Should have done this years ago

First Post - new member. I'm a 57 year old male and have had atrial fib for 35 years. It gave me very few problems until recently when I began experiencing long pauses. Finally one of the pauses caused short term memory loss and confusion late last year. After a series of checks to confirm the diagnosis I had a PM inserted in early December 2007. The surgery was a snap but the rebalancing of the blood thinners before and after surgery meant the hospital stay was a week. The wound site healed quickly and I had almost no pain. I spent the first 2 weeks of the new year in Sweden visiting my son and family and had business travel to Florida last week. I telecommuted from the hospital before the surgery and telecommuted from home the week after surgery. Within a day after surgery I felt better than I had for a couple of years. The atrial fib was actually causing more issue than I had realized. I picked up a nasty cold in Sweden that is finally about cleared up and I looking forward to getting back on my bike. I see the Dr tomorrow and we'll discuss options to see if we can get me back into sinus mode. Based on 2 months of experience - my quality of life, both physical and mental is significantly improved. Now the drugs I take for hypertension are another story but the PM is a wonderful device for those of us that need it.


3 Comments

Good For You

by allanrogers - 2008-02-05 09:02:46

I like you had atrial fib for many years .

I am 41 and i live in Edinburgh i had my pacemaker put in last October.I am now on medication ateneol(beta Blocker) 25mg a day to balance out afib .Last time I was checked my a fib was below 1%.But I know whay you mean about the drugs they seem to tire me out more than anything else still if it protects the heart from a fib it must be a good thing.

I am glad you are getting on well this is a very good site and especially if you are confused by something or dont understand a situation there is a wealth of advise and people really do open up. I guess it is that people are more honest on here and can understand because we are all going through the same thing.So you say 35 years with afib were you only 23 when first diagnosed? and what medication have you been receiving this past 35 years?
I dont mean to be nosey but afib facinates me
speak again soon and good luck with your doctors appointment
kind regards

allan

Welcome!

by uvagershwin - 2008-02-06 03:02:47

Hey! I am 13, but we still have at least a PM in common! I have congenital heart block, so I got my PM when I was 15 hours old. Again I say welcome!

Beautiful!

by Nutbeem - 2008-02-06 04:02:59

Beautiful, great story. You should be in the pace maker add campaign!

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I'm 44, active and have had my device for two years. I love it as I can run again and enjoy working out without feeling like I'm an old man.