novice

Merry Christmas. (We had a white Christmas)
I'm a novice in here, bare with me please. Sadly my English isn’t very good either. I have been reading your telling, and I must say I’m very glad I found this place at the internet. Your telling has really helped me understanding things, accepting things, and learning. Thank you very much.
I would like to tell my story as well.
The last year I felt I was getting sick of stress. I could no longer control my blood sugar, I forgot both important stuff and none important. I could not concentrate. I went nauseas driving to work. I had strong mysterious pain in my lower abdomen. I had black outs. Several times I nearly fainted. I had trouble with breathing thou my asthma was well controlled. And a lot of other symptom’s, but I always thought it was either diabetic, migraine, asthma or just stress. I got an appointment with my doctor. Before I could go there, I had some chest pain, but I was on a trip with my class, I almost fainted, but it was over in a few minute, so I just thought it was nothing. The next day I was at a pre diabetic control to have an EKG done. There were some changes, right blocks but not important, the doctor said. Over the next week I had more and more pain in the chest, and Sunday I decided to go to ER. At first they wanted to send me home, it wasn’t serious if I had had it for a week. But then again, women have strange symptoms. So they admitted me and made a lot of blood controls. EKG.s and went on monitoring. All test showed that I was healthy. But I had still pain, so they decided to do a KAG the next day. At night several doctors, nurses etc stood by my bed. I had had a sinus arrest and 3. Grade Block for almost 9 sek. I got the KAG, but first I had an extern PM. They were not sure to give me a permanent. Said I was too young (42). That worried me. I told of my episodes and they gave me a permanent at 3. Of December. Its 3 weeks now. I still have pain both from the place where the PM is placed (burning pain) and pain from the leads. Both at my bone and in my arm. In Scandinavia we can’t buy pads for seatbelts or for the bra. I have tried to make some myself, but that’s not good. Does it continue to be a problem? (irritations). In a week I’m going back to work, my doctor says that I am healthy now. Maybe he is right. I haven’t had any migraines since the first extern PM. I still get awful tired and that worries me a bit. How did you cope with getting back to work?
Happy New Year
Charlotte.



7 Comments

nice words from a 2 yr old

by fred in Seattle - 2009-12-26 02:12:58

I was born in 1946 and I got my icd jan 15 2 years ago. This is a great place to get info, and you will find a hole bunch of friends here. There will be a little discomfort from the inplant, but it goes away andyou wil forget you have the darn thing. Mine itches a little every now and then. It is fun to go to the dr when they take and down load your unit. Now do as I did and ask for a print out, trust me they and do it, it tell all kind of things. That way you will know all your setings and parimeters. I have a St Jude unit and when my battery gets low it will start vibrating. That was on the print out. Just keep asking questions and you will get answers here. Electric Frank is out there and he will cawl from his hole in desert from time to time. He gives good info. Yea I can kid you frank because I an a desert rat from Hesperia.!!!!!!!!!
We will be watch for you write more. Merry Christmas and a happy new year from seattle.

Hi Charlotte

by Pookie - 2009-12-26 03:12:13

Hi Charlotte & welcome to this club.

The above members posted some great information, so I won't repeat it.

I am just curious though about one thing in your post: what is a KAG????

Also, I received my pacemaker when I was 42 (I will be 48 in March) and I am constantly told: Oh dear, you are SO young to have a pacemaker...I've got to be honest and say I get tired of hearing that. I got my pacer because of bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome. Now a new problem has emerged and I have Junctional Rhythm, but I'm in the good hands of an EP and we're just starting to try and fix my problem.

On a side note: My left shoulder (same side as my pacer) has bothered me from the day of implant and seems to be getting worse day by day, so I went and saw a specialist about it. He said it is not uncommon for people who have had pacemakers or defibs to eventually have shoulder problems!!! Plus he said the shoulder joint is the most unstable in our bodies. I suppose that is because we use our arms so frequently.

Anyways, I'm known to type rather long postings, so I better end this one now :)

oh, one last thing...being tired at first is common as your body heals and adjusts, but just keep note of what is going on and IF you don't feel quite right, always inform your doctor.

Good luck!!

Pookie

You've Been Through a Lot

by Bionic Man - 2009-12-26 08:12:52

It sounds like the Dr told you the same thing they told me and countless others on this website "You're too young to have a pacer". I was 45 when I got mine and was told the same thing. We're actually old when you consider the kids and infants that need these. I had one Dr who said " I don't care how old you are you need a pacer". That was the guy I stuck with. The pain and irritation should go away with time. If you continue to feel out of sorts I would contact your Dr. You may need your pacer adjusted. Getting back to work for me was tough. I just took it very slow. People understood what I went through and were very supportive.
Good Luck,
Bob

Oh Gosh

by ppt - 2009-12-26 10:12:14

as Bioninc Man said you have been through a lot. My first words of advice are to listen to you! You know your body best - sometimes the Drs just get in a groove and forget that we could possibly be slightly different. So never hesitate to go to Dr as your learning process has just begun!

Try using a simple piece of foam (I cut off the corner of a foam pillow) and use that to protect your site from bra and seatbelt - it takes time but it sure worked for me :-) I used a thinner piece for under the bra strap and then left another a thicker piece in the car for when I was driving to put under the setbelt. Made a HUGE difference.

You'll be tired - but take it slowly. Set small goals for walking and see how you do - then make it a bit longer - if you do well then a bit longer. Just take it slowly.

P.S. Youe English if far far better than my French - much less any Scandinavian language :-)))

Exactly!

by annaelliott76 - 2009-12-26 11:12:10

This is exactly what I went through. I thought it was stress from my job. Everytime I went to the hospital, I was sent home and told it was stress. For some reason, symptoms seem to be dismissed more in women. It took a year of constantly going to the doctor and hospital before we got a diagnosis! When I did, they wanted to "exhaust all other medical treatments because of my age (33 yrs.)" A pacemaker was a last resort. I can understand what you have been through. I thought I had lost my mind! Due to all this, I lost my job and I'm using my disability, but I'm hoping one day to get back to working. I am 5 weeks with my pacemaker and have the irritation you describe as well and have been experimenting with different padding to help with it. It seems to be improving.

I feel like going back to all the doctors who told me it was stress and tell them how moronic they are!

Good Luck,

Anna

Pain going away

by Pelelives - 2009-12-26 11:12:30

I has some of the same pains e.g. arm, bone, and back. It has been about 5 weeks now and although the pain is still there, it is definitely getting better and I no longer need to take any medications for it. I think it just takes time. Take care.

Thank you all

by Charlotte - 2009-12-27 01:12:58

Thank you
It is really nice to get so many answers and advises. My diagnose is also called Sick sinus syndrome. A KAG is (Koronar arterio grafi ) an examination of the big arteries at the heart, they supply the heart muscle. They send some collorstuff into the heart via a bloodvein from the groin, and then they can see the arteries at a screen. (X-ray).
I have a Medtronick set from 60 to 180.
Once again, thank you all.
Charlotte

You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

Member Quotes

I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.