Having PM put in December 5th...questions

my answers

by zawodniak2 - 2017-11-16 13:18:16

10 years post implant.  On my second one now.  No more dizziness, no more passing out,  less fatigue and less anxiety fearing another unexpected episode!!  In my situation, it added quality and maybe years to my life, Currently 75 years old.  Good Luck

                           Rodger

feel better, no complications

by Tracey_E - 2017-11-16 15:52:40

My rate dropped from the 40's to the 30's, then was low 20's the day I got the pacer. It was like night and day, I could feel it immediately when I woke up. My energy skyrocketed,  fatigue went away, no more constant dizziness, my brain was sharper, stamina was finally good enough to be active for the first time in my life. That was 1994. I've been at Crossfit every day this week, got a new personal record on back squats on Tuesday (woot!!). I'm running two races in the next week, hike or ski every vacation, kayak every chance I get. 

I used to go in for a check every quarter but now I have a home monitor so only go once a year. I've gone through 4 batteries, replacements didn't slow me down more than a few days. When I got #4, one lead was replaced. The rest of the time I barely give it a thought, there's nothing I want to do that I can't. If you look in the gallery, I make it my mission to post active pictures to counter all the post-op pictures and negative posts.  I feel blessed to have a condition with a fix, many are not so lucky. 

There is life after a pacemaker implant

by Gotrhythm - 2017-11-16 16:23:00

I know three people who have gotten pacemakers since I did. None of them are members of this club. Their surgery was without complications and the pacemaker has performed exactly anticipated. They're happy they got the pacemaker.

They didn't have to come to Pacemaker Club because (1) nothing went wrong, and (2)they had me to answer questions for them. In the three or four years since I joined, I've learned the standard aswers to the standard questions. When they have a question I can't answer, I ask the group, and then tell my friends. Works for them.

Here's my experience. As soon as I woke up from the anesthetic, I knew the pacemaker was a success. I felt better than I had felt in a couple of years. I couldn't believe how pink my cheeks were. After the first day I required no pain medication beyond the occasional Tylenol. Sleeping on my left side was uncomfortable, but I found a pillow arrangement that worked. Gradually, so gradually I hardly noticed, I returned to side sleeping.

I didn't wear the sling after a couple of days. I did the prescribed range of motion exercises but since I had no pain, I kept forgetting i shouldn't raise my arm above my head, so by the end of the first week I had complete use of my arm.

I had wanted a dog for a couple of years, but I hadn't felt well enough to care for one. And frankly, as bad as I felt, I wasn't sure how long I had to live. I didn't wish to die and leave an animal who would be a burden for my friends. About six weeks after the implant, I could tell I was going to live. I went to the pound and got my Lacey, an eight year-old miniature poodle.

She's fourteen now. We go for two walks a day.

You might wonder if everything went so well, why am I a member? About two years post implant, it became apparent to me that something wasn't working right and whatever it was was getting worse, but I was getting the brush off.  I got very frustrated with my doctors and began to Google. Again and again, Google showed me answers from Pacemaker Club and I realized that these were people who knew what I and they were talking about.

If I had it to do over again, even though I had no problems, I would join Pacemaker Club as soon as the need for a pacemaker came up. There was a lot I didn't know, and didn't know I didn't know. These days I have a lot better understanding and I know how to ask better questions which results in better treatment.

On the other hand ...

by IAN MC - 2017-11-16 17:25:38

I didn't know about the PM club before having a pacemaker and I am so glad that I didn't.

It would have scared the s*** out of me reading some of the stuff on here from people who are in no way typical of the pacemaker population . I sometimes think this forum should carry a health warning.   The overwhelming majority of PM patients encounter absolutely no problems and feel vastly better after their PM implants.

I'm sure that , like me, you will be one of them . 

Most importantly, have a positive attitude about Dec 5th

Ian

Answer from a happy guy

by aj - 2017-11-16 19:04:28

I had pm implant in 2015 that changed my life for the best. No more ER trips, passing out unexpectedly or fearing an event while driving. I hope things work out for you. If I had to do it again I would right now.

December 5th

by Grateful Heart - 2017-11-16 21:53:35

Will be 9 years since I had my CRT-D implanted and it also happens to be the birthday of one of my sons so....great day to have a PM installed....or to have a baby.  :)

I didn't know about this site when I had my device implanted, I wish I did.  While I understand your concern about reading the sometime problems of many on us on this site, for me, it taught me that there is life after a PM/ CRT.  I did not know anyone who had a device and I thought maybe I wouldn't be here much longer after it.  9 years later and I am in better shape then I have been in the past 30 years, arthritis, etc. not withstanding.  I go to the gym 3-4 times a week and yoga classes twice a week.   

There can be ups and downs with everything but you know....that's life.

Grateful Heart

If the nly sample you had...

by donr - 2017-11-17 10:55:24

...was in a doctor's waiting room, you would think the whole world ids sick!  Same way here - this is where people come who have problems.  Skewed sample.

I came home from hodpital, ran errnds on way & next dy went back to work building the house we lve i.  Wife acted as my left arm for several weeks.

Never paused a bit.  On second device , which is nearing the end of its life.  Have problems, but they are NOT because of my PM, they are because I am 81 & growing older by the day.

Donr

December 5th

by Koalabare - 2017-11-17 17:13:41

I went into the hospital on November 3rd at 7:00AM and was home at 4:00PM with my new PM in place. This was the treatment for a hr of the middle 30s. Today was my 2 week post-op and my hr is now 60 and I feel great.Probably better than the last 5 or 6 years of my life. My only advice is to follow what the doctor asks you to do to the letter.

The only discomfort I feel is the bump where the PM sits but I am told I will get used to it.

By the way, this was the first time in a hospital for more than three hours, I am 78 years old and my birthday is December 5th.

Good health to you going forward.

Feel normal again.

by Cruiser - 2017-11-17 17:34:13

I am at week six, so new to this. Am 73 and had Bradycardia, only aware of it for the past 5 years! Dr. told me back then there would be a PM in my future, So I was not suprised when things came to a head starting in March by going out of rhythem, Ablation and later a Cardioversion. Diagnosed as SSS. Lots of tiredness, short of breath, HR in the 30's at rest, irregular with pauses. Feel great now.

Not to take away from this group, but I also learned a lot from A support Group on Facebook, it is a closed Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/952659304852414/