25yrs old get pacemaker feb3rd2010

I am 25 and have been going through a lot of problems over the last year. In May I passed out and went to the E.R. I found that my heart's conduction system was not firing right. I went to a cardiologist. I had a heart echo, stress test, ekgs, and few other tests. He then had had me wear a 3 day monitor and then a 30 day monitor. From all these we found that my heart rate dropped into the 30's on a daily basis, had 3-5 second pauses, usually in 40's and 50's and is irregular. In addition I have multra valve . He wanted to put in a pacemaker then but due to my young age he said we could wait and follow my condition but if I had any more spells I would need to get a pacemaker. Since may I have become very sick with my digestive system and have gotten to the point where every time I eat I get sick so I quit eating. I have went from 175lbs to 107 and am very malnourished. This has created even more stress on my heart and have passed out several times and have been weak, lightheaded, nauseous, and few other symptoms. My family dr. sent me to a gastrointestinal dr who wants to do an endoscopy to find out what is wrong with my stomach but my heart is not strong enough to be put under for the procedure. I therefore have to get a pacemaker first which I will be getting on wendsday feb 3 2010; in four days. The following week I will get my endoscopy. Hopefully they will find out what is wrong with my digestive system and the pacemaker will cure all my fatigue, lightheadedness, nauseousness, heart palpitations, and fainting. I am very nervous as I have a lot of anxietys and panic attacks. I am concerned about having something in my body that just gives me the wiggles. Does anyone have any words of encouragement?

12 Comments

Thanks

by paulb - 2010-01-30 01:01:54

Cool, thanks. I will ask the dr about doing a stool analysis. I also have a endoscopy schedualed for the 15th due to all of my digestive problems. I have bad burning in my stomach all the time and dr pretty sure I have ulcers but we wont know how bad untill the endoscopy. I have to first get my pacemaker though because cardiologist said heart not strong enough to be put in under due to my heart condition and malnourished state. I am 5'10 and 107lbs because I have not been able to eat for five months.

medtronic/probiotics

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-30 02:01:16

Any time you're on antibiotics, I believe you should take probiotics to replace the good stuff in your digestives system that gets killed off by the antibiotics. I've done this for years but just last month for the first time had a doctor recommend it.

Medtronics is the largest manufacturer of pacemakers and many members here have them.

Hi

by dw5281 - 2010-01-30 04:01:24

I got mine at 27 (feb 08) & on a wednesday as well!! don't worry - it is scary but its actually pretty ok! minimal pain (none during the op), great care in the hospital & no more heart trouble! I have now not blacked out for 2years which is the longest period ever! it is weird having something in your body but to echo someone else i'm really too young to bow out just yet! I'm healthier & fitter than I've ever been & I have my pacemaker to thank. Sometimes I hate it but it gave me my life back so I have to be nice to it!! I have a medtronics adapta pacemaker & its doing its job very nicely! Not sure where you are but I'm in the UK & could not have been looked after any better!

Try not to worry about it it'll be fine!

Debs

Your stomach..........

by Pookie - 2010-01-30 08:01:10

TraceyE saved me here and for that I will be thankful to her for the rest of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!

She suggested Probiotics.

I too was a mess ~ stomach wise. I lost 50 pounds within 14 weeks. I too couldn't eat. I went down to 105 pounds and I'm 5 feet 6.5 inches tall. So, after Tracey told me about Probiotics and Enzymes...I headed straight to a Naturopathic Doctor and within a week I was able to eat again.

I too went thru every test the GI doc could give me and my final diagnosis was Lympocytic Colitis. If you are to get Colitis, apparently this is the best kind to have because it is easily treatable and it goes away most times. I spent an entire year in misery because of my guts. Right now, I can eat anything I want and am slowly gaining some of the weight back.

And as far as the pacemaker goes....it should make you feel a lot better and then you can get your Endoscope and start eating.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just keep in mind that if you happen to be on any medications...a lot of them can mess up your stomach.

And ask to be tested for H. pylori. It's a blood test.

Again, please look into probiotics and enzymes as I got that part of my life back thanks to TraceyE.

Best of luck & please keep us posted.

Pookie

Thanks

by paulb - 2010-01-30 08:01:24

Thanks, I got some probiotics 50 billion good stuff. I use to take digestive enzymes until I was told that protease can make ulcers worse so until I find out if I have ulcers or what Dr does not want me to take them. I cant wait to get my endoscopy done. It is set for the 15th. I get my pacemaker wednesday the 3rd; four days away! After I find out whats wrong; I'll let ya know. Have you ever heard of protease hurting ulcers?

go for it!!!

by qwerty - 2010-01-30 11:01:06

I can totally understand your reluctance. Up until you started having digestive problems, your symptoms were a lot like mine. A couple of differences. I am older, 59. Even now, I don't think I am old enough for this! The other was my heart rate was falling into the 20's overnight and not recovering past 45 during the day. Bottom line, I got my PM last Monday. I didn't like the idea of having this thing in me, but this web site has given me a whole new outlook on this, Heck... some folks even NAME their PM's. ALSO, I am NOT TIRED for the first time in a couple of years. Sore, yes, Tired no.
Listen to your Doctor, but read all the posts on this web site. You will have many who respond. This is the greatest bunch of people and there are several who are younger like you. Lots with multiple problems. So many have been through so much and they are very good at sharing. But, my guess is you will feel MUCH better after the PM. Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress!!

feeling better

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-30 11:01:51

The pm won't do anything for your stomach troubles, but it should take care of a lot of your other symptoms. I always have to roll my eyes at doctors who choose to put off giving us a pm simply because of our age. Either we need it or we don't. I got mine at 27, but should have had it a good two years before. At the time I was happy to procrastinate and the dr thought he was doing the right thing not giving such a young patient a pm, but in hindsight it was just plain dumb to wait. I could have passed out while driving and killed myself. I spent two years being tired and dizzy and sleeping my life away when I could have been feeling good. Yes, 27 was young to get a pm, but 27 is also too young to die and too young to be an invalid. The pm gave me my life back.

I was a little freaked out about having something in my body also but the feeling didn't last long. As soon as I started feeling good again, I got on with my life and stopped thinking about it. My heart is a mess on its own, now I have a state of the art computer as a back up to make sure I don't get into trouble. I think of it as my best friend.

Very best wishes to you for a quick and easy pm procedure and an answer to your stomach questions.

I was wondering about probiotics

by paulb - 2010-01-30 12:01:18

I have had yeast problems in the past which is why I started taking probiotics. Is it ok to take probiotics while on antibiotics? I have not taken antibiotics ever that I can remember.

Thanks for the encouragement

by paulb - 2010-01-30 12:01:26

Thank you all for the encouragement. I am really nervous but it makes me feel better to hear positive things from people who have one. I do not know anyone personally who has one so I am very glad I found this site. I found out today they will be using a Medtronic pacemaker for me. I am not sure what model but hope its a good one. What brand do you have? Anyone have a Medtronic?

Still could be infection

by MSPACER - 2010-01-30 12:01:45

You can take probiotics while on antibiotics. There are all kinds of probiotics. If yeasts are a problem, you need a really strong one (like 50 billion) for them to be effective. If you have yeast problems in the past, you probably still have them. An overgrowth of yeast can make you nauseous and sick. It can also open the door to other bad bacteria and infections in your gut. It is very hard to get rid of yeasts without drastically changing your diet. You have to cut out refined carbs, especially sugars and fruit. There is a good book called the yeast connection. There is another good book called Power Healing. You may want to take a look at them. Ask your doctor about a stool analysis-and it should be done properly in a very good lab to see what is going on.

Adverse reaction to Antibiotics

by MSPACER - 2010-01-30 12:01:52

Hi
Have you taken antibiotics prior to this? Antibiotics kill off all of the good bacteria in your gut and allow bad organisms to grow. Have you been tested for c. difficile, yeasts, or other infections via a stool analysis? These infections can cause nausea and diarrhea. It took me close to a year to get back to normal by taking a very strong probiotic called VSL#3. I continue to take it to maintain my GI tract.

Following the time line

by lenora - 2010-01-31 03:01:11

Paul, are you still taking the protease? Are you aware of the many side effects of protease such as high blood sugar (diabetes) which may explain drastic weight loss, liver toxicity, pancreatitis, elevated lipid levels? Even some heart problems and definitely arrhythmias can be linked to use of protease. And yes it can cause all sorts of digestive problems! I hope you will tell the GI doctor if you haven't already that you have been taking it. Your doctor should know all supplements you take because many of them can be dangerous. Do you have an ulcer and that's why you asked that last question? Definitely get your liver enzymes checked when you have the endoscopy. This is a pacemaker forum and not a place to ask questions about digestive problems with people who aren't medical professionals. I do happen to be a nurse but I can't diagnose, just point out things! I hope your endoscopy will show what's causing the drastic weight loss. Lenora

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