Most Recent Messages in Coping

I feel much better

I had my first month in person ICD interrogation with my EP today. I had called in twice during this first month to complain about spasms, sensing electrical pulses and a general tiredness. Both times they convinced me to wait till my in person device interrogation and appointment with my EP. I sent reports both times but they just said everything looked fine. Well today was my first month in person appointment and device interrogation and I complained again. And this time they changed my set...

Read More...

Child with pacemaker

Hi All,

I am new to this group. My 11-year old son was diagnosed with CCTGA 4 months ago, and subsequently had a pacemaker inserted for complete heart block. He is finding it exceedingly difficult to accept his condition and his pacemaker. I know that he is young and it will take time to get used to it, but I was wondering if there is anyone on this forum that can offer advice to me as a parent to help him cope and accept. If there is anyone with a child his age with a pacemak...

Read More...

Hate having ICD

I'm 35 and had to get an ICD in May of 2020. I had 3 heart attacks at age 19, 2 Bell's palsy attacks at 18 & 19, a heart infection in 2017 and then found out I have heart failure when I was pregnant with my son in 2019. I have been shocked 4 times as of yesterday and they even changed my settings a week or two ago so that hopefully it wouldn't happen again or at least give me more of a heads up that it was about to happen. I hate this thing so much, I never feared my heart bef...

Read More...

still getting episodes of AFIB

Had my 2 lead pacemaker fitted in June after several hospital visits with AF (174 BPM ). It seemed to be fine for months. now getting a few minutes to a couple of hours of very fast heart beats . Is this common ? Could it possibly be the bisoprol . Anyone else had this problem ???. I took bisoprol for about 6 months several year ago for high blood pressure,had to stop because I was getting missed heart beats .I'm fine when all is going okay , but get a trifle...

Read More...

Electrical / Conduction system Question

Electrical System Question -   If your SA node is completely non-functioning and your AV node is barely functioning, does a pacemaker replace the electrical / conduction system when the hearts natural pacing system is non working?

Read More...

Dealing with tight skin

My ICD went in on 16 Deptember (13 days ago) and all has been well, except for a pocket haematoma which was reduced by compression before I was discharged.  

The wound is healing swiftly - I removed the dressing a week after the op, as per instructions. The pain lasted a couple of days, manageable with paracetamol (tylenol) and wearing a supporting bra with extra padding (a rolled up flannel) to reduce the downwards drag on the wound, day and night. The bruising is still spect...

Read More...

going to hold your breath

Hard to explain explain.  Maybe involantary gasp, or like gong to hold your breath for a second.  Does anyone get that?

Read More...

Shoulder & arm pain

Here I am again--this is my go-to place whenever a question pops up. I know my doctor should be my first go-to, but sometimes I just want to know if anyone else has had a similar experience. So here goes: 

I've mentioned before that my pacemeker placement seems to me less than ideal, being so near my left armpit that I sometimes feel it when I move my arm in certain ways. There is something else that I have noticed but I'm not sure if I can blame the device. I get pain in m...

Read More...

Recent Pacemaker Insertion 3 weeks ago

Hope everyone is well. I'm 34 years old very active and in the military. I recently received my pacemaker 3 weeks ago due to an vasovagal syncope episode I had in the hospital while battling Covid in which I was found unresponsive and my heart stopped for 10 seconds. I had already had tests ran on my heart 2 weeks prior to hospitalization due to chest pain which consisted of an EKG, stress test, and ultrasound and they all came back clean. The Cardiologist checked the telem...

Read More...

Accepting Your Heart Condition

I had a 3rd-degree complete heart block on February 8, 2021, with two stents and a dual-chamber heart pacer, implanted.  It is now 6-months on and I have had some issues with pacer pocket infection and my pacer removed pocket clean and dead tissue remove and my dual chamber pacer reinstalled in the same pocket.  Since the infection, my pacer tends to move in the pocket and gets hung up on my chest muscle that tends to hurt but it will pop back out.  Doc says it will heal a...

Read More...

34 and terrified

Hi all, been following this forum for the past couple days. And I'm fairly certain I will be asked to join the club soon.

I have had minor chest pains all my life (EDIT: mainly to mental stress, this was my initial complaint to get me to see a cardio), exercise almost daily without incident, have never fainted. I also struggle with severe anxiety and depression symptoms and am in the care of a licensed therapist. My habit is to go between stages of "extreme worry" and...

Read More...

How I think

I thought I'd post about a recent experience that illustrates just how living with heart issues, including having a pacemaker since January, has affected the way I think--maybe some will get a chuckle. Maybe some day I won't be so dumb!

This past weekend I did not feel my best. I was fatigued, my body ached, I had digestion issues & therefore no appetite, I barely left my bed (except for frequent bathroom trips!) The whole time, I'm trying to figure out the problem: ...

Read More...

After 3 months still soreness.

After 3 months I have started playing golf again.  But I still get some soreness around the pacemaker.   The scar is quite ugly, (surgeon never did needlework as a kid)  Feels as if the scar is rubbing on the top of the pacemaker.   Should  I give it more healing time?

Read More...

Waking up same time overnight

I had pacemaker December 2019. Most nights I wake up around four and sometimes other times. Prior to my surgery cardiologist said my heart was stopping around 4. Is it likely I am waking up because it is kicking in or physiological   Just wish I could sleep

 

thank you

Read More...

Pain

Just want to say how comforting and informative this group has been for me.

I have a question.  Does anyone experience pain sometimes in the pacemaker.  I know it is working because I track it on my fit bit

Thanks for your input

Read More...

Is it me or ?

New guy to the forum here.

i am 69 and just had my His bundle ablated (2 weeks ago) and am now pacer dependent. I have been using a pacer since 2003. I have had a mitral valve repair done in 1992 and a pericardial scrapping done in 1993. I had a right side madula stroke in Dec 2020. 95% recovered. My problem is.....I get very short of breath without a lot of exercise and cannot stay away from taking a nap every afternoon. My EP says I need more time to heal. I thought since the bun...

Read More...

Update- New Discovery

Hi everyone! 

Ok so for quite a while now I have not been able to sleep on my right side. At first I couldn't breathe well, then it turned into the presyncope feeling if I stayed in the position too long. It happened quite a few times but lately its even worse. I think I found something but not sure what it means. SO when laying on my back I measured my BP. It was 118/77. I then laid on my right side and measured my BP within two mins of the first. It was then 94/61....

Read More...

Any suggestions or ideas?

Hello everyone! 

Lately I've had some good days and some bad days. What remains the common denominator is my legs AND when I lie down quickly on my back. Let me explain. Imagine taking an antibacterial wipe, putting it on the floor, and using your feet to scrub the kitchen floor with it. Every time I do the exact same thing I feel horrible after for over an hour. My chest feels like its not getting enough oxygen. I can't explain it. I breathe fine but its just not...

Read More...

struggling

HI FOLKS I RECENTLY WROTE TO THE CLUB ABOUT MY RECENT INCREASE IN PVCS WHICH MY GP TOLD ME WAS BECAUSE OF MY ANXIETY. HE SUGGESTED I INCREASE MY LEXAPRO FROM 10 MG TO 20. WELL I DID AND I CANT BELIEVE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT IT HAS ON ME. I FEEL LATHARGIC AND TIRED  AND IM REALLY NOT LIKING IT. I ALSO STARTED TAKING MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTS TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP. IVE BEEN ON LEXAPRO FOR AROUNG 8 MONTHS STARTED WITH 5 THEN 10 NOW 20. I FEEL MOST DOCTORS JUST LIKE TO THROW MEDICINE AT YOU. I...

Read More...

I think I need to talk to people who experienced the same thing

I got pacemaker surgery 2017, when I was 20. I was unconscious at that time, but soon after I regretted getting the surgery. I can't move on with life like I used to before. I wish I can hear more positive thoughts from you guys. 

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

A lot of people are and live normal lives with no problems whatsoever.