scared mommy

My 5 year old gets his first pacemaker this month. Just found out today, but we have been talking about it for a month
I'm really scared!!!!! Any advice??? Please.

6 Comments

welcome!

by Tracey_E - 2012-10-17 08:10:00

So glad you found us! We have quite a few parents with paced children around here but none that post regularly, hopefully one of them will see this and say hi. We also have quite a few teens and adults who got them as children and are now thriving.

Does he have av block? That's the most common reason for kids to need a pm.

I was in your son's shoes, but in the 70's when I was growing up they didn't give kids a pm unless it was life or death so I got by without. I have so much respect for my parents. They protected me but they didn't coddle. They focused on what I could do, never what I couldn't so I never felt left out or limited. As a parent myself now, I realize how terrifying it must have been for them but they never let on. I knew my heart wasn't the same as the other kids but I never worried about it or felt like it was a bad thing, just different.

Be strong. Come here to vent and ask your questions and remember that there are a whole lot of us out here who have been paced for many years and are healthy and active. Know that this is going to be a lot easier on your son that it is on you. Kids don't think about things like adults, they have no concept of mortality or even what's normal, this makes them resilient. For your son, this *is* normal. I never saw it as a bad thing, it's just a little bit different from my friends.

Prayers for a speedy recovery for your son. Please let us know how he is doing.

Scared & advice...

by donr - 2012-10-17 12:10:07

...The best advice I can give you is "Don't be scared!"

Your son will sense that Mom is scared & he will become uneasy & scared, also.

Everything Tracey wrote is true.

You have to be strong & not phoney, putting on a game face strong.

That means you need knowledge.

Do you have any questions? What makes you scared? Has you surgeon NOT done his part to make you feel at ease w/ this procedure?

Ask & you will be comforted.

Don

Not as scary as you think

by Pacemum - 2012-10-22 12:10:46

Very rarely come on here but my 12 year old daughter has been paced since she was a few months old. Although there are some sports limitations she is doing very well.

If i can help at all then I will try.

My 5 yr old got one last week!

by Jackiek - 2012-11-05 08:11:11

Hi, I am a newbie to this site....
My 5year old went through open heart surgery Monday two weeks ago and he was left with full heart block... They operated last Monday to implant a pacemaker, so we didn't have a lot of warning or didn't know what to expect.. He is only 18kg so they said he would have to have it implanted in the abdomen. His pacemaker will last 7years and then we will have to go again... They told me to keep watch for dizzy spells, but he has been fine so far(1week)
Obviously we still have to get through the open heart recovery first but then they have said no trampoline which was his favourite past time.... So I think we will have to start steering him in a few new directions to discover new interests.... Piano me thinks,,,,

5 yr old grandson

by ccsalisbury - 2012-11-23 11:11:31

My 5 yr old grandson had a pacemaker implanted on April 18th of this year after undergoing his third OHS on April 12th. The only restriction for him at this time is no bumper cars, they did say he could play on a trampoline (I specifically asked, as he loves jumping on them).
He is doing great. His cardiologist says they will evaluate him as the need arises as far as contact sports and whatnot.

5 yr old pacemaker

by MelissaB - 2012-11-27 10:11:37

Hi, I know this may scare you and may scare him, but you two will get through this. I got my first pacemaker the day I was born, but my first replacement was when I was 5. It may scare him, but try to make him as comfortable as possible. I still remember my parents giving me my favorite breakfast before I was cut off from food and water and receiving a stuffed animal. I've gotten another battery replacement surgery and a new pacer surgery and I was able to bounce back quickly after the surgery. Good luck!

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It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.