Quality of life

I have been reading the posts today, not having been on my computer very much the past couple of weeks, generally just long enough to make some kind of comment, then off and generally back to laying down. Today has been a good day. I have been awake and have had some energy and so was also doing some reading of research stuff...

Has anyone wondered why it seems that the research that is reported regarding Quality Of Life say that people with PMs and/or ICDs have no loss or decline in quality of life. Every time I read one of those reports, I ask myself who the heck are they talking to because the people I talk to for the most part have a lower quality of life. How do people on this site feel about their quality of life? I realize it's a subjective question but people know how they feel now and what they do now versus what they used to do and their mood before. Maybe i should ask the admin if I can put together a survey and put it up as a poll. What are your thoughts?

joy

7 Comments

Depends...

by turboz24 - 2008-09-08 01:09:45

I think the subject of quality of life depends on the condition that lead to your ICD or PM in the first place.

For me with a Vtach that doens't result in unconciousness, my life post ICD/Arrythmia is worse than it was before. Now, it's a combination of the arrythmia and the pain/personal image issues/restrictions brought on my my ICD that have changed it for the worse, so it's not all the fault of the ICD.

Great idea.....

by Bionic Beat - 2008-09-08 01:09:57

I think a lot of medical reports are biased and the information should come from the patients themselves.

I am much better off than I was while bedridden for 8 months but am no where near where I was before my electrical system crashed (when my AFib went berserk).

Inspite of adjustments to my pacemaker, etc., I have a lesser quality of life. I try to get fit but just cannot keep going the way I used to......not that I was athletic but I just cannot do what I need to do on a week-by-week basis.

I'm only 60 but don't see it getting much better down the road.

I try to stay positive and am basically a happy person but it's not like being in Normal Sinus Rhythm. Not at all.

Thankyou for doing this Joy.


Bionic Beat

My Answer

by ela-girl - 2008-09-08 01:09:59

Like you mentioned, this is quite a subjective question because every person could define "quality of life" differently. So, I'll just speak for myself here. My quality of life after the pacemaker is 110% better than before! My pm gave me a life back and even helped me to pick up new hobbies (like hiking). It also helped to change my attitude in that I look at each day as a gift and try not to take my days for granted. It has helped to keep things in perspective, too. As for the people I have spoken to who have pm's...in general and more often than not, they say they have a better quality of life.

I think making a general poll out of this is a good idea. I'm sure Blake would be up for it!

ela-girl

Hard to answer

by brokenheart - 2008-09-08 02:09:34

This is a tough one to answer...so i guess for myself my quality of life is worse than it was before. But also, my needing a pacemaker was a result of an accident when my av node was burned off. Anyway, i dont feel the same energy and i cant exercise because i get short of breath and chest pain. But i guess, we should all just be thankful that we are alive, right? God bless every one.

ps. i agree that doctors dont know everything...only we who have pacemakers/icds really know how we feel.

Hard to answer

by brokenheart - 2008-09-08 02:09:45

This is a tough one to answer...so i guess for myself my quality of life is worse than it was before. But also, my needing a pacemaker was a result of an accident when my av node was burned off. Anyway, i dont feel the same energy and i cant exercise because i get short of breath and chest pain. But i guess, we should all just be thankful that we are alive, right? God bless every one.

ps. i agree that doctors dont know everything...only we who have pacemakers/icds really know how we feel.

easy to answer for me

by Tracey_E - 2008-09-09 07:09:30

I'm fortunate to have a problem that is virtually fixed with a pm. (complete block) I went from constantly tired and dizzy and very limited activity to feeling wonderful and living an active lifestyle, working out regularly and enjoying sports as I never could growing up. My pm enabled me to have kids, there's no way my body could have handled a pregnancy pre-pm and my kids are my world. My underlying rate is in the 20's so I'd be dead without it. So, yeah, I'd have to say I'm pretty happy with the quality of life the pm gives me.

The pm is a treatment, not the disease. The disease itself is what affects your life, not the pm. Sometimes they keep you alive but don't give you the quality of life you had before you got your condition that required it, but if it's keeping you alive then I'd have to say by default it's improved your quality of life.

Quality?

by richan - 2008-09-14 06:09:23

Hi Joy,
I have been hooked up with my PM since March of 2005. I agree with the others, defining quality of life is very subjective.
Can I do what I did before PM? Not quite. I have been involved with Masters Swimming for the past 40 years. I'd have to admit that I cannot swim as well as I did before PM. I'm still doing it - just can't repeat at the same intervals and I get winded faster. Of course, I will turn 70 next year and age just might be a factor here. I do strength training on the days I don't swim. I'd say I'm still active. I also still work full time.
It did not stop me from going with my wife to the arctic and hike around in the tundra - last week. I'd get winded but could still get around. Hey, that is what I have been given.
I'd say that life is great and everyday is a good day.
Hope all goes well for you,
Richan

You know you're wired when...

Like the Energizer Bunny, you keep going.

Member Quotes

Life does not stop with a pacemaker, even though it caught me off guard.