29 with a 2 month old pacemaker

I'm brand new here! I am 29 years old and had a dual chamber PM put in on January 4th of this year. This was to treat Bradycardia. I had been experiencing a pulse that would drop into the 30s and low 40s during the day and who knows how low at night. They monitored and found it was low 30s at one point. I would also pass out upon standing at times and always felt completely exhausted. We tried medication and that wouldn't help.
I did have weight loss surgery in September of 2010. (VSG). Since then, I lost 200 pounds and started a gluten free lifestyle along with working out everyday. I have always had a low pulse but now it's paired with low blood pressure.
Since the implant, I have had two adjustments. They had me set on Rate Responsive at first which I didn't need at all. I had that turned off and felt ok but still having near fainting spells. I went back in and they adjusted me from a minimum of 40 to a minimum of 60. This has been great so far.
I am a runner and have no problem getting my HR up to where it should be while active. It just immediately drops after.
Lately, (within the last week or so) I have felt my PM quite a bit. I have noticed my HR jumping up to the 90s for no apparent reason and I get that feeling that you have to cough.
I know others have experienced that feeling. I called and sent a transmission yesterday and have yet to hear back on it.
I'm curious to see how many people are around my age and lead a pretty active athletic routine.
Thanks for reading!

4 Comments

active

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-13 09:03:03

I got my first pm when I was 27. I'm 46 now, still going strong, never sit still! I'm way too big a klutz to call myself athletic, but I am very active. Crossfit, kayaking, hiking, skiing.

It's nice to hear you are feeling so good! Hopefully they'll get the last wrinkles ironed out soon so you're back to 100%. It's normal to take a few tries, when you are young and active the programming is a lot more challenging than for someone sedentary.

cb ---Idiopathy

by Grateful Heart - 2013-03-13 09:03:26

One of my Cardiologists told me my condition was most likely caused by a virus that attacked my heart. He said it was an "idiopathy". He said "that means we're idiots, we don't know what caused it". I laughed so hard. Gotta love honesty!

Grateful Heart

It is a wonder...

by cb - 2013-03-13 09:03:53

You and I have something in common: we had recently lost weight and were exercising and then THIS. No one can tell me WHY this happened.....has anyone offered you and explanation? I just wonder if your doctor is saying more then mine...peace!

Active Lifestyle is Possible

by jenny97 - 2013-03-14 09:03:08

There's been a lot of discussion lately on this topic, so you might use the search box to find more information on some of the more active folks. Someone recently posted about completing an ironman competition - which is about as active as you can get.

I was in my early twenties when I got my first PM and am now in my mid-thirties. The PM has actually increased my capability for activity, although I've always been active. It's more my condition that has inhibited my athletic accomplishments (and maybe a lack of talent :) ). Anyway, after nearly 15 years with a PM and many attempts at taking this step, I am running in my first half marathon this weekend. So I'd say living active with a PM is totally possible provided the health problems that caused the need for the PM are not prohibitive.

Congratulations and good luck!

Jenny

You know you're wired when...

You have the perfect reason to show off your chest.

Member Quotes

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.