Depressed

I am 36 and had my pacemaker fitted just over 2 years ago now, I feel so depressed having it at such a young age and feel like it's aged me , does anyone else out there feel like this?

6 Comments

Get checked out

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-05 03:01:53

Get checked out for your depression. Heart problems happen when they happen. Age has nothing to do with it.

We had posts on the forum for a 24 month old and a 91 year old. So as sparrow said, you're right about in the middle. Better having a PM than dropping over dead. Fortunately they found your problem before that happened.

However, you can get depression at any time. So it's best to get it taken care of. Depression can be caused by a variety of reasons including medical, so get yourself checked out for that too. No need to go around with a black cloud hanging over you.

We have members on this forum with PM's who are sky diving (why they would jump out of perfectly good airplanes I don't know.), SCUBA diving, swimming, weight lifting, horseback riding, playing tennis, training for and running in marathons, having babies, and just about anything else you can think of. So you shouldn't feel your life is limited by your PM. Current life expectancy is over 100 years.

Get yourself checked out, get on with your life. You have a lot of living to do.

Theknotguy

It gets better

by katelyneliza - 2014-01-05 07:01:40

No need to feel old, I've been living with a pacemaker since I was three years old.
Be thankful you were blessed with a pacemaker to help.
Theres always someone willing to talk to you :)

@ OP

by RaFarmerjr1 - 2014-01-06 01:01:51

I feel pretty depressed too. I'm 26 years old and got a pacemaker 2 weeks ago because an unbelievably rare disease with no known cause or cure has attacked my heart. The physicians have no way of knowing if it will go into remission on its own in a few years, consume my heart entirely and require a heart transplant, or infect the rest of my body and cause a slow spiral of potential blindness, kidney, lung and heart failure and death. It can do any of those things. So that's pretty depressing. I'm ten years younger than you and was fit as a fiddle up until a month ago. I'd never been hospitalized before last month. In the last three weeks I've ridden in the back of three ambulances and been in 2 ERs and two ICU units. So I have some stuff to be depressed about too. But, I'm actively looking for a therapist and trying to work through it. I'll be lucky to live to be 36 years old.

I WISH I just had a pacemaker, and not this diagnosis.

Anyways - its not unusual to be depressed. Recognize it for what it is and seek help. Your friends or family can help, or seek a therapist. Feel lucky that you live in a country that has access to the technology you needed. I know its hard to rationalize away being depressed - but it helps to try to focus on the good things. Believe me, unless your are suffering from a terminal illness or on the verge of death, you have a LOT to be thankful for. Right now I am praying that I get to live to be 36 years old.

Good luck! I hope this website is helpful to you.



Depression is a serious issue

by BillMFl - 2014-01-06 08:01:52

I had a son in his 30's who hid his depression. We first learned about it when the hospital called and said he was in serious condition from an overdose!! He survived and with proper follow up care is doing very well. The point is depression can get worse over time and should not be ignored. All the pep talks may not help. See your doc and be completely truthful. My son takes a single daily med with no side effects that keeps his mood from sinking way too low. We all have our down days. But if you feel that way most the time get help for it.

depressed

by jenks58 - 2014-01-06 10:01:20

be kind to yourself. we are all different and our bodies have different needs and different dna! 36 is young but I have heard of younger look at the statistics on this web site, it's pretty comprehensive. It is my understanding the technology today is a big difference from 10 years ago, so you will be able to lead a fairly normal life! If you feel good physically do things to make you feel good mentally sometimes it's as simple as wearing a new outfit or sitting up proud and tall! :)

Same age

by Stark - 2014-02-08 10:02:24

I'm with you on this one. I am 3 weeks Post-PM, 36 years old, and experiencing similar feelings.

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