Martika7

What I ment was if it is normal for sombody 41 year old to weak up one day with a low pulse and after a doctor visit find out that you need a pacemaker.I was never sick before with any other problems even doctor said hi can't explain why my pulse is so low.

6 Comments

Same Boat

by tripastor - 2008-06-27 02:06:58

I concur with what the others have already said.
I am very athletic, had a consecutive day running streak that just reached 319. Then, out of now where I became weak, passed out, heart stopped and was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome. The doctor said he had no idea what caused my condition, but he knew I needed to have the PM.

I am since 5 months removed from implant and have regained most of my athletic ability (despite the nervous thing), and am living life normally.

Hang in there, it really does get better.
Chris

Yes again.....

by Bionic Beat - 2008-06-27 03:06:18

A lot of cardiac problems are just a heartbeat away.

Some have explanations and others just happen.

The important thing is to get help asap and realize that it's going to keep you alive and well.

My electrical system suddenly went haywire, for no apparent reason.

After months of doc #1 keeping me on drugs, I switched to doc #2 who stated, right off, that I didn't need drugs, I needed a pacemaker and AVNode ablation.

I agreed, got my quality of life back and am working on rebuilding my stamina. Hoping to be back to normal within a year.

I feel fabulous!

Bionic Beat

Well...

by ela-girl - 2008-06-27 03:06:47

I guess what I would say to that is...that is IS possible to wake up one day and just start having problems even if you never had any problems before. Doesn't mean you didn't have the problem before or that it wasn't already beginning to come on as a problem...you just may not have started experiencing the symptoms of your problem. And if you hadn't been having symptoms in the past, a doctor probably never checked for a slow heart rate or low BP or something else. Does that make sense? And sometimes we get answers to why we have the problem or why it started and sometimes we don't. Or maybe we just never understand it or the explanation. Usually there's a reason, though.

I mean for me, when I started having problems over 6 years ago, it literally just began OUT OF THE BLUE one day. I was in my bathroom getting around for work and blacked out without ANY warning. And that became my life daily for YEARS. And I was only 24 at the time. And otherwise quite healthy. So...

If you think this is a fluke or a misdiagnosis, you could always get a second opinion or wait and see what happens over the next few days, weeks, months, etc. You could get yourself a personal BP monitor or heart rate monitor and check yourself daily and keep a log. I can understand if you went to the doctor only this once with this problem and all of a sudden he says "pacemaker" why you would be skeptical or unsure or wanting to know if this is normal.

So, that's my two cents for what it's worth! I hope someone else will be along to share what they think.

ela-girl

YES

by peter - 2008-06-27 04:06:50

Yes its quite common and normal. It was just the first time you became aware of it and it affected you. You are lucky if you only have bradycardia and all you need is a demand single lead pacemaker. Cheers Peter

windup

by windup - 2008-06-27 10:06:31

I too had not any prior symptoms - and then suddenly needed a pacemaker. I asked why, why, why? No one really had answers, they did quite a few diagnostics and everything turned up normal - except the heart block.
After awhile, when you are feeling pretty good you won't keep asking why anymore, believe it or not. But I can tell you one thing. The pacemaker is a blessing in disguise. Since its implant, and since the questioning mode has dissipated, now it's like this:
flowers are prettier, those close to you are closer, jokes are funnier,good movies are even better, etc etc etc. You get it....
Life is more precious, respected, and appreciated.
Enjoy as much as possible and hang in there.
Wind-up

they have no idea sometimes...

by turboz24 - 2008-06-27 11:06:59

I like some other people on this site had a similar experience. I was going along normally with my life, otherwise healthy, then in the span of what seemed to be instantly, I suddently had Vtach and PVC's.

I know where the damage came from that eventually caused my Vtach, I had a viral infection when I was 17, but no doc really knows why after 18 years, it suddenly manifested itself in the form of tachycardia.

You know you're wired when...

The mortgage on your device is more than your house.

Member Quotes

Life is finally better.