Most Recent Messages in Coping

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Ealizing recovery is longer than anticipated

Thank you to all who posted about helping my Dad. I am realizing that there is more to his recovery than initially expected, especially because he is 77! He has 3 leads and a defibulator. Many peole mentioned settings?? I don't recall them saying anything about that at his follow up appt. He just received a machine in the mail. I think I need to really read up on that and understand how it works. I think he thought in 3 weeks he would be back to normal. I don't think so anymore. I am going to re...

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My New Pacemaker!

Would be very happy if anyone out there in email land can tell me if their pacemaker is as big as mine is......Supposedly it is supposed to be the best there is but it sticks out and is uncomfortable.....It is the size of a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes.....All have a good EASTER and a healthy EASTER.

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NEWBIE

Hello, I just joined the group! I have had a pacemaker since 2002. I have been searching for something or someone to talk with about my pacemaker because it does feel like after you get one put in no one fills you in on what could happen or how you may feel. Finding this website and reading everyone elses stories has really helped me. Now I know I'm not the only one out there having some of the same systoms talked about here. Thanks to all you who will open up and talk. It may take me a littl...

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strange feelings

I got my dual chamber pacemaker at the end of December. Every week or two I start feeling differently--I just passed my two month mark and started feeling relaxed like I could go to sleep all day. I feel really spaced out--light headed. I check my pulse and blood pressure and everything is OK. I just don't remember ever feeling quite like this. I am also having migraine headaches that started for the first time last November. I have a migraine with that aura around the inside edges of my e...

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thank you to all the other forget-me nots

Boy what a relief I'm not alone out there - now that I know this I can forget it - and get on with life - it has become very precious
Thank so much to all who answered this question. You are a great lifeline

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memory loss

Have had my PM for over 2 years - has anyone ever suffered memory loss., since PM inserted?
Thanks for all the advice

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The New Me

  • by HB
  • 2008-03-13 06:03:54
  • Coping
  • 1732 views
  • 1 comments

Hi, I'm Heather, a 58 yr old with a brand new ICD (St. Jude's Atlus II). I have a history of dilated cardiomyopathy, but was stable and healthy for 13 years until this past December when I had my first V-Tach. In the next two months I had several more, never actually fainted, but came close to it, in and out of emergency several times. A week and a half ago I went into the hospital for what I thought was to be an EP study, followed by a cardio-ablation. I had more or less prepared myself for tha...

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Three weeks after implant

Hello everyone. Nice to be alive!!! I'm 49 and had a PM implanted little over three weeks ago. I'm still coping with quit a bit of pain. II went into work yesterday and worked all day long. There seemed to be no problem. Other than being uncomfortable. I sit in front of a computer screen all day long. This morning I woke up and could hardly deal with the pain. I took a pain pill and laid back down, I woke up 8 hours later still in pain. Have I gone back to work too soon? Has anyone els...

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how to deal

Hey Everybody,
Well as some of you know, I have been fainting almost daily for 4 years. I got my PM in June and am hoping with a little tweaking that the faints will slowly get better.
The problem is that I seem to be losing my friends. I had a great group of friends that used to hang out all the time and call to talk almost daily. Since the fainting, I have noticed that they don't seem to call much anymore and when they make plans to get together...I am usually left out.
I try...

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Hello!

I am still new to having a pacemaker, it's my first one and its been less than a year. Still trying to get over the self consious part. Does anyone else feel when it hits? Its like having a pro boxer thump you in the chest! Does it ever go away?

I read in a chat that someone was asking about still being a firefighter. Please don't give up on your dreams, if it makes you happy that is what you should do regardless of that electronics in you! I am going to college for Criminal Justice,...

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FEELING BETTER ABOUT FEELING OUT OF SORTS

Hi,
First,I would like to thank everyone who replied to my message this morning.I think it helps so much to hear it from those who know what you are feeling.As wonderful as the doctors,nurses ,and technichians have been,its never the same as having a fellow patient assure you.Nobody knows what your body and your mind is telling you unless they have lived through it.I am a 59 yr old male who has had some medical problems in the past but I have remained active(golf,bowling)Recently,however I...

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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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