Soon to be wired

Wow, I am so happy to have found this forum. After a trip to the ER, passed out after stress test, passed out (after a few minutes) during the tilt table, and a second trip to the ER,it was determined that I need a pacemaker due to bradycardia. I'm trying to cope with the anxiety and every emotion possible that is setting in. My pacemaker is scheduled for next Friday. Yes, Friday the 13th!  I'm 45 years old and multiple nurses have stated that I am "so young" which doesn't make me feel any better. I know the pacemaker is really a needed device which could potentially save my life but the emotional aspect of this is truly exhausting.


7 Comments

Welcome to the club!

by LondonAndy - 2017-01-06 15:22:24

If it is any reassurance, I had a pacemaker inserted about 2.5 years ago following surgical complications when I had a replacement aortic valve inserted, and I have had no problems at all.  Here in the UK alone they insert over 40,000 every year, so it's a common an overwhelmingly safe procedure.  I think of mine as just another gadget, and as I would not be here without it I am very glad of mine!

welcome

by confused - 2017-01-06 16:20:56

Hi!

I am sure you are overwelmed right now because I know I was when I found out also.  I put it off and boy do I now regret I did.   I also felt I was young to be having this done but if we need it then we just need it. 

I had mine put in this past October and it has been nothing but positive results for me.   I just told myself I had to get over feeling sorry for myself and go for it.  I honestly haven't felt this good for years!!

I am having just a small issue now getting back to exercising but I am sure it is just an adjustment that needs to be done.

Oh and by the way I am 44 ;)  I also had nursed telling me I was young to be having it done and I would just thank them for calling me young haha.

Good luck and hope all goes well.   Hope it is a good Friday the 13th for you next week.

Tammy

 

 

Like a FitBit

by todd_654 - 2017-01-06 16:34:03

I'm 53 and just got my PM three weeks ago. I didn't have much time to worry before it was implanted. I was in the recovery room after hernia surgery and I passed out. Just sitting up or standing was painful because of the hernia incision, so I passed out a couple more times during their tests. Bradycardia and 3rd degree heart block following the syncope (fainting); otherwise, no symptoms. It was implanted a few hours later - much easier surgery, by the way.

There is a wide variety of pacemaker configurations so you'll have to explain it to your friends who may have misconceptions. My PM is set up to pace me whenever my pulse gets below 50 beats. Above that, it's like FitBit ...just monitoring my heart rate. Like LondonAndy said, it's just another gadget! I've got no restrictions on what I can do once the incision heals. I'm glad I have it even if it's just a back-up system.

Don't worry!

by Harleen - 2017-01-07 03:28:32

Don't worry! I got my defibrillator at 16 and Im now 27 and perfectly fine. You will recover from surgery for about 3 to 4 weeks and then you wont even notice it.

anxiety

by wallygatorsc - 2017-01-08 23:12:14

i had a pretty serious heart attack at your age...destroyed the bottom third of my heart. I got my first icd in 2008 and just had my third icd implanted (due to a problem with the left side of my heart not beating in rythym.) I truly hate having this thing in my chest but i feel better than i have in years because my heart is pumping better and i'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure I see my granddaughter grow up. Long story short we do what we need to do to liive longer .If you think of it that way it's a heck of a lot easier

Got my PM at 55

by crazycarol23 - 2017-01-09 18:30:44

I got my pacemaker at age 55. I was in excellent shape at the time; exercising 3x a week, eating well, etc. I have a 2nd degree heart block. We never knew what caused it until a few weeks ago I got a PET scan (5 years after getting the pacemaker)... I have sarcoidosis.

However, now with an upgrade to a defilbrillator and starting new meds, I hope to live a somewhat normal life. YES, it can be depressing if I dwell on it. However, I refuse to lay down and die. xx00

Welcome

by Sarbear - 2017-01-12 16:33:38

Got mine at 25 about a year ago...I personally think its funny when i look around the waiting room and realize I'm the youngest by about 50 years, but there are more of us out there than you realize!  Good luck with everything!

You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

Member Quotes

Think positive and go out and take on the world.