Im getting a pacemaker for my 50th... yikes.

Welcome to the club - almost

by Theknotguy - 2018-09-02 08:03:33

Welcome to the club you didn't want to join.  Yeah, it's kinda hard to get your mind wrapped around what has happened and what needs to be done.  Fortunately they found your problem quickly.  Oh, and you didn't say which country you're in - I assume the US?

The risk of putting things off means that you can have another fainting spell and not just fall out of bed.  What if you're driving a car?  What if you're standing at the top of the stairs?  You might not wake up,  Not a good option.  

In the US you can change doctors once a week if you want to so you don't have to stay with the same doctor.  In my case I came through the ER, never met the doctor who implanted my pacemaker since I was unconscious the whole time, then went back to my regular cardiologist as soon as I was out of the hospital.  My cardiologist referred me to an EP working in his group.  If you don't like the doctor you've met, in the US you can always get another.  If you don't know who to see you can contact your health insurance provider and see who they recommend.  Ask for a case manager, explain what you've told us, and see if they can get you in with someone right away.  

How long before you can fly?  Technically right away but that would really be pushing it.  Post pacemaker implant in the US people are told to take it easy for a month and until the wound has healed.  You'll read in posts people are usually told to wait about a month.  Very conservative doctors have some people wait for up to three months but that isn't as common as it was a few years back.  Rule of thumb is not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for a month with the arm on the pacemaker side.  Point being that some people heal faster, others slower.  So the four week number is a typical response.  

As you can see if you've been on the forum post pacemaker implant people usually get on with their lives and lead a "normal" life.  I can do everything I did before getting my pacemaker and now can even do more because I now have a strong heartbeat and feel much better.  Having a pacemaker isn't a hindrance. 

Hope you can get your issues resolved quickly and get on with your life.
 

Thank you

by Tats - 2018-09-02 19:20:01

Hello..  Thank you for all your great advice and for your time.  It feels great having somewhere to turn for answers.  

Originally from the USA, I now live in Australila and the medical system here has been wonderful to me.  I do appreciate my Doctors concern and thourogh investigation for what I thought was just simple dehydration.    I have been to see my GP and she agrees not to go with a Dr i dont have confidence in.  Since then I have been given a list of 5 other local Cardiologist.  I'll stay on it and you're right better to not wait for a second incident.

 On reflexion, things are starting to make sence.  I have no idea how I aquired this 2dg AV block Morbitz I.  I've read that things like Shingles can cause it. (Which I had twice in my life)   Ive never been bitten by a tick nor had rhumatic fever.  And I have always had a fairly fast resting heaet rate.  80-90. I think it may have been developing over time.  Ive had the following symptoms. 

1. I fainted in 2002 in Machu pichu Peru twice, cracking my eyebrow open which required stitches, I still managed to hike the 5 day Inca trail. But have always put off the fainting spells to altitude sickness and low blood pressure.  

2. When I take a bath, once I get out, I have to lay on the bed to catch my breath for at least 5 mins.  My heart beats out of my skin and I feel faint.  This has gone on for at least 10 years. (again I put down to just low blood pressure) 

3. When I do exercise and get my heart rate up I always have to yawn as if to try and get more air.  I assumed it was because I am unfit.  

4.  I never have energy.  Even when I wake up, i dont jump out of bed with loads of energy. (Im hoping the PM will change this part of my life).

The flying concerns me a little as I work as a long haul flight attendant.  being able to lift 10 - 15 kgs above my head is imarative. And then there is all the going thru scanners.   

Thanks again for all the advice and comments.  Totally appreciated.  

Regards 

Fear of flying

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-02 20:20:30

It sounds like you've had this problem for years. It's a wonder you've survived so well, so long, with it. There wouldn't be any restrictions on flying but the lifting part will ground you for four to six weeks. I don't know what your employer is going to say about it either. As far as security goes, I've been instructed to avoid scanners and request manual or wand checks. It shouldn't be a problem. It's a common request.

Welcome

by loblolly - 2018-09-10 17:51:27

Like you I also got diagnosed after a fainting episode- or rather nearly fainting. . I'm normally very active for a 72 year old, going for daily walks and swims, and have never had any sign of heart disease. A week ago, I suddenly felt so dizzy i thought I would faint. After lying down for a few minutes, I managed to get up and take my blood pressure, and was alarmed to see that my pulse was only 32,. We headed for the nearest ER where I was diagnosed with heart block, and sent to the hospital , which confirmed the diagnosis and implanted my pacemaker that very night.  My doctors say the heart block was probably  developing slowily over time, something that can happen as we age I guess. About 30 years ago, I did  suddenly  faint - one minute walking to the restroom on an airplane, and the next minute I woke up in a seat with the flight attendant and my husband standing worriedly over me, and a lump on my head from where I hit the arm rest of ta seat when I fell . Now I wonder if this an early episode , related to my current condition.

Taking my vitals, prompt diagnosis and getting the pacemaker  saved my life. I'm still adjusting to my new situation, but mainly I'm really lucky to be alive. I think you are absolutely right to stay on this, and not wait for a second episode.

complete heart block

by dwelch - 2018-09-11 02:10:04

Heve had complete heart block my whole life, got pacer number one at 19.  Cant find the stats anymore because pacers have completely changed them but I think the odds of making it to 19 were small like 10 percent or something.  Wish I could find that chart, maybe in a print book in a library, hmmm....

Anyway dont put it off.  No, no reason to expect to have to stick with the same doc.  I was seeing a doc from early teens and am almost 51, had pacers since 19 am on number five.  Due to moving and insurance companies battling each other, have had....umm....Ill say six docs, some were the surgeon and the EP, currently the EP is not the surgeon, she does what she does he does his thing.  So if you want to count it that way there are a few docs in that practice and altough I only interface with here any one of them might read my ekg after a phone check so that increases the number of docs I have had.  

do some math.  most of us that survive may have a 40 year career at whatever we do.  Docs take several years before they can really get started, so that is even shorter, you probably dont have a docs in their 20s right now so if nothing else you might retire one.. If every one of your pacers lasts lets say an optimistic 10 years, then that is 1/3rd to 1/4th of your docs career.  That alone you might see your doc retire and have to get another.  If moving or insurance or a lack of faith in the doc happens to cause you to choose to change.  

I have only dealt with USA docs and insurance and can freely move about within my insurance companies coverage at will.  And only once did that as I had no faith in the doc.  I have back in the referral days changed my GP in order to get one that could refer me to my cardiologist as I really wanted to stick with that cardiologist by choice more than the GP.

As soon as you can get to the airport.  Depending on security they may want to pat you down.  Now it may take a few weeks for the plastic card to come in the mail with your name pacer model and serial numbers and such not that a security person knows a real one of those from a fake one.  And not that I have ever had to produce one of those cards.  I simply say I have pacemaker and would rather not go through the metal detector, they have me go around and pat me down or use the wand and are trained to avoid the pacer even though none of it is going to hurt the device not even the metal detector.  its more of a case of if the device sets off the metal detector then you.."I have pacemaker" then they for some reason are not happy with me when I play it that way, so I generally tell them first.

It also depends on how long you are planning on being gone. you really want to have those first few visits one might be within a few weeks of the implant and one a few months to check on it and the incision and get it tuned as needed.  If you leave the comfort of the doc you know you might be with some strange doc in some ER somewhere if the incision opens up the first few days because you were having too much fun on vacation, or if you feel weird and need an adjustment.

Talk to your doc about the flying thing.  the pacer itself does not affect you in any way from going on a plane, but treatment right after an implant if needed is another story.

I wouldnt put it off, better to get the device and not have to worry anymore than worry about how long before you can get the device.