Am I Better With PM?

I had my PM implant 18 days ago. I had a slow heart beat but really had no side effects. I reported the slow beat to my cardiologist and after wearing a monitor for 24 hours I was sent to a electrophsiologist who recommended the pacemaker. One day after surgery I developed a DVT (blood clot) in my elbow and was re-admitted to hospital. Now I am on a blood thinner Xalerta that seem to be a great medication (if there is such a thing). How long on the B .thinner is anybody guess. As for the PM I feel no positive change. I suffered from slight fatigue before the implant and I now feel more fatigue. I am 6' 1" tall and weigh 183 lbs. The PM feels bulky - no there no swelling. It's a St. Jude latest mode. Again, I'm not sure if I made the right decision but I am a fighter and look forward to putting my hand over my head and taking half swing golf shots. Do remember when you get your hard copy instructions after surgery you will see "any swelling or pain call the doctor". This is the sign of a blood clot.. Last, this is the first surgery of my life - maybe I need to be patient? :

5 Comments

before and after

by Tracey_E - 2014-08-25 12:08:20

If you weren't feeling symptoms before, then it's safe to assume you won't feel any different paced, but your dr felt you would be safer.

The fatigue is most likely just your body trying to bounce back from what you've been through.

While some people always have a lump of some sort, most find it settles in and gets less obvious over 6 months to a year.

I think 6 months is about average for blood thinners after a clot, but ask your dr for an estimate.

Hang in there, it will get better!

Some questions

by Gotrhythm - 2014-08-26 12:08:27

If you do decide the PM was a mistake, what do you think you will do about it? Another surgery to remove it?

Or will you decide to live with it, remembering the reasons your cardio thought a PM was indicated, even though your symptoms weren't severe? Those reasons haven't changed.

I think you've just hit a low--the point at which you are tired of the whole business of recovering from surgery and adapting to a "new normal," and you just wish the whole thing would go away. [smiles ruefully] Been there. Done that.

Here's what I realized. Attitude matters. Getting caught in a thought loop that constantly recycles the past into the present will not serve to make you feel better in the present. It is necessary sometimes to consciously and deliberately send out thoughts in positive directions.

The good news is "This too shall pass." Really. I remember the first time I walked a mile--and [surprise] it was easy! Until that moment, I didn't know how much I had accepted everything being an effort as normal.

Keep coming back. Let us know how you're doing.

Apologies

by Gotrhythm - 2014-08-27 02:08:52

It appears I offended you. I didn't mean to. Everyone is an individual and reacts in his/her own way to the change in one's life that the pacemaker brings. There is certainly nothing wrong with wondering if a pacemaker is really helping or if one could have done just as well without it.

As it happens, I also wondered many times if I had done the right thing by agreeing to the PM. Perhaps my questions are immature and childish, but in my case, they helped me to gain clarity and move on. I never intended in any way to disparage you or your process.

My only intention was to help. I'm sorrier than I can say that I obviously failed.

Please accept my apologies.

Comment to my concerns

by murphy50 - 2014-08-27 09:08:24

Thanks for the positives comments. My thoughts were sincere so lets be adults in responses. To suggest: "What you going to do have the PM removed" is an immature and childish remark. Again, thanks..

Eight Weeks

by murphy50 - 2014-10-05 10:10:47

PM been in for 8 weeks. DVT (blood clot) slowed me down and I have a few weeks remaining on blood thinner. But I can't complain. Played golf after 7 weeks and all went well. I do have a slight soreness where leads are attached to PM but no swelling or fever. Started 5 days after playing golf so I can't blame it on the swinging of golf club. It bother me but with no complications and heart rate in perfect I will wait and see if it in something I will have to live with. I welcome your comments concerning leads and soreness after 8 weeks of having implant

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.