Hi I'm new here

• by hs2o
• 2014-04-24 10:04:05
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1525 views
• 6 comments

I just had a Medtronic Advisa DR MRI Sure Scan PM inserted February 19th, 2014. I had a heartbeat of 24 and was basically assymptomatic. I had some difficulty walking my normal pace, and a bit of light headedness, but no more than I normally have on my other medication. I did have an episode of chest pain, combined with fatigue etc. on Valentine's Day on a walk. The next day I was dizzy and had problems going from sitting to standing.

Sunday I was feeling better, but I'd promised a friend I'd see a doctor Monday.

Monday the doctor did an ECG and told me he was going to phone a friend of his at the hospital to get me in for a stress test.

Tuesday I get a call from the hospital saying to come for the stress test at noon! I went with hubby. Arrived and the poor ECG nurse just about dropped when she saw my ECG. Muttered something about giving the doctor more to work with and printed off about a yard of ECG printout.

Was told by the nurse in the stress lab that I was not a candidate for a stress test, but was a candidate for a pacemaker. I laughed at him. I didn't feel THAT bad!

Saw the cardiologist and found out that Monday only one chamber of my heart had quit working. But by the time I saw him 3 chambers weren't working. I was a bit stunned about the whole thing. But decided to make the best of it. I mean, what could I do?!

I almost didn't make it through the night. The nurses kept waking me up when my heart beat went down to 21 bpm. They put on the top of their priority list and I had my PM implanted by 10 AM.

I actually have had a fairly decent recovery. I was very weak, but I had my PM adjusted and it's made all the difference. I was depressed for about 3 or 4 weeks, but upped my vitamin D intake and used my Litebook to help with that.

I had friends recommend a Cardiac Rehab program. I asked about it at my GP's and she applied for it for me. They called me before my post op checkup with the cardiologist. I told them I still wasn't sure what my diagnosis was. But they said 'come anyway'. So I went at about 7 weeks and my heart was all over the place. Ended up at the PM Clinic getting it adjusted and it seems to work relatively fine now.

Big bonus for me is my insertion site does not hurt or ache, as some of my friends say theirs does. I am relieved I do not have that to contend with.

Anyway, that is probably more than you want or need to know about me. I am looking forward to getting to know more of you as I read the messages on these forums. Thanks for being here!