information please

Hi I'm Danni while I am not new to having my PM but I don't know much about it, I wonder if you could help? I had it fitted in 2003 due to 12 second pauses I also have factor v leiden and don't know if this can cause problems, all your doctors seem to have given you a good grounding of whats what while mine said i needed one and that was it. should i avoid anything? what problems can arise? i sometimes get a nagging ache around the site is this normal? I still get chest pain and should i be taking anything meds wise? I would appreciate any ifo thankyou danni xx

3 Comments

????

by pete - 2009-06-29 03:06:04

I assume you are taking anticoagulents for your factor V leiden. No cure for it though. A nagging ache is quite common but changing your posture should cause it to ease off, I get this as well but it does not last. Ask your doctor or technicians as to why you have a pacemaker. They should have told you why you needed one and you are entitled to know. Cheers Peter

mine either

by gargoyle725 - 2009-06-29 06:06:54

my dr. did not tell me much either. pretty much everything I know I learned from this site. I only know the basics but the people on here will give you alot of info

My doc tried... but I am pig headed.

by COBradyBunch - 2009-07-01 01:07:13

My doc also tried to just give me a pacemaker but even though it does turn out I needed one I did everything I could to find another answer for my problem. Talked to other docs, nurses and others. Had a great nurse in the hospital who until I had my third and worst brady episode agreed that I should be looking at other options but finally said that even she agreed because of my heart shutting down for several seconds at a time I needed to have one placed. More frustrating is the fact they seem to not really care about the root cause of the issue and I was even told by my nurses that now that I have a PM they will probably never look for why my heart was doing what yours is, pausing for abnormally long periods or time causing syncope.

Docs just seem to think that having a PM installed is an easy decision, because to them it makes sense. But to a 50 year old male who has always been active, has had no indications of heart disease, has good numbers across the board (okay, minus 20lbs and a couple of points on the blood pressure, but both still well within acceptable limits) I had a hard time understanding why I needed one of these for the rest of my life. So before I did it I dotted my i's and crossed my t's and even though it meant the Dr. having to adjust his schedule I didn't have it put in until I was ready.

Now in your case, the Dr. owes you the same even though it is 6 years later. Any questions you have don't be afraid to ask. Most Docs, while reluctant at first will eventually come around and talk to you and answer any and all questions you have. My bet is you got it for bradycardia and the pauses but ASK. The doc works for you, you employ them and if you don't get the answers you want ask to speak to another doctor or go to another practice. I still have questions about mine and probably will until I don't need it anymore (which will be the day I die they tell me).

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