New to the group, being implanted on 6/26/

Hello, My name is Charly, I wrote a while back about being FED up with this whole 4 ablations, topped off with the meds, no sex libido thing. Well The doc finally stated that its time to put the pacemaker in. I have SVT vs AT with bouts of A-Fib. I have had this problems for over 8years. So when i go to the appt today, she says well we maxed out on Flecanide, and diltizam. So its time. I wanna place it next week. I was like WHOA... I used to say how I was fed up and wanted a pacemaker, but now thats it going to be place next week is scary. My mom who knows about my condition, of course doesn't want me to get, your only 26, and you have your whole life ahead of you. I am Married, I have my two year old daughter to live for. SO i'm a go.. I have seen 4 ep docs and all of them stated the same thing that your too young for a pacemaker just try this med and try this med, I can't even work out w/o going into A-Fib.
Now my questions to all of you are what am i getting my self into... What can I expect. I've read about women having problems with their bra strap. I work at a hospital. I'm a tech, How long will I be down for. Please just any advice, and gripes your pros about having a pacer your con, will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time and patients with me through out the years. Luv Charleene.

9 Comments

Sorry

by sweetness - 2008-06-19 08:06:07

Sorry about those typos these keys are littler than the ones at work

Hi

by sweetness - 2008-06-19 08:06:18

Well I'm 21 and ha dmy pacemake rpu tin back in February after having no heart beat for 16 seconds, I am a rn in labor and delivery I was out a week after it was in and when i went back i was careful not to lift to much thos first couple of weeks. No bra strap problems now. My con was a have a hypertrophic scar at first thought to be a keloid, pro is well its my safe guard it only comes on if my pulse is less than 40. Hope all goes well.
Nikki

Hello Charly

by gldoble - 2008-06-19 09:06:15

Hi there. Time out from work max 3 weeks. I actually had mine done on a Thrusday and went to work the following Monday. I'm a Test Engineer. But the plant sent me home until the doc signed a letter stating it was ok for me to go back to work. There was a little discomfort at first, mostly not moving my left shoulder for a week, and rememebr ing not to lift anythng heavy for a month. But after that I went right to swimming, doing my usual biz travel, which has me sittn on a plane for anywhere for 15 to 20 hours.

But besides that it beats the meds by a long shot. My docs have me on BP meds, water and asprin and thats it. Its been a year since I had my 3 wire placed and I physically feel fine. A bit nuts but thats to be expected, when you realize you trule are BORG.

But its good because I'm here my kids are happy that dad is still kicken and not swiming with the fishes. So enjoy your new toy, it will be a pain in the shoulder for a a few weeks but after about 6 months you won't even know its there.

SO hand tuff and let the EP do thier thing. It is a lot better than the meds. Believe me.

Greg

Welcome to the club!!!

by rdelvis07 - 2008-06-19 10:06:01

Well well i have heard of someone that was in your situation not very long ago!!! MEEEEE lol. Ill tell you a lil about my story! Im a 22 year old female. I had a history of a~fib......... iiregular rythems and fast fast rates!!!!!! I had three ablations and all the meds you could ever think of. Life as a 10...20..and 21 year old sucked!! I got my pm in Jan 2008. So ive only had it 6months and at times i forget about it!! I have backed off many of my meds and feel a whole lot better! Now please dont get your hopes up and think you will feel so much better when you wake up cause you wont. Like some great minds from this site told me it took a while for you to get feeling this bad so it will take a while to feel that good. As the bra strap and stuff it all depends on where it is placed but my strap doesnt even touce. You can go in the pics and see my scar! I know your prolly unsure about that to well its not bad at all! If you have any more ?'s or need anything at all im here for you! Best of luck with everything!

3 wks post ICD implant

by candi51 - 2008-06-19 10:06:46

Hi Charleene!

I am 31 years old and am now 3 wks past my ICD implant. It went so smoothly and I am up and going no problem. I didn't even need pain meds (except for 1 time right after surgery). I had good advice to ice the site after and also to keep my arms propped up with pillows in bed. That helped a TON! I even took a pillow in the car for awhile and that really relived the pressure. Some of my bra straps rub a little but most are to the side of my incision site so it doesn't rub too bad. My sports bras probably will rub some but I think once it heals it won't be a problem. I tried to keep moving and keep moving my arms as much as possible without lifting them past my shoulders and it hasn't been as much of a hassle as I thought it would be.
So no worries!! It will all work out OK and just think of the wonderful things you will get to see your daughter do as she grows up!! My daughter is turning 9 and I swear she was 2 and then I blinked! My baby boy is 5 yrs old now- yikes!!
Best Wishes!
Candi

do it

by winesap - 2008-06-19 11:06:47

I was first diagnosed with a fib when I was 22 but did not get the PM until I was 57. 35 years of knowing this was in future. Fortunately my symptoms were generally minor even though I spent 35 years in constant (24/7) a fib. I'm still in a fib but no longer have the long pauses that scared me so badly last fall. You are young and sound generally healthy - the PM surgery and recovery should be a piece of cake. I was working a few days after surgery and playing with grandkids too. Libido is fine - even with the blood pressure meds I take - have never even considered the little blue pills. I bike commute to work, and do just about everything I want. Sure - I'm working on improving my physical conditioning but also realize that I'm 58. This whole process is indeed scary and psychological impacts are least as severe as the physical. It will take some time to get you machine properly tuned. Be an active patient. If it is your time - do it.

Welcome! Go for it!

by sweetkozy - 2008-06-20 01:06:46

Hey there....Welcome!!!!! I had my PM implanted when I was 21 and am now 27 years old. I have also had 2 ablations, which neither worked. My EP said he would do up to 3 ablations if I wanted, but declined since the first two didn't work out so well. I received my PM after my first ablation. Before I went to an EP I always saw a cardiologist and they gave me the same go around...."you're too young". I do understand where they are coming from, just because it becomes a lot more surgeries for replacements than if you were older. I have had mine for almost 6 years and my battery is almost depleted. Bottom line is....if you feel like crap all the time and are worrying....then your quality of life drastically decreases. You should be able to feel good!

I am married too. I have had two children since the implant. You can have more children, you can honestly do JUST about anything. I still am active and do sports...I guess it hasn't stopped me one bit. I do avoid contact sports, but still play flag football with the family every now and then. It was the best decision I have ever made!!!!!!! It might take you 3, 4, 6 months to a year to get used to it, but after that you will almost forget you even have one. There are so many people that I see on a daily basis that still don't realize I have one. I feel better and I have more energy. I think you will do great!!!!!!!

Oh and the mom thing....she'll get over it once she sees how much better you feel after you've healed up. I sort of had the same problem. lol

Just an option.....mine was placed under my left pectoral muscle due to my age----->my EP's idea.....nice of him, I'd say! I have heard on these message boards that some EP's won't do that. I would definitely bring it up and see what he says about it. You can't see mine at all and you can barely feel it. You have to really push to feel the outline of the PM. It's a great option for you. It's a little more painful, but worth it!

Well...it's getting late and hope you do well! Just keep us informed and feel free to write me or have your mother talk to me. LOL Good Luck!

Oh....last thing.....the PM will NOT help your tachy's. Unfortunately they are not designed to slow the heart rate (or mine isn't). My tachy's have become less frequent since the ablations. I hate putting hundreds of meds in my body and choose to live with them for the time being..

Cheers,
Jenny

My experience

by janetinak - 2008-06-20 03:06:11

Hi & Welcome,

I am much older than you & had my PM put in when I was 61 after 2 years of taking a lot of meds & feeling really lousy. I had perm. Afib with a heart rate of 120-150 if I was luckly & the meds were slowing it down. I got worried about taking the max amount of these meds & elected to do the ablation (twice as Afib was over-riding the PM after the 1st one) & I woke up feeling great!! For the 1st time I was not SOB & felt great.

Hope your decision goes well.

Janet

Hi there Charlie!

by TroyAx - 2008-06-20 12:06:00

So you're having fears about the implant? Well, it does seem like a scary thing - but not as scary as what will happen to you and your quality of life if you don't.
Me, I went for four years of feeling tired and passing out before the doctors figured out I was suffering from intermediate Bradycardia at the age of 47,(boy, we learn so many big words, don't we??).I had a pulse of about 27 bmp, yet I was still waking and talking, which freaked the docs some.
They stuck the thing in me pretty quick and the next day felt good enough to take a walk around the hospital. The site after the surgery will be swollen and painful for a while and you may notice some bruising - thats perfectly normal.
And it may take some time before the implant starts working right - there is some fine tuning that is done during the intial period. Again - perfectly normal.
You should be up and at 'em in no time.

But there are some things to watch out for -
If you are into active sports - ones in which the pacemaker site may be subject to blows, I suggest taking up other sports where rough contact is not the norm.
Some folks find they can move the pacemaker around and "twiddle" it. Don't - playing around with the pacemaker in this fashion could cause big, big problems.
Avoid letting high powered magnets get close to the site. Such a thing could damage the device or cause it to start pacing at 100 bpm. Cell phones should be used on the side opposite the implant - otherwise, you should have no problem with using a cell phone. Read the little book they give you, its like an owners manual!

You being young should handle this with little or no problems - afterwards you'll wonder why you were worried in the first place.
Your quality of life will improve and you will find that you'll forget the thing is even there.

You know you're wired when...

Muggers want your ICD, not your wallet.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.