Introducing Myself

Hello Everyone,

I found this website through google searches and its been a great help for me already.

I'm 26 years old and had a pacemaker implanted one week ago today. I've never had any health problems in the past so, as you can imagine, the week-long stay in the ICU culminating in a pacemaker was quite a surprise. I was out Christmas tree shopping with my Fiance and I started getting really dizzy and weak feeling. The next morning I visited my General Practice Doctor. As soon as she took my heart rate she called an ambulance. My heart rate was in the low 40 bpm range and I was dropping and skipping beats all over the place. I stayed in the ER for a day, then was transferred to the ICU for the next 6 days. They cardiologist/EP doctor still isn't sure what caused all of this, and we're waiting on results for a pulmonary sarcoidosis test. My heart MRI came back completely normal but the lungs looked funny, apparently. Since I have no lung-related symptoms the pulmonary physician says he doesn't even think it needs to be treated yet even if it is, in fact, sarcoid.

I'm more than a little depressed that all of this has happened to me. At the same time, however, I recognize that I am very fortunate to be alive and to have access to this technology. I'm still giving myself permission to be upset about this for a little while though, even if I am lucky. Which I am.

As a runner, boxer, and weightlifter, I'm been very happy to see so many health/exercise related posts on this website and have found them to be informative. Obviously boxing is out of the question now, but as long as I can find a way to keep my cardio and upper body strength I'll be happy. It looks like running, light weightlifting, swimming, yoga... things like these are my options. (After I recover from the procedure!) This website has also been a great resources for times that I've felt a little funny (the first night sleeping at 60 bpm I thought my heart was racing) and other odd physical and emotional sensations that pacemaker/ICD owners experience (like being able to feel the pacemaker fire a little bit a night - kind of like someone is tapping my pectoral muscle from the inside - which I'll be mentioning to my doctor next week).

All in all, I just wanted to introduce myself, and thank everyone who makes this website the way it is. It's only been a week for me and this forum is helping me though the recovery process both mentally and emotionally. I also wanted to post something so any other relatively young pacemaker/ICD recipients don't feel so alone. It's a strange thing, suddenly needing a pacemaker in your 20's. It is important to focus on the positive though - all of the things that it will allow me to do: work, exercise, have a family and/or romantic life, etc. These things are quite hard to do from inside a coffin. So for that I am greatful.

10 Comments

Welcome

by Grateful Heart - 2013-12-28 01:12:20

It is a shock when we are told we need a PM/ ICD. In my case, they think a virus attacked my heart.

Take the time you need both physically and emotionally. Acceptance and a great attitude are so important in recovery and getting on with your life.

It sounds like you have both!

Grateful Heart

Surprise!

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-28 04:12:57

Know what you mean about the surprise. Even though I was a heart patient, it was a big surprise when I woke up in the hospital.

You can be upset about genetics, or the disease that caused the problem. A little pity party is normal and OK.

Do the pity party for about a minute and a half. Then get on with the rest of your life. Life expectancy for you now is over 100 years so you've got a lot of living to do.

However you should come to love the PM. As you've seen already it's really nice to have a consistent and strong heartbeat. You'll probably start feeling better soon.

As you've mentioned, there's a lot of things you can do even though you have to give up some athletic events. Mostly you can do more things than less. And it will be better for you because you'll have a strong heartbeat and will still be able to do things.

Don't forget to thank the significant other. Hopefully they stayed by your side during the event. If so, give them the thanks they deserve.

Obviously, feel free to come back to this forum. You'll get a lot of support here. You may also want to explore support in your home area. See if there is a Mended Hearts chapter near your home. It really helps to talk with someone who has similar problems.

You might want to work with some therapy dogs. You can't beat a cold nose and a warm heart. Also talking with a psychologist will help.

Hang in there. Life gets better!

Theknotguy

Welcome to the club

by KAG - 2013-12-28 05:12:29

I had a similar experience, though I'm now 59. No idea one day and boom, getting a PM. The good news is that if you just (and I don't intend to make light of it) have an electrical problem. The PM is a relatively easy fix. Sounds like you have a great attitude, which is a huge factor in recovery and healing.

Once you're healed getting back to normal routines is sooo good.

You have found a great site for support and help with any issues.

Kathy

I meant...

by MelodyMarch - 2013-12-28 09:12:00

"involved" not "invalid" in the last paragraph above…gotta love auto correct!

Welcome to the Club...

by MelodyMarch - 2013-12-28 09:12:24

Even though mine was about 5 years in the making, it still came on very suddenly this fall for me as well.

I spent about a month dealing with really bad symptoms (nausea, passing out, tachy and brady heart rates) When I had had a holter test over a weekend, nearly passed out at school on Monday morning with severe brady HR (in the 30's) which luckily the Holter caught. Immediately hospitalized, pacemaker two days later, and a little more than two months out, I am right as rain and feeling better than I have in about 10 years.

At only 32, I am one of the youngest patients in my EP's practice. I trust that at 26 you will be as well. I find that I get a better response out of the staff because I am not the "typical" patient. I like to be involved in my care because it directly affects my life and what I like to do, be as invalid in your care as possible to the level you feel most comfortable at.

All and all, if a little bit of titanium can make us feel so much better I welcome it!

Best of luck to you!

Do give up..

by Duke999 - 2013-12-29 01:12:13

Do give up on the dream of being UFC fighter, or heavyweight champion of the world. Other than that, I think you can do anything. What I mean is when you do physical activities, just be careful, now that you're different than before. You have a metal object on your chest, so anything hitting it hard can be quite painful. Just be careful, that's all. I wish you well. By the way, all that anger, sadness, depression, "Why me?", surprise, shock, etc., I felt all that too, and still do from time to time and sometime everyday. I don't think I'll ever get over it, but we all don't have a choice. We are the chosen ones. I wish you well and please write to us from time to time.

Welcome

by Rivithead - 2013-12-29 01:12:57

Hang in there. We are all in the same boat and have gone through all sorts of emotional anguish regarding our devices. Be of good cheer. You are among friends.

Rivithead

welcome and introducing myself too

by LyndsayC - 2013-12-29 12:12:38

I was 20 years old and had been told that I was having panic attacks since I was a child when it was discovered that I had complete heart block (3rd degree). I am pacemaker dependent now for just over 18 years. It is believed that is was congential although there is no family history.

I just stumbled on this site tonight as I was searching on elliptical machines and pacemakers. I tried a few support groups 18 years ago but the technology was absurd then and I haven't thought about it since. I've just been living my life without any thought of my pacemaker (other than my regular checkups). I'm on my third pacer, same set of leads. I'm good to go for another 5 years at which time they will put in new leads and replace the pacer.

I spent 10 years skydiving and doing everything a non-pacer person would do. I am now a mom of a 2 year old and not much slows me down.

Good luck!! It took me YEARS to get over it and all these years later I actually forget about it all the time.

The only thing I'd recommend is getting a good heart monitor for when you work out. I found out my pacemaker settings needed to be adjusted by tracking my heart rate while hiking, when my heart rate got above 139 it would suddenly drop to 109. I had data to show the doctor and they fixed me right up.

Let that shoulder heal up and keep on living your life like you normally would!



Thank you

by RaFarmerjr1 - 2013-12-30 04:12:26

I'd like to thank everyone for pouring out so much support on my first post. It sounds like some people have had much more difficult experiences than I have, and some have had quite simple experiences.

I feel very lucky that this website exists to help "people like us". I'm still in the phase where I'm excited that I didn't need open-heart surgery or a transplant last week (when I went in I had NO IDEA what was wrong with me or what to expect) but still unhappy that it happened at all. There are so many medical procedures and emergencies that are worse than having a PM. Hopefully this PM will be the solution to whatever was causing the heart block. We still really don't know if it was a virus, sarcoidosis, or what.

I told me cardiologist in the ICU that if I got out of there with just a pacemaker I'd be a happy man. I hope this pacemaker fixes it and is all I need!

Right now the prognosis is good and that I should be able to live a normal (-ish) life. Unless something shows up that causes further medical problems I am happy to be alive to exercise, work, and have a love life. There are dozens or hundreds of medical conditions that daily prevent people from being able to do these things. I'd also wager that there are millions of people who don't have access to a PM or ICD even though they need them. So in that way, we are pretty lucky.

So, fingers crossed that all I need is a pacemaker and I never have any awful complications now or in the future from lead replacement/abandonment, battery changes, etc. (I'm getting more test results back this week.)

Thanks again to everyone here.

welcome...

by lubro - 2013-12-30 12:12:21

I think that you have a wonderful attitude going into this. Why me?, fear, anxiety, sadness, depression.. all these are normal in the beginning... I think most of us have gone thru this. You sound as though you have accepted that "it is what it is"...
like others have stated here, we have choices to make. Sounds to me like you are headed in the right direction. Keep reading here and posting as well. The more you realize that you are not alone in this, the quicker you will get on with living a happy, healthy life. Good luck to you...take it slow for a while and give your self time to heal...both physically & mentally...try to stay positive.
Hopefully you will heal quickly and get on with living...

Lubro

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