you think about it, that dialysis machine is just as important to that person's kidneys as a pacemaker is to our heart.
So my advice is to quit wasting time thinking about your pacemaker. It will sit there doing what it is programmed to do day in and day out. Just like certain keys on your computer key board are programmed to bring forth certain functions time after time. The pacemaker is no different except the results of certain keystroke are programmed into the pacemaker. They can be changed, but only by the person doing a checkup. Well that is not totally true. There are some things that can change them, say something like a lightening strike, but who worries about being struck by lightening.
But not knowing anything about you I will say if you can feel it doing its job, then some settings changes are needed. A pacemaker should be no more noticeable (after the soreness of the surgery is gone) than your heart's natural pacemaker.
And that is my sermon for this Sunday.
I wish you the best.
Smitty
Come on here and type
by walkerd - 2010-11-08 06:11:11
questions, type your feelings on here, what your feeling, you need to get it out. Your thinking about it to much, and I can relate to that, I was there about two years ago, but I came on here and typed, I really wasnt sure it made sense sometimes but there were people on here that knew what I was saying and helped me get thru it. trust me it will help. Its like you sit there thinking no one understands around what your going thru, this place has alot of people that do and can help you get thru it, dont give up keep on typeing on here. Send pms to people if you dont want to put it on the board right now, some really fantastic people on here pacedicd that are here to help you get thru what you are going thru...........
dave also paced and icded lol
You know you're wired when...
Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.
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by RetCop - 2010-11-07 02:11:11
I've not had that problem. I wish I had what doob has. Maybe I'll look into that further. There was one in Florida, but I didn't have a pacer then. I'm in Arizona now and my EP didn't mention anything like that. I think it would be very good for you too. I don't know why you stay distant.
Are you afraid of something?