Post surgery blues

Maybe I am just being paranoid, but I have lived with a pacemaker for 28 years now (am 31), am pacemaker dependent, and just got my new Medtronic Adapta ADDRL1 on Monday, have had the same leads for 16 years now...never really gave anything a second thought until I googled medtronic and read all the horror stories of PM glitches. For the 1st time in 28 years I kind've gotten nervous even paranoid with every flutter or slight pain (remember just had surgery Monday, still recovering). Damn the internet! Since we are all in this together, I figured this would be the one place to share my feelings. After reading all that it just kind've bummed me out...

10 Comments

fear

by keveri - 2010-06-17 01:06:18

you are an example of having pm for many years without difficulty and this time you will be successful also. my pm is only 2 months old and i was very feared of everything.
i kinda figured out a big part of my problem.
5 years ago i had a mitral valbe replacement and was given one xanax for sleep and anxiety.
i delved into my meds this time after the pacer as i was so feared of everything. so i read intense pharmacology info on the meds i was taking.
xanax causes sleeplessness, anxiety and fear after long term use or it can be very eventful for some. i have terrible nightmares but the worst was not being able to fall asleep. some nights i was up til 3-4 am and very anxious..
i have been off the xanax since last sunday and i cannot believe the difference in my person and my fear has almost disappeared.
so get going and go thru your med list. some of the cardiac drugs are also very toxic to some. not all people can take the same med.
fear is a terrible thing and you are an inspiration to me as you have had pm years when pm were not common.
you will be as good or as well as you were, just stay positive and thank you for being an inspiration for me. and knowledge is power and do not be afraid to call the md when you do not feel well. they seem to consider all these surgeries as non invasive, excuse me, what????
jan

Don't Stress

by Genie - 2010-06-17 04:06:06

although I did, a lot! So I know how you feel. Just because you've had a PM for so long, doesn't mean you can't feel the same as someone who has just had it (I had my first one 2 months ago, but am the same age as you). You've just had surgery, and it is completely normal to feel a bit anxious.

Remember, knowledge is power! So you might be scared, but you are in a position to act. And nothing has changed: you are no more likely to have a problem than before. Just because you know about complications doesn't mean they are going to happen! If there is anything worrying you, post it on this site and somebody is going to help you

The Adapta is a really good PM from what I've heard. I don't think you have anythingto worry about.

Genie

Understandable!

by Hot Heart - 2010-06-17 05:06:17

But................don't forget that there are millions of people world wide with pacemakers, and perhaps the one's who look for a site like this for support are the very small percentage who have problems, so sometimes we can get a false sense of the number of people whohave had problems.

I have a couple of friends who have had pms for years, they are now very elderly and have had replacement leads and pms and are totally fine and getting on with their lives.

So, try not to worry too much

HH

uhmmmmmmmmmmmm

by pacergirl - 2010-06-17 07:06:03

Considering how many people have pacemakers I believe that the overwhelming majority never have a problem and they aren't on the internet telling people how wonderful they feel. :-)

There are so many people doing so well that the possibility of problems is actually very small. I do understand your feelings because I felt much the same way. If I really thought about all the bad stuff in the world today I would never leave my house. But I choose to be happy and live my life... I gave up the worries, I handle the problems as they come but mostly I just don't give the news much thought. I also DON'T BELIEVE ALL of what I READ on the INTERNET.

You see here we gather together to offer some support, have some laughs and if we can help someone we try. We form friendships and make plans to meet. We are mostly very social people. We welcome you and we understand your feelings. I believe you will be fine, but until you feel comfortable again, we are here for you.

Blessings,
PG

I agree

by LS - 2010-06-17 08:06:20

While the internet is a wonderful & useful tool, as far as Medical stuff? I can't go there! I too looked up pace maker stuff & had to stop reading. I basically had myself dead & buried.
I'd say you're way ahead of the game having had your PM so long & doing so well!
Chin up!! Each day will get better.
Liz

Hi

by Gellia3 - 2010-06-17 08:06:34

Please try not to worry. I have had a PM for 35 years now and have had the same wires for 27 years of that.

Wires are good for a long time. Methods for removal have improved, too. I plan on keeping my wires as long as they work and so far, so good. My EP said he won't touch them unless it's absolutely necessary as why screw up what works.

We can only deal with things as they come up. Worrying won't change it.

I try very hard to practice what I preach although I must admit sometimes it's hard not to worry about things. It won't change a thing though.

Hang in there! You are a long time PM recipient, too.
Like the Energizer Bunny.....we keep on ticking!

Best to you,
Gellia

been there!

by Tracey_E - 2010-06-17 09:06:59

I went through the same thing when I first started reading all the complications! By that time I'd already had 3 replacements and never had a problem, lived a full active life and never gave my pm a thought. These feelings will pass. Everything has risks, have you ever read the warning labels on a bottle of aspirin?? I'll repeat what HH said- the majority of people here came because they had complications so don't let the posts here scare you. For every one person here with a problem, there are thousands out there getting on with their lives. In reality things go wrong less than 3% of the time. Your pm hasn't let you down so far, and it won't now. As you start to feel better, your rational brain will take over again and the fear should go away.

Welcome to the board! I don't know about you, but here was the first place I met others like me who'd been dependent on a pm long term, first time I talked to anyone with a pm who wasn't retired, lol. It's fun having a place to come where I'm average :o)

You're right

by jonnypacker - 2010-06-17 10:06:53

Thanks for the encouring words...thats how I was feeling yesterday...dead and buried. Don't know why, just never gave anything a second thought and once I read 3 or 4 horror stories, you start expecting the worse. Reminds me of last summer when we traveled to Cancun...was all excited and two days before we left I read articles online about a dozen or so people who never made it home...day of the trip I was so bummed I almost didn't want to go. Until I got there and had the best time ever! Truth be told technology is always advancing and atleast where I am at here in Houston, we have some of the best heart doctors in the world. Just gotta have faith in both God and these trusted devices that've kept me going for the past 28 years!

Dead and buried

by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-18 02:06:54

If you keep feeling dead and buried you soon will be!

frank

There now!

by dee2 - 2010-06-21 12:06:27

I received my first pm (St. Jude Medical) one week ago today. My thoughts the following day, between the incision tenderness and inability to get sound sleep while in the hospital, were "why did I agree to do this? I was fine with a slow heart rate my whole life. I should have waited until I was an old person!" I'm 49 and have been very active, too. Kayaking, swimming, horseback riding, etc. However, after reading everyone's words of support, I am so glad I found this forum! Thank you to all for sharing. It's more helpful than you may think. Dee

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

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It's much better to live with a pacemaker than to risk your life without one.