How long does this take?

Hi! My name's Meg and I'm new to the forum and really new to this heart thing... I'm 24 and found out in March I have junctional heart beats pretty regularly and they put a pacemaker in. My doctor told me it would take about a month to feel "normal" again, but it's been almost 2 months and I still don't feel the same. I get tired easily, have pain at the incision area and can still regularly feel the pacemaker when it jumpstarts my heart. How long should I expect this for? I appreciate any answers and support, I'm really struggling with this since it came out of no where and all I keep hearing is, "there's nothing clinically wrong," or "it will get better soon." Thank you!

2 Comments

doctors are optimistic

by nat - 2009-05-04 06:05:04

Hi Meg! Sorry to hear about your heart, welcome to the club, I am 23 and it's challenging to say the least. My PM was implanted two years ago it took me several months to feel somewhat normal and a good year for the pain to leave me. My doctor told me sometimes the PM site is more tender for longer when you are young because we have more muscle etc...depends on the location of site too. If something feels really wrong definitely call the doc. It doesn't hurt to ask a nurse, they are normally understanding. Unfortunately one thing I have been learning through this i patience!
Best
Natalie

Hey

by petrolhead - 2009-05-04 07:05:11

Hey Meg, welcome. I'm 21 and have had my PM since the end of February. I'm not sure what a junctional heart beat is but it sounds like you're describing AV block, which is what I've got my PM for. I could really feel my PM kicking in to begin with, but the longer I've had it the less frequently I feel it, unless the block was particularly 'bad', so don't worry, you do get used to it - honest! My implant site still gets very painful, but not as painful as my poor bruised arm is when my friends hit me when I scratch my chest!! I put vitamin E cream on the scar site, on Loopy Lou's advice, and it really does help. I really hope that's helped.
Emma xxx

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