Newby

Hi Folks! My name is Barry and I am from Australia. My PM will be implanted next Thursday 24th Jan. As I have a prosthetic left eye, there is a support forum called losteye.com for those with impaired eyes. So I thought there must surely be a support forum for those with pacemakers etc.......lo and behold I found the Pacemaker club.......and am I so glad .) What a great bunch of support folks with lots of experience with their pacemakers etc. I feel a lot more confident now facing the required surgery knowing that I am not completely alone. I am 63 years old and have Tachycardia as well as Bradicardia. My pulse can drop to 35 then race to 235 very quickly......Spent last weekend in the Critical Care Unit at the local hospital because of this. Looking forward to hearing from anyone .)

10 Comments

welcome

by jeanlancour - 2013-01-19 01:01:31

Good to hear from you, lots of good folks and stories here. Best to you and hope to hear from you soon, Jean

Downunder PM Pals

by Blue - 2013-01-19 01:01:35

Hi Bas


Welcome
Yes there are quite a few of us from Australia. I have been a member of the site since 2004 when I had my first pm. I had my second in 2010. Glad you found us. You will find the best of friendship and the best of support from so many. There is always someone who can comment on any problems or fears we express.
I live in Tasmania. Whereabouts in Oz are you? Wishing you all the best for 24th when you become a fully fledged member!!

Newby

by Bas - 2013-01-19 02:01:53

Thanks for the comments folks .) I really appreciate it. I live in Wodonga on the NSW- Vic border.I shall keep you all posted. Namaste.

Oz

by Alma Annie - 2013-01-19 05:01:12

Hi Bas,
I am from Aldinga Beach, about 60ks south of Adelaide CBD. I had my pacemaker in an emergency after an ablation June 2011. I am 69, 70 this May. No worries. I had Opsite sprayed on wound day after so was able to shower straight away. This site is wonderful, since my cardio/EP told me nothing. Most of my questions have been answered here, so feel free to ask (and grumble!) here. Lots and lots of lovely people. I could not have done so well without this site.
All the best
Alma Annie

Welcome

by dad4dds - 2013-01-19 12:01:38

and good luck. Cant wait to hear from you after your implant and see how it works out.

Aussie

by mtulau - 2013-01-20 02:01:40

welcome to the group and the pacemaker. I live in NSW inland from Port Macquarie and have a similar situation to you and diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome. I have a pacemaker almost 2 years which is excellent. That takes care of the slow end of the range and have trialled drugs unsuccessfully for the high end. Am having an AV ablation in a few weeks. Have got over most of my fears for this from the info supplied by members of this site. Good luck, Merlene.( Email me anytime you feel like a chat or some support.)

Bas

by Bas - 2013-01-20 03:01:14

Thanks Alma Annie and Merlene .). Merlene can you tell me the names of the drugs they gave you to control the high pulse rate and what are they going to do now that the drugs do not work?

Drugs

by Alma Annie - 2013-01-20 03:01:20

Hi again Bas,
I had a very fast heart rate (,200) and took Metoprolol, which helped, but I had other issues so had an ablation. Then HR went too low, (23) hence pm. Still had problems so last year another ablation in which EP totalled my sinus node. Much better now, 100% paced in atrium and still on Metoprolol, and I have very few problems. It was definitely worth having the 2nd ablation. Metoprolol is a beta blocker, and I think I am taking it as a precaution against another heart attack which I had 20 months ago.
Alma Annie

Bas

by Bas - 2013-01-20 06:01:36

Thanks Alma Annie .) mmmmmm.......as usual with most medication it is trial and error. I was on Metoprolol in the early days however the doc thought it contributed to a slow HR, so he put me on Sotolol which has had the same effect. After going off the Sotolol I have been feeling better but the HR still drops.....overnight it drops to 44-48 etc whilst I am asleep.Hopefully it will be sorted out this week .).
Namaste
Bas

Hi Barry

by accoj - 2013-02-10 08:02:24

Hi Im John and live at Marsden on the southside of Brisbane I had mi PM andef fitted on Friday 8/2/13
I have an extremely sore arm and wanted to know if thats normal
John

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!