new member

HI:
I've never joined an on-line support group, before. I received a
pacemaker a week ago. Though, I didn't want it, suprisingly
I can now breath. I live alone, so I've afraid of doing something
"wrong". I don't have a real good medical back up right now.

What are peoples experiences about eating, too? I've also
diabetic. Do people find any foods beneficial & helpful in the
care of their pacemaker?

I live behind Mass. Gerneral. Is there a get-together support
group, also?

FC

3 Comments

New Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2008-05-13 03:05:38

Hello FC,

Welcome to the Pacemaker Club.

I’m glad you found benefit from your PM so quickly because for some of us that took a while. But like you, we are all thankful for the assist we get from our little electronic buddy.

Being afraid of “doing something wrong” is a very common fear for new PM recipients. However, you will not believe how hard it can be to do something wrong, when it comes to that PM. Just follow your doctor’s orders on cautions and care you should follow for the first few weeks. As for the PM, other than getting an infection at the implant site, there is nothing to be concerned about. If you were going to have an infection in the area it would have shown up by now so let’s put any such thoughts about doing something wrong with the PM aside.

The leads that go from the PM to your heart’s chambers are a little more fragile for a while, because they are just kind of floating free in the vein and in your heart. However, after a few days they will be nestled down in tissue and very difficult to harm. Your doctor is the best person to give advice on just what you need to do to protect those leads. He put them in and knows of any extenuating circumstance that may have accompanied their placement. Most of us (greater than 99.9%) never have a lead problem.

As for eating, the PM doesn’t care what you eat. Its diet is strictly electrical current which is supplied by its battery which usually lasts for five to 10 years or more. Being a diabetic I expect you have a rather rigid diet so don’t be concerned about making any changes just because you now have a PM.

All PMs have settings that can be changed and when your PM was implanted. The doctor used his knowledge and best guess to give it the best settings for you. However, I think most of us have found that the initial settings will need a little adjustment for optimum results. Even if you don’t require settings changes, you will have periodic PM checkups. These vary from person to person and doctor to doctor. For example I have an in office checkup every six months and a telephone checkup every six months. During the office checkups if it is determined that tweaking the PM setting will help me they can do them right then. On the telephone checkups the see the same readouts as they do during the office checkup, but since they are not allowed to make changes over the phone, I am told to come in for further testing. That has happened once or twice during the eight years I've had a PM.

A couple of final words. You do not have to baby that PM. It is probably the toughest thing about your body. I doubt that a person could survive an impact that would damage that PM. The leads, as soon as they are “settled in,” are almost that tough.

So enjoy the benefits without worrying you will harm something. There are a few things as we go about our business that can affect your PM, but it is extremely unlikely that any of these things will ever cause major or permanent damage to your PM. The most common items for PM wearers to encounter are the electromagnetic field (EMF) produced by some BIG electrical equipment and magnets. Magnets from the size we place on the refrigerator door size and up, can make your PM act up. If this happens, you will probably notice it as an irregular heart beat. Should that ever occur all you need to do is move away from whatever device is causing the problem and your PM should will return to normal operation in a couple of minutes. About as often as people are struck by meteorites will be an EMF change the settings in a PM enough that it will need to have the setting adjusted?

Stay with us and in the coming days you will begin to see some of the things many of us experience. However, by virtue of the fact we continue to ask questions here, those experiences must not be all that bad.

As you have questions, post them here. We have many members that are really knowledgeable about a PM.

I wish you the best.

Smitty

Initial Anxiety

by Wannabe - 2008-05-13 05:05:12

Hello FC - glad to hear you're already feeling the benefit of your PM. Believe me, there's even more positive benefits to come and as the soreness from the incision and the implantation site diminis (which they will, although you simply can't believe this at this stage) you'll soon be hopping, skipping and jumping around . But, take it easy for a week or so and allow your body to heal properly. Pushing it, questioning it and testing it won't do it any good at all. Mother Nature will do all that's required. Darling Smitty's said just about all that need's to have been said. He explains things so wonderfully and I'm sure he's comforted you. So far as your diabetes is concerned I really don't suppose the PM can be anything other than beneficial in that respect either. Certainly, don't change your diet to accommodate a piece of electronic equipment which requires no sustenance of organic an source. Eat well, regularly and only the things you enjoy within the range you're allowed, and you'll soon be feeling well. Who knows, with an increased energy support system and with increased blood flow, you may even find your diabetic needs are diminished. Give it time. Take good care of yourself and remember on this site are good sources of friendship, support and kindness. Meanwhile, rest as much as you possibly can and be thankful for living in this day and age when the modern miracle of a PM is available. Be safe and well and remember kind thoughts are with you from your friends on this site. Wannabe

Wonderful comments

by lrrn567 - 2008-05-13 10:05:30

I would like to say that between your comments and Smittys; I am thoroughly enjoying this evenings readings.
I didn't write the previous letter but found myself in this person's shoes.
I also got my pacemaker two weeks ago yesterday.
The doctor said that it would take a while before I would feel the benefits. I don't know how long he meant that to be but, maybe it's only in my mind but, today I didn't have to nap in the afternoon as I had previously had to for the last two years.
I was having low blood sugar attacks every day and for some odd reason; I haven't had those either.
I used to find myself always twitching my feet as I watched tv but, that mysteriously has disappeared, too.
My feet aren't freezing anymore.
Do you think that a pacemaker can do all that?
I can't believe that all these things can be resolved my a pacemaker.
This is adding more interest every day.

You know you're wired when...

You get your device tuned-up for hot dates.

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