Most Recent Messages in Coping

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Anxiety

I am nine months post-op and still dealing with anxiety, not feeling well at times, etc. I now developed a new phobia and that is going to the cardiologist for follow-up for the PM I am seeing a counselor on a regular basis to try and help me get past this phobia which also includes taking some meds. Has anyone else gone through this?

Sharon B

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Where to go!

Okay as most of you know I just got my pm in Jan. Im doing okay. Well ur right maybe im not! I tend to sugar coat things. I feel like CRAP!! There for a while I really felt okay. Now that they changed my rates and stuff I seem to feel worse. Im super tired and have this pressure in my chest that only seems to go away for 5 to 10 mins then its right back! Is this normal or is this just another thing that i get to deal with being so lucky and all! lol I really hope it gets better soon im so ready...

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Using power tools ( occasional use)

Anyone has used a chainsaw, if yes were there any noticeable effects ?
I had used a trimmer and snowblower without effects.


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NEW MEMBER..8 DAYS POST IMPLANT

HI EVERYONE..I AM A NEW MEMBER, I WAS LOOKING FOR A GROUP (SUPPORT). I AM 8 DAYS POST IMPLANT OF A PACEMAKER AFTER HAVING 2 ABLATIONS LAST YEAR..FOR INAPPROPRATE SINUS TACHYCARDIA THAT WAS NOT HELPED BY MEDS..I HAD 1 MORE ABLATION ON 2/13/08..THE LAST ABLATION THEY DID TO MUCH BURNING AND WHILE I WAS RECOVERING AT HOME MY PULSE WAS GOING AROUND THE 40 RANGE THE DR. CALLED ME BACK TO BE EVALUATED AND PUT IN A PACEMAKER THE NEXT DAY..THIS HAPPENED SO VERY FAST. AND I HAVE HAD SO MUCH PAIN, SEE TH...

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what the heck?

Hello, well here it goes. I am a cardiac nurse and also a new pm patient. I am not used to being on this side of the bed. I have always tried to listen to my pt. feelings and concerns and now I am facing my own confusion, frustration not mention pain and anxiety. Believe it or not I have tried for the past four years to get my own doctors that I work with to listen to me about feeling like my heart was going to pound out of my chest, not to mention the chest pain that radiated back between my s...

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sistermary7@bellsouth.net

its me again. just for fyi i am 44y/o. heart cath ,echo and stress tests had all been normal. go figure!

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after beat?

I sometimes feel a "beat" in my lower ribcage-maybe in the area of my intestines. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, do you know what causes it? I am thinking that it is a referred sensation from my pacemaker, but I also wonder if it is related to physical exercise. My M.D. didn't have an answer.

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ginaban13

Hello All! I'm new to the site. I just found out I need a pacemaker and it's starting to sink in. I'm 37 and never thought I would need this done so soon. There are so many things going through my head. Right now my biggest concern is the recovery time. They say 4-6 weeks of not lifting my left arm above my shoulder and noy lifting anything over 5 pounds. I have two small children. I'm wondering if this is accurate or will I be healed sooner than 6 weeks? Any info anyone can give me wou...

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Trying to come to terms with it

Hi
Had my first pacemaker fitted on 4th February. Had palpitations for a while and my GP carried out a 24hour ECG a few weeks ago. It was found that I had a secondary heart block (heart missing beats and beating much too slowly), so I was referred to a cardiologist and a dual chamber pacemaker was fitted three days later!

I am very sore and swollen above my left breast - this could be because they had to fit the pacemaker twice as after they had finished they found the 'wires w...

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Nicholas

This is an old posting about my son, Nicholas. This month is his birthday ( Feb. 20 ). Happy Birthday to my wonderful son. Daddy loves you from the bottom of my two wires in my heart.

In the first year of having my pacemaker implanted, I was suffering emotionally and physically. I was not use to my heart racing at night. I was having panic attack and thinking my heart was going to stop. Other times, I would think it was going to explode because of the rapid heart beat. One night, I w...

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Not coping

Hi two messages on the trot. I am sitting here at the computer in floods of tears wondering why on earth I went ahead with this PM. Why didn't I stay in England and try the drug therapy first. Out of the blue in France I am not given the choice.

Don't know what I am expecting anyone to give as an answer. I know that I feel a sensation in my stomach like a heart beat - not sure whether it is a missed beat or my stomach in knots.

Help! any answers

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New PM recipient needs advice please

I had a PM implanted November 2007 and am told I am doing fine, a diagnosis that I generally accept. However, I do have the usual recipient's insecurities about this new device in my body. If you can help me with information about the following, I'd be grateful. (1) I know that blood pressure meds can make one lightheaded if one rises or stands quickly, but will the PM increase the dizziness? (2) Is there a momentary lag between the time one rises and the tiem the PM PM adjusts to the body's n...

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Thanks

Thanks to all who responded to my whining. I was feeling so down and your comments have made me feel much better. I am still in a fog over what has happened,but feeling that I am not alone and that there are others willing to take time to help me with their words of incouragement has lifted my spirits. Thanks

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4 month check up

Hi Allan (41) from edinburgh here just thought I would keep everybody posted about my experiences so far.

I had sinus bycardia with bouts of paraxsoml atrial fib-
Had pacemaker installed (dual Lead st judes symphony 2550)

First week I felt a whole load better but from what i gather that is fairly typical on here whether its a placibo effect who knows my first week the first thing i noticed was that i was beginning to see everything much clearer probably due to the incr...

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Getting used to PM

I got my pacemaker in September 06 and it was difficult to get used to for while but it has helped my a good deal and I am very greatful to have it most of the time. A while after getting mine I got a blod clot on my pacemaker and peices were breaking off and being circulated through my PFO and I have been told numerous times how lucky I am for not having a stroke of PE. They closed my PFO to stop this from happening and a while ago they let me go off the blood thinners and three weeks later my...

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pacemaker with thyroxine levels wrong?

I had radio active Iodine treatment about 4 years ago which burnt out my Thyroid gland leaving me dependant every day on thyroxine 125mg this was about the maximum level i could take everyday without sending my heart racing. I then received a pacemaker in October of 07 for sick sinus bycardia and atrial fib- I started taking beta blockers 25mg (atenol) everyday to keep afib at bay I have been feeling ok until recently when i have been feeling spaced out and hyper -I had my thyroid levels checke...

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Heckboy

Hi

Saw that you were on and you are to me the 'fountain of knowledge' I feel quite at ease after reading a message.

I am still not coping. What is wrong with me. The medication now propanolol only quarter of a tablet once a day is still making me feel totally sh.....

I keep thinking that there is something wrong with my heart through the op to put the pacemaker in. Why can I not be more positive.

Have an appointment in two weeks time for a check but...

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Ted I am not affraid of life!

I am the first to agree with anybody that this site is a blessing to anyone who is new to the world of pacemakers.

My sole point is that it can be unhealthy worrying about every single aspect that can go wrong. The English back up system is much less involved in the sense that there are no phone check ups just a yearly appointment.

I am told by my Uk specialist that the reason there is so much back up care in the united states is because it is very lucritive for heart speci...

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feeling good-but freaked out!

Allan (41) edinburgh

This site scares the hell out of me sometimes.

I had my pacemaker installed October 07 Dual lead Syphony 2550 - I had sinus bycardia and atrial fib - now i take 25 mg of atenol ever day to suppress my afib seems to work get cold hands

I think the problem with this site sometimes is that we are all scared of dying which is understandable and seek comfort and assurance from others who have experienced this weird thing that has happened to u...

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Week 3 - Can PM's cause damage?

First of all I just completed week 3 after implant. I had mine for exercise induced heart rate slowing with s.o.b and bradycardia. I stubbornly refused for 3+ yrs to get a PM (I had my symptoms for 5) and now I'm thrilled that I did, sometimes it seems like I got my life back. So anyone else out there in this situation, don't hesitate!

I'm in week 3. My experience seems to have been unremarkable so far compared to many on this site. Maybe I was lucky. Didn't need pain pills, can't tel...

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You can finally prove that you have a heart.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.