Hi All

My name’s Mel and I live in Australia. I’ve had my PM for just under 3 months now, so I’m fairly new to all this as well. I was fainting for about 6 weeks before they figured out what was wrong (sick sinus syndrome). I’m glad I listened to my GP during that time when he said don’t drive!

There’s been no history in my family of heart problems and I’m only 30, so it was a bit of shock to start with. Especially since I don't know anyone else who has one. I just found this website and it looks great. Despite the fact I’m surrounded by a wonderful bunch of family and friends, just reading some of the posts on this site makes me feel a little less alone!
So thanks :-)

My op went smoothly and I was out of hospital the next day & back at work 10 days later. I felt fine up until my first check up (last week), when the technician apparently “tweaked” it a bit and now I feel like my heart is ‘racing’ a fair bit of the time. It’s pretty subtle, but I just don’t feel right. Is that likely to settle down or should I go back? Any advice would be appreciated….

5 Comments

Hi Mel

by busby - 2009-02-13 03:02:07

Another Ozzie, welcome. I have a similar condition to you, fainting for about 3 years until they discovered what was happening while I was hooked up to an ECG in emergency- >30 second pauses.I also have a daughter about your age who lives in Canberra. She just opened a pole dancing studio there (for exercise onlly!).
Sounds like your rate response mode is turned on. I had that happen to me for the first few months. You may not need it on if you are able to increase your heart rate on your own. It is a weird feeling when it is on, even walking or riding on a bumpy road will activate it.
Arty, there does seem to be 2 Melissas if you go to member search and look under Australia you will find the other Melissa.
Robin

new ozzie?

by arty - 2009-02-13 07:02:19

Hi Mel, is you message is melissa in Washington? or are there two with the same handle?
Arty

Hi Mel

by LouLou21 - 2009-02-13 08:02:23

Hi Mel, welcome to our wonderful site!
Don't ever fell like you are alone because you definately are not!!!
I kind of had the same thing as you i had only just turned 30 and two weeks later i collapsed on a saturday night, after feeling faint since friday morning.....I have heart block (3rd degree i think) and we also have no family history of heart problems so it came as a complete shock that i would have to have a pacemaker, i was in hospital 1 week from start to finish while they were investigating and up until the wednesday morning when i was going down to theatre they still wasnt 100% sure whether to pace me or not until they told me to get off the bed and walk to the op table i told them i felt very strange and next thing i knew i was waking up and had fainted right in front of them! In one way it was perfect timing.

As for your heart racing a bit dont be shy to ring them up and tell them that things arn't quite right for you, it took a few times of 'tweeking' for me to get right.
(forgot to mention that 'pacey' is 10months old on monday and cant quite believe how fast its gone and in two months time will be her anniversary) Notice i've give her a sex and name! I may be sad but i dont care cuz as much as i never wanted this to happen to me i feel almost like its always been apart of me now.

I hope i havent rambled on too much and this is some help to you.

Good luck and let us know how thing go.
Love Louise.x

Welcome

by walkerd - 2009-02-13 08:02:45

Welcome Mellisa. I would call your doc and let them know your condition, as I had to have mine adjusted four times, different conditon but still they need to set thier settings, and if it doesnt work they may have to adjust again. Im not sure but i dont think it is an all written in stone on adjustments. Im not as knowlegeable as some others on here but if it where me I would call.
again welcome this is a great site.
dave

Thanks!

by Melissa - 2009-03-05 02:03:42

Hi!
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, life's just been a bit hectic lately.
Thanks for all your welcome messages and advice. I did go back to my cardiologist and had my PM doubled checked. Everything was fine (I think I was just being a little anxious!)

Arty - when i registered it told me that 'Mel' was taken but 'Melissa' was not (which I thought was a little strange - Melissa's not that usual a name) - it must have been having a 'guy' look ;-) (no offense!)

Robin - 3 years! You poor thing....I thought 6 weeks was bad enough. Glad to meet a fellow ozzie here. Canberra's a great place to live (as long as you don't mind the cold!) I hope your daughter new business goes well :-)

Anyway, thanks again for your messages. Hopefully I'll be on here a bit more frequently now.

Cheers, Melissa

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