Bummed

I am wondering if others have had a feeling of being bummed after having to have a pacemaker placed. I am only 42 and all the sudden I had to have a Pacemaker put in.

I am finding myself having a problem dealing with it. I don't sit well anyway and I am sure that is part of it. I also know that finding out I am not invincible is hard too. I lead a very active, busy life and I don't want this to slow me down.

8 Comments

adjusting

by Tracey_E - 2014-07-29 10:07:36

If you look through the older posts, you'll see this comes up about every other day so know you are not alone. Yes, of course it's a blow, and mourning is part of healing. We're not invincible. We all know this in theory but going from healthy and active to needing a pm is a hard blow. The good news is most of us heal up and get right back to healthy and active. You didn't mention in your profile why you got it, but if your only problems are electrical then there's no reason to think you won't be able to do whatever you want again soon. You may even find you have more energy than before. Many of us have problems that dragged us down long before we were diagnosed and treated.

The Norm

by Mywingman - 2014-07-30 02:07:46

Hi Aportice,

I am on my 4th month with my Wing Man. I developed a 2nd Degree Heart Block Type II. It showed up out of the blue! Yes, I too float in an out of deep feelings. It has imporved however. What got me around this is by a member here on this site reminding my that I have a New Norm and a Heart of my Heart. I got it!!! I still have a legacy to build and my relations / grand children are greatful that I am still here amongst them.

Also look up you buddy online. Learn everything you can about it. Your buddy is part of you now. There are many settings and adjustments that can be made to fit your life style.

Welcome to the a new path on your Journey.

Peace and Blessings.

Mywingman.

Same Age

by melbee - 2014-07-30 03:07:27

I am also 42 and received my PM 10 weeks ago. It was a shock and unexpected. In those 10 weeks I have had a rollercoaster of emotions. I can break down and cry for no reason and I hate it. But it is getting better. I am happier and I think about how bad I felt prior to getting my PM and how good I feel now. But there are days that I touch my chest and feel that lump and want to cry, because it is with me for Life.

My solution though is to stay busy and active. I do race walking and I just did a 15k race a couple of weeks ago and kicked butt doing it. Last weekend I did the Warrior Dash with all the obstacles. I had to skip a couple of them that used alot of upper body, but I still did the race. It makes me feel like I am an inspiration to others. Everyone is proud that I am doing all this and Have a PM. Hang in there.

So Far, So Good

by PeteFindlay - 2014-07-30 05:07:26

12 weeks post-implant for heart-block, and I've been near as dammit back to normal for a couple of weeks weeks now, throwing heavy weight around at Crossfit, signed off for skydiving again, etc. At 50, I was worried it would be a problem after the op. It took a bit of patience for the first 6 weeks before I was cleared for full use of the left arm. After that, it was just go steady and listen to your body, as you would for any post injury re-hab.

6 weeks (or whatever your medics say) will fly by, although it seems a long time at the start. Physically, if heart block was your only problem, there's no reason why you shouldn't be back to normal in a few weeks.

Psychologically, the shock may take longer to come to terms with - particularly if you were fit and active with no symptoms. I have no answer to that one, except it's taking longer than 12 weeks for me. That's where places like this help - you are not alone!

Pete

Thank You All

by aportice - 2014-07-30 10:07:36

I am still riding the roller coaster of emotions that you go through day by day. Reading your responses does make me feel a bit better. Knowing that everyone is getting on with life an this isn't slowing them down much was very nice.

I didn't know much about pacemakers other then the one my Mother-in-law had put in at 72 years of age. I am reading as much as I can and learning about them. I have learned they can be put in at ALL ages. I also know that much of what I am feeling is very normal. It's hard because even though I know these are normal feelings I still can't talk my way through them. I guess it's just a time and adjustment thing that you mind has to go through.

You all have helped and I am Thankful for this page.

Me too!

by Segold - 2014-07-31 06:07:56

I got my PM 3 months before my 42nd birthday (not quite a year ago). After 2 trips to the ER for falling face first when passing out, they determined it was my heart. My biggest issue is, after tests, tests, and more tests, no one can tell my "WHY" this happened. I have no underlying health issues and the nurses laughed because I am the only patient they ever discharged without a stack if prescriptions. My issue is purely electrical and my doctors have said it's just one of those things. I hate that answer but, short of subjecting myself to more tests that don't reveal anything, I have to make peace with it. It does get a bit easier, though!

SAME

by aportice - 2014-07-31 07:07:54

Segold-

That sounds just like me. No one can tell me why it all happened. I had issues the week before of almost passing out. They put me through a million tests and a full heart cath - everything came back great. LUCKILY my cardiologist put in a loop recorder during my heart cath. It's like a holter monitor but tiny and internal. The following week I passed out 3 times in a row - one right after the other and took a nice ride to the ER in an ambulance. Because the loop recorder was in they caught the whole thing. My heart was "pausing" stopping 9 seconds at a time - hence the reason I passed out.
No more tests after that - the next morning I was headed in to have a pacemaker put in.
Mine too is electrical of some sort and they don't know why. Hoping this cures all my ails and I can get on with things.
Still kind of a shock but I am trying to work through it.

Most of us get bummed

by Grateful Heart - 2014-07-31 09:07:26


In the beginning, this is quite a shock. Out of the blue we find out our heart has a problem......what???

Like Tracey said, there is a mourning process. And like you said, we are not invincible.....tough to accept.

So don't think about all of that....LOL.

Just be thankful they have found a solution to our heart problems and we can carry on with life. Many people are not so lucky.

It shouldn't slow you down. You may need more time but acceptance is a very big part of the recovery process and the sooner you can accept it, the sooner you can carry on with your life.

You'll be fine.

Grateful Heart

You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.