Stress and Anxiety from someone new

stress and anxiety from someone new

by chawkins - 2017-11-21 16:07:22

Hi purejen.  I fainted last May and broke my shoulder.  I had a pacemaker inplanted for sick sinus syndrome.  I also had A-fib which I never felt.  I truly did not like my docter who implanted the pacemaker.  He insisted I would be on drugs for the rest of my life (I'm 68).  I just couldn't accept that and spent a great deal of time in tears which is not like me.  I researched everywhere and joined all kinds of forums and decided I wanted an ablation.  My doctor did not  do those and told me they only worked 50% of the time, but I persisted.  I had an ablation yesterday and my new doctor said I would be off all heart drugs in 1 month.  Research everything you can.  I hate this this GDM (machine stands for pacemaker,  you can figure out the rest) but my new doctor's kind PA explained I would have it the rest of my life.  I have just decided to go forward and enjoy this wonderful life God has given me.  It is my only choice and I guess I am glad I will saved from another fainting spell.  Best of luck to you.  You will finally be fine when you can accept it.

Help is available

by Mapleshaz - 2017-11-21 17:46:08

You’ve come to the right place to discuss your anxieties. As a group, we have all experienced so many different emotions and sought so many solutions.

Anxiety, regardless of the cause, is a real emotion and can be distressing in itself. Counselling can and does help.

If you read my first posts, you will find some very deep dark feelings being expressed.  I cried pretty much constantly for 18 months while I made up my mind to have the implant or not.  Then suddenly it clicked..... the alternative is worse. What about my children, my friends, what about me? So I have been delt this hand. I have a choice. Accept it or spend the rest of my days wishing my life away. When did this change in attitude happen? 3/4 of the way through having my CRT-D implanted. As I lay there, it truely was a light bulb moment. 

I still cry, sometime because I have pain, or I am frustrated because I can’t yet sleep on my tummy or because I have this “thing” inside me. 

We are truely the blessed ones, the chosen few who have been born in an era where these devices are available to help us live longer, more productive lives. I am not going to waste this time. World, you better watch out!

Do ask for help if you feel talking therapy is for you and do let us know how you made out. Sending positive thoughts your way......... ❤️

Thank you

by Purejen77 - 2017-11-21 17:52:49

thank you so much for sharing. I have been very sick sense March of this year. I am hoping I get to the place where I don’t even think about my pacemaker. I am seeking therapy( recently) and working on sorting things out. I to cry because as of yet I don’t feel back to my old self emotionally yet . I think it will be good for me to know that I’m not alone in my journey ❤️

my half full glass

by Tracey_E - 2017-11-22 09:50:01

I'll confess I'm one of the ones who had little to no trouble adjusting. I felt so bad before, and so ridiculously good after, I was practically giddy those first weeks. I was sore, I was scared, but I was no longer worried about passing out, I wasn't dizzy all the time, I didn't need to nap to get through the day.  I focused on how darned good I felt. I'd go outside and do something I'd never been able to do before. I bought a tennis racket and rollerblades the day I was cleared for activity. I joined a gym. Fresh air and endorphins are amazing drugs. The longer I felt good, the stronger my body got, the easier it was to trust the pacer to do its job and push the worries aside. It's been 23 years now and I still feel great, have not had any complications to speak of. 

Yes, we have these for life. That seems a lot more intimidating at first than once we've had time to adjust. I've had some bumps in the road, I'm on my 5th device now, but overall the good days by far outnumber the bad. If I were born the same year as my mom, I wouldn't have seen my 30th birthday, or if I did I wouldn't have had any quality of life. I feel blessed to have a condition with a fix, many aren't so lucky. 

Another thing that helped me was having a doctor and St Judes rep that explained things to me. The unknown is scary. I can accept what I can understand, so they helped me understand all about my device and condition. They are still patient with me when I pepper them with questions and I appreciate that more than words can say. It blows my mind sometimes when people come here posting the most basic of questions because their doctors told them next to nothing. If they don't tell you enough to leave you feeling like you know what's going on, ask, ask, ask. And write it down when you think of things, I always get amnesia when I get there and they ask if I have questions. 

Cut yourself some slack. Anxiety and fear are normal. Taking time to adjust and accept is normal. You'll get there. 

Living: Is It For You?

by Gotrhythm - 2017-11-22 15:52:14

It's not uncommon to have issues around accepting a pacemaker, even when you know it's helping you. Let's face it, it's not normal to have a machine regulating your heartbeat. Some people have the temperament to take it in stride, and some have developed coping skills through meeting other life challenges that help them now. But everyone goes through a period of adjustment whether it be short or long.

A professional counselor can be a great help in sorting through all the issues, both consious and hidden, that can arise. It's not a sign of weakness but of intelligence to get help when it's needed. You'll figure it out sooner or later, but in a few sessions with a counselor you can make it sooner.

One more piece of advicer. Odd as it may seem, many of our number have found that just naming our pacemakers helped a lot as we came to grips with being battery poweded for life. Mine is named "Mon Coeur," which means, "my heart." It's the heart of my heart.