one anxious nellie

Hi all

nellie here, loopy lou wrote a little about me yesterday letting you know i am now a full anxious club member.

I have now had lucky inside me for 2 weeks and i hate the way the pacemaker is making me feel.

Last night was my worse night, my heart was doing crazy weird things happening, lucky clicking in.

i know i am very lucky to be here, i just can't stop crying.

nellie xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

8 Comments

welcome

by mytrose43 - 2009-11-11 02:11:11

wlcome nellie

i know the first couple of week are by far the worse because you don;t know what to xpect ,but will get better if its real bad see your dr maybe they need to make some adjustments that will work better for you,best of luck
valerie

Another Helpful Read....I hope

by Pookie - 2009-11-11 03:11:18

Managing Your Pacemaker

Do your part in managing your pacemaker. You may have to have someone help you, but there are certain things you'll need to do to manage your pacemaker successfully. These include:
Understand your acceptable heart rate. Before you leave the hospital, discuss with your doctor the specific maximum heart rate above your pacemaker rate that's acceptable. Discuss the programmed lower and upper rate for your pacemaker, too. Talking about this with your doctor early in your treatment will keep you from worrying unnecessarily.

Take your pulse and keep a record for your doctor. Counting your pulse is a good way to check that your heart is pumping correctly. Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your blood vessels. By putting your fingertips on a point on the inside of your wrist or over an artery in your neck, you can feel this beat (pulse). The number of pulse beats per minute is the same as the number of heartbeats. Count your pulse for one full minute, note the number of beats and see if it's in the range that your doctor told you was acceptable for your pacemaker. If your pulse is very slow or very fast, call your doctor. Use these guidelines for pacemakers and pulse counts:

If your pacemaker is beating regularly and at or above its proper rate, it's OK.

If your heart is beating close to or within the accepted rate but has an occasional irregularity, don't worry. Every now and then your own heart's natural pacemaker competes with the man-made one. Some extra beats that the pacemaker can sense electrically won't result in a pulse that you can feel.

If your pulse rate suddenly drops below the accepted rate or increases dramatically, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor will tell you what to do. It may be possible to program your pacemaker so it resumes working normally, or there may be some other problem.

If your pacemaker is installed for a fast-slow type of heartbeat and your pulse is rapid and irregular (above 120 beats per minute), call your doctor for more instructions.

If your pulse is beating faster than you've noticed before — but below 100 beats per minute — don't be alarmed.

Take prescribed medications. It's important to follow instructions and take prescribed medicine by following directions precisely. The reason is that the medicine works with the pacemaker and helps your heart pump regularly. Your doctor may ask you to keep a record of when you take your medication by marking a calendar.

Follow all instructions regarding diet and physical activity. Allow about eight weeks for your pacemaker to settle firmly in place. During this time, avoid sudden, jerky or violent actions that will cause your arm to pull away from your body.

Other warnings and information

Avoid causing pressure over the area of your chest where your pacemaker was put in. Women may find it more comfortable to wear a small pad over the incision as protection from their bra strap.

Feel free to take baths and showers. Your pacemaker is completely protected against contact with water.

Follow the program of activity outlined by your doctor. Car, train or airplane trips pose no danger.

People with pacemakers can continue their usual sexual activity.

Perform some kind of physical activity every day, whatever kind you enjoy. You might try taking a short walk, or moving your arms and legs to help your circulation. If you're not sure about exercising, ask your doctor for advice. You may be able to perform all normal activities for a person of your age.
Don't overdo it — quit before you get tired. The proper amount of activity should make you feel better, not worse.

Report to your doctor if:

You have difficulty breathing.
You begin to gain weight and your legs and ankles swell.
You faint or have dizzy spells.

Tell physicians, dentists and other health professionals that you have a pacemaker. Physicians or dentists need to know that you have a pacemaker. Tell them about it before you have any work done. Notify the doctor or nurse where you work. Modern pacemakers have built-in features to protect them from most types of interference produced by other electrical devices you might encounter in your daily routine. Household appliances such as microwave ovens, televisions, radios, stereos, vacuum cleaners, electric brooms, electric blankets, electric knives, hair dryers, shavers, gardening machinery, toasters, food processors and can openers won't affect your pacemaker. Most office and light shop equipment such as computers, typewriters, copy machines, woodworking shop tools and metalworking tools also pose no risk to your pacemaker.

If you suspect interference with your pacemaker, simply move away or turn off the equipment. Your pacemaker won't be permanently damaged and will resume its normal activity. Consult your doctor about special situations (such as working with high-current industrial equipment and powerful magnets). Surgical procedures also count as special situations. Certain types of medical equipment, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, can also affect how a pacemaker works.

Always carry your identification card. In any kind of accident, your I.D. card will tell the people helping you that you have a pacemaker. Your card can be particularly handy if you travel by air. The metal-detection devices in airports may detect the metal in your pacemaker, although they won't damage it. Showing your card may save you some inconvenience.

Keep all medical appointments. To work properly, your pacemaker should be checked periodically to find out how the leads are working and how the battery is doing. Today many thousands of people have pacemakers and lead full, productive lives. Pacemakers are usually safe and reliable, but they do need to be checked regularly. The easiest way to check your pacemaker is to take your pulse. Taking medicine as prescribed and seeing your doctor regularly will also help. Your doctor can explain things you don't understand.

Pookie



Please don't worry!!

by hayrm - 2009-11-11 03:11:20

Hi Nellie,

Well Pookie has told you everything you need to know.

Just wanted to say i been there to, the anxiety and worry in those first few weeks is awfull.

I had nights on end not sleeping worried about going to sleep in case i didn't wake up, worried with every sensation i felt in my chest thinking i'm having a heart attack.

I'm coming up nearly 10 months since implant and it's only now i'm coming to terms with it, and that is mostly to do with the lovely people on this website. I was to scared to look on the web about PM that i just worried myself stupid.

I know now that my PM is my friend, and not my enemy, and that there are so many of us out there young or old who are doing just great with there little friends.

You will hopefully soon adjust and get used to the PM and hopefully feel loads better soon (easier said than done i know!!)

Take care Hayley xx

Welcome Nellie

by Pookie - 2009-11-11 03:11:24

Here is what I wrote not too long ago and thought you might be interested in it as it just might help you....


Posted by Pookie on 2009-04-16 23:12

If only my doctors at the beginng of my pacemaker journey would have taken the FEW minutes it would have taken to explain that SOME pacemaker and defib patients MIGHT experience stress, anxiety and depression, I would have felt a lot better during my first 2 years.

I went through the hardest time of my life ever and when looking back, it was pure hell. It was to the point that every night I prayed I wouldn't wake up the next morning. Every morning when I did wake up, then I was angry because I knew I had the entire day in front of me being in pain, scared, stressed to the max (even had panic attacks). It was just awful.

Please keep in mind though, that I had died twice (after pm implant) due to my heart bleeding into my heart sac, which eventually go so full, my heart stopped beating not once, but twice, so that ended up being an unexpected emergency surgery, all totalled I've had 5 surgeries for this one pacemaker and spent 10 days in the Cardiac Critical Care Unit.

Also, people with chronic pain....well, it's been documented, that depression goes hand in hand with pain. Pain to me can be either physical pain or mental pain. Pain is Pain.

What we have all gone thru being heart patients is a tremendous hurdle for many. So I guess my point is to just be aware and if you're feeling anxious, stressed or depressed, please let your doctor(s) know as there really is good help out there...plus this site is very informative and encouraging and supportive. The members on this site were always there for me and without them, quite honestly, I don't know where I'd be today. I thank my lucky stars every day that I stumbled across this awesome sight. The members here are SO understanding and helpful.

I found this article that might help:

Sept. 29, 2008 -- Heart disease and depression are so common that all heart patients should be routinely screened for depression and referred for professional help if necessary, according to new recommendations issued by the American Heart Association.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080929/check-all-heart-patients-for-depression

Even if this helps only one person, I'll feel like I've accomplished something.

We are all human beings trying to get thru life the best we can, but sometimes, we must reach out for support.

thanks
Pookie





Nellie

by dottodot - 2009-11-11 07:11:20

A lot has been said but I think many of us have had some emotional issues with this pm thing. I know as a medical person I thought I was well prepared and I knew for 4 or 5 years that a pm was in my future (this was before the docs thought I should have it). As well prepared and having a lot of information I thought I was set but several months after my pm I had a period of blues. Now at almost 8 months past it things are going well. I think it would have been much more difficult without this site. If you feel anxious and a little depressed you're like the majority of people but things will improve as you get used to this titanium box within you. Take care. dottodot

I'm right there with you

by wenditt - 2009-11-11 08:11:33

I've had my pm for 10 weeks and I'm not crying everyday like I was...but a few times a week yes. It's been very difficult for me to "move on" and understand the whirlwind of all that has happened.

This site is a great place though. People here will help you, answer questions, etc...

If you are unsure about ANYTHING...call the dr. That's what they are there for. And if I've learned anything during this whole mess...is that you need to keep calling, keep poking until you get the answers that you need.

Let me know if I can be of any help...hang in there.
Wendy

Oh Nellie

by ppt - 2009-11-11 12:11:35

Nellie -
Don't cry (easier said than done) .... it will get better ... it just takes time. If you do not feel right then go to your Dr right away and start educating yourself. Loopy has some good books from Tampa and the web is full of data. So sorry - but chin up - it will get better.
Putnam

a big thank you

by Ellie - 2009-11-18 10:11:03

thank you for all your kind messages and support. i am still very anxious and not sleeping. i take each day as it comes and know tomorrow will be a better day.

Lucky is part of me now, but hate the fillings i get when kicking in ( mostly when resting at night )
beating heart beat etc ..............

Its nice to know i am not alone.

Thank you thank you
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.