Feeling like a big CHICKEN...Help!

August of 2007, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure(EF-25%) this was after about 4 month with the doctors thinking and treating me as if I had asthma. Wow do I wish this could be treated with just an inhaler...lol. In December 2007, I received a Bi-ventricular Pacemaker/Defibrillator. I am 36 years old and was looking for some support and ran across this website. It has not been the best 3 months with the implant; I have had to go back for surgery 2 more times because my leads continue to move out of place. My most recent trip was 3/18/08, this was initiated because I was shocked 3 times over the weekend because the device didn't know the lead was out of place, it did it's job, being safe rather than sorry. But boy, that shock is NO JOKE!
They have turned off the defib until they are sure the leads are staying in place but I am now gripped by fear. I am so afraid of when they turn it back on because of my uncontrollable reaction (I am guess reaction vary by person) to the shock is scary, embarrassing and dangerous. I am afraid to drive, worried about being in the tub, not looking forward to it happening at in public, like work or church. They were so bad in the last episode I broke my tooth. I am wondering how to cope and welcome any advise.

I am glad to have this place to chat and share, I look forward to meeting and making lots of new friends!

4 Comments

welcome to the club

by bini - 2008-03-27 08:03:44

I wish I could say I relate to your situation but I do not have a defib, but I do have a PM.
I am so very sorry to hear your problems and I want you to know that you have come to a great place for support and help. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers...hoping this situation gets resolved quickly and that the shocks will not be so bad.
Anyway, if you ever need to talk you can private message me anytime!

Wishing you the best-
Christine

Take it easy!

by Swedeheart - 2008-03-27 08:03:54

Hello "bigheart",

I am new to the pacemaker world, 4 weeks since my implant. This website and the folks here have been awsome! I expected this to be a walk in the park... get the pacemaker, and get on with life! Well, I have had to be really patient, and take it easy. It pays off. But it does take awhile. You have had double duty with the extra surgeries and this is hard on anyone, even someone as young as yourself. I am not a medical expert, but I do know from what I have been told ~ we must take it easy with our arms and not raise them above our shoulder height, lift anything over 4 or 5 pounds, and definitely not to yank on car doors or stubbon cupboard doors, etc. In other words, take it really easy on the side your device is located on.

I do not have a defib, so I can't give you any advice on that, but I am sure if you heal properly and the leads quit their migrations, once you are healed and they turn the defib back on you will likely do much better. Talk to your doctor or tech person at length and explain you are concerned about this. You have spent a great deal of money on this device, don't let them put you off! However, for now the fear should be less as it won't shock you!

Ask all the questions you want, the folks here are really supportive. I have found a great deal of my personal fear is the unknown. Learning as much as I can about my pacemaker has helped me conquer a lot of my own fear. (I am not out of the woods yet, but much better thanks to this forum!)

Hang in there, we are all in this together.

Swedeheart

Confused

by gsue55 - 2008-03-28 01:03:43

I am a little bit confused here. How long is it before you can drive after having a PM put in? I had mine put in in Sept 07 and then had a pocket revision done in Jan.08. m I reading that it should be 6 months before you should drive?

Just wanting to know for further knowledge

Gloria

AFRAID TO DRIVE

by peter - 2008-03-28 04:03:49

Yes dont drive, if you have been shocked by your ICD your insurance and or your country in most cases will not allow you to drive for 6 months. If you receive another shock during the 6 months wait you are back to day 1 and have to start waiting another 6 months. As far as I know this is the international agreed standard for your own safety and the safety of others. I wish you luck.

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