New pacemaker after heart block 2 -- ANXIETY
Hi,
I'm 42 and just 10 days ago got rushed to ER with a pulse below 40 for a pacemaker. They said it was heart block 2, showing signs of heart block 3. I had no idea, but I was feeling dizzy and short of breath on minimal exercise. Now I'm just trying to learn all I can and this site has helped cure some of my anxiety. But what I can't really comprehend is will I be able to live a normal-ish life and have a reasonable life expectancy? Can someone my age live for another 30 years or longer with a pacemaker and careful checkups? I've heard there are potential complications, but I have no other health issues, no heart disease, and I feel energetically terrific post-pacemaker. But I'm still losing my mind with anxiety and don't know if it's reasonable to expect a long life life like this. Thanks for all the great info on this site and any answers.
10 Comments
You Will Have a Normal Life Expectancy!
by Seniorcitizen - 2011-02-01 09:02:23
It is very hard to get used to a pacemaker in the beginning and you never really forget that you have it, but after months you will forget and I have had my last pacemaker for 3 years and the one before that for 6 years and I am completely dependent on it for life, if it stops, I stop. Hope this helps a little. I get my pacemaker checked every 3 months, twice in the year on the phone with a special machine that they gave me and twice a year with my surgeon that did the surgery. I am older than you but able to do things that I want BUT I am and always will be SOB (short of breath) because of my undelying heart disease which I probably inherited from my Mother who died at 58......They know much more now......Good luck and write if you have any questions. J
Surf!
by donr - 2011-02-01 10:02:16
Tutu: Surf this site for the oldest/longest hosts for a PM. You will find them w/ 40 YEARS hosting a PM.
I've had mine since Feb 2003 - I'm a piker! not even qualified to clean the shoes of some of the real long-timers. AND - a lot of them are totally dependent on the PM. Now that's reliability!
Just don't do anything stupid & your PM will take care of you.
Lessee, now, what's stupid???
Sumo wrestling. Firing an elephant gun from the shoulder where your PM is. Climbing a 1000ft tall TV tower in KS to hug the antenna output elements. Running the bulls in Pampaloma, Spain. Going bear hunting with a switch. Get the idea?
Good luck. We are with you all the way.
Oh, BTW - to answer your question, Yes, you can live a normal life w/ the appropriate expectancy.
Don
Thanks so much!
by tutu - 2011-02-02 04:02:05
Pookie, thanks for the support and advice about anxiety. I was a bit more stressed out -- it comes and goes in waves -- so I took a Valium to relax. The forums act like a Valium though and give me much relief to hear what you say. DonB, thanks for the advice about extra care to make physicals, blood work, and further cardio testing -- I would suppose that would be good preventive measures. I will keep those things in mind. I'm scheduled to return in 6 weeks for a second echo cardiagram already. I'm glad to hear you've lived so well all these years. And Gellia, I'm amazed that your pacemaker was so heavy back then -- i bet it's a relief to get a newer model! SaraTB, I'm glad to hear what your nurse practitioner said as regards to your future health and that you're doing well with same condition. TraceyE, thanks ... I hope we can all stick around for a lot of years with this modern miracle we live with. Thank you all ... you've taken a huge load of anxiety off me already. Much love and health to you all.
Hi
by Gellia3 - 2011-02-02 09:02:09
Have no fear! I got my first PM at age 26 (Back in 1975 when they weighed three pounds!)and have had it for nearly 36 years now.
I have also had 7 replacements since.
You can live a perfectly long and normal life with a PM.
My very best to you for a long a happy life with your PM,
Gellia
Moving on toward the next 40 years...
by harley63 - 2011-02-02 10:02:17
Is that a song lyric???
Hi Tutu....
Geez, not sure I can say all that I want before this site times me out... but here goes. And we can send private post if there are more thoughts/ideas that come to mind. I got my pacemaker just about a week after turning 43 and newly married at 6 months. Talk about a rattle of my world!! I had SO much anxiety that I could NOT go to sleep and was like a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs...... skipping all the details of life since 12/2006 to current.....I just turned 47 in December....and... will say that I feel the best ever!!! Man, I sure hope that the next 40 years are YEE HAW full of fun and life!! I go to the gym with my hubby a few times a week. It's not that impressive of a work out other than the cardio workout. I've just recently added 15# weights on a pully type of machine. My advise... life your life.. don't let it pass you by.... life 4 yrs from now will be what YOU make it..... move forward both mentally and physically..... the folks here are great and super supporters and great listeners....
Cheering for you from COLD W. TX...
Harley63
chiming in
by Tracey_E - 2011-02-02 11:02:05
I'm 44 now, got my first pm at 27 for 3rd degree block. I'm healthy and active and plan to stick around for a lot more years. The pm doesn't hold me back or keep me from living a perfectly normal life. Most people don't even know I have it. I don't keep it a secret, but it just never comes up. The anxiety is perfectly normal as you adjust.
A heart block is a bit of a misnomer, makes people think of blocked arteries which are the result of poor lifestyle choices, age or genetics. Our blocks are electrical, just a connection that's not there. Generally our hearts are perfectly normal and healthy otherwise, and the pm easily wires around our short circuit leaving us with a perfectly normal heart beat.
Hi Tutu
by SaraTB - 2011-02-02 11:02:41
I got my PM at 42 as well, for 3rd degree heart block, and am 100% paced. It is very hard to wrap your head around what has happened, to begin with, but I guarantee over time you will barely think about it at all.
I'm on my second PM now, and am 51, with no other health issues. I fully anticipate living a normal lifespan.
I found that the more I learned, the more reassured I was, so don't be afraid to use this group to ask lots of questions. We all understand the fears and frustrations along the way. If you can, concentrate on how much better you feel now (easy to say, harder to actually do, I know!).
My PM nurse practitioner put it to me that I was probably going to be healthier, because I am now much more aware of my heart rate, and am having it regularly checked.
42 +30=72+more years
by donb - 2011-02-02 12:02:08
Hi, Ya, 72 was like yesterday for me. At age 60 it was finally decided a PM was needed as I had exactly the same electrical problems as you have. I had exactly the same thoughts as you have now. Well, as the years go by the battery gets weak, time for replacement of PM. No sweat, kinda like out patient procedure and you're on your way home.
Unfortunately 3 more PMs' over he years, like 18 years and it makes me 79. Now that get's scarry, been fighting the depression bug for a few weeks now. What bothers me is I'm not 79 years old, but in my 80th year. Ya Frank & Smitty, I know I'll hear it, "You're just a kid".
So, have no fears, you will get old, no getting around it. Word of advice, Stay active, Take care of your body, even at age 42 get regular physicals, blood work along with PM check up's. As you get a little older maybe regular stress tests to check your heart's efficency. Maybe if you're like some of us you may be asked to have a better look at your heart and get a heart cath done.
Some of us have stents in the veins of our hearts and life goes on. AS you will soon enjoy the benefits of owning your PM, the most important thing to remember is to strive for Quality of Life. Good Luck!! donb
Anxiety
by Pookie - 2011-02-02 12:02:54
Hi:)
I was 42 when I received my pacemaker too. I was experiencing some fatigue and lightheadedness. I thought both were from living a busy life style and working a lot.
I too experienced MAJOR anxiety as I did have several complications from my initial surgery, but what happened to me is extremely rare. One of my leads kept falling then my pacemaker migrated to my armpit. I ended up with 5 surgeries, but I am totally fine now.
It does take a lot of people some time to wrap their heads around having a pacemaker. But, with time and support one day you will forget you have it. If your anxiety becomes too much, perhaps you should discuss it with your family doctor. Many of us have and decided to go on something like Ativan just to curb the anxiety. You are certainly not alone and I think (and hope) that you will continue to come here as we've all been through it and are certainly here to help you in any way that we can.
I can't think of any reason why you would expect you life to be cut short just because you have a pacemaker. I personally think of mine as a kind of life insurance because now I know my heart won't go below my lowest setting of 60 and with having 2 pacemaker check ups per year, I know I'm being monitored very well.
I did have a bit of trouble - but in the end it was one little adjustment to one of my settings and now I feel a lot better.
Try and take it easy, come here for support, find someone you can talk to, go to your doctor if you have to for your anxiety and just continue to do all the normal things you did before you received your pacemaker. I know it's not easy right now, but it will get easier.
I'm glad you found us. This site helped me SO much and I've been coming here almost every day since early 2005.
Take care,
Pookie
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Member Quotes
I still feel great today and cant stop feeling excited at my "new" life. Modern day miracles through medicine and electronic devices are amazing!
Long Life
by Beach Boy - 2011-02-01 09:02:13
Tutu,
Its perfectly natural to feel anxiety and uncertainty,
given the change that has occurred in your life.
I have had a PM for over 7 months, and have discovered
that the PM is a marvelous piece of technology; and
has proven itself to be extraordinarily reliable. I have had
no complications from the device and have been able to
do all the activities after the PM, that I was able to do before receiving it.
I have received superb advice from the people on this web site. The most important of which is that it takes time to heal, both physically and emotionally.
Also, that the PM is merely a device to regulate your heart. All else being equal, people with PMs live as long and as productive life as anyone else.
Hope this proves helpful.
Best of luck and health.
Beach Boy