So far so good...5 days since install

So...this is what its like. Feeling better than before the surgery. I'm not used to not being dizzy and light headed most of the time! I have breath. What's with the energy I feel? I haven't felt that in a few years. I have an underlying energy, feels really neat to have energy again. I just can't explain it correctly...I'm just not in the mood to nap any more...naps were great things in my life until last week. I always needed them. I certainly don't dislike naps but really I just don't have a need to take one. Just saw the nieghbor,. He commented that he thought I had been sick a while as I look really good today. Really? Is it that noticeable? The wife says yep. Kids do too. Ya know my shoulder doesnt even bother me? Now if I could just get that tickle outta my chest, that little nag like something is there...but its only been five days. It will come, the way everything does...that little tickle will go away the better I feel. Can't wait to play baseball next spring with my boys. I could barely keep up this year. Huffing like a really old man, not 45. Way too young to huff like that. Its not in my head, like the way the doc said it was when i first started passing out 6 years ago. Once or twice a year, plop. Fall right over. Good ole military doctor...what a moron. Im feeling really randy this past week. Amazing. Why did it take so long to catch the heart block? Who knows. Wow, I am profoundly thankful for my experience so far. The pm is doing its job. I feel it sometimes go off to catch the block. I have seen it work on a strip. Amazing to see. When it goes off It makes me smile and secretly I whisper obsenities to death, not taking me today, not today. I have a peace I haven't felt for a very long time. I am thankful for my god, good doctors and my family. I hope your experience is positive, too.

2 Comments

Don't want to pour cold water

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-05 11:11:42

Don't want to pour cold water on your happiness but...
After the initial euphoria wears off you may have some twinges, sore spots, and some other oddities. Just want you to be prepared for them. Worst case scenario would be survivor's guilt over being able to have a PM. But, please don't.

Went through the same euphoric feelings you have so I've been able to shrug off the thumps, bumps, and twinges. Life is great. Every minute is a bonus minute, every day is a bonus day.

They keep the PM voltage high for at least the first 8 weeks. So when they drop the voltage - no big deal, I was sitting in the chair watching the technician when he did it - it may mean you won't feel the PM kick in. And, surprisingly enough, you may sleep better after they drop the voltage.

You won't want to lift your elbow above your shoulder on the PM side for the first four to six weeks. Don't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for the same time period with the arm on the PM side. Don't toss a ball with your arm on the PM side for the same time period either - I did, pulled the leads and it hurt like hell. But do keep the arm moving so it won't get stiff. Just light exercise. You may feel like superman at the moment but don't press your luck. You probably will - it will hurt like hell - so don't make a habit of it. Other than the above, continue enjoying your life.

The PM pocket may be a little sore when you toss a ball or do exercise. Just don't overdo it. Like I said before there may be other twinges you'll feel which you can only attribute to the PM being in your body but it shouldn't be anything you can't handle.

Feel free to come back to the forum with any questions you have. We have a lot of people with a lot of good information. Let us know how it's going. It's always good to hear a success story.

You have a lot of living to do. So go out and enjoy it!

euphoria

by AnaLena - 2014-11-06 11:11:45

Have to agree with theknotguy. Euphoria is great but it does wear off. For me, several weeks of low grade depression followed. Figured it was the down after the high of euphoria plus a bit of grieving for my old previous perfectly functioning heart. Disappeared after a few weeks.
The pacemaker tech reduced the voltage on my first post implant visit; didn't seem to change anything that I experienced. Did have to go back earlier than scheduled to turn on rate response (level 2) after I experienced way too much shortness of breath with pretty normal exertion. After that everything seems on track.
Learned about asking for that here. Seems my EP is pretty conservative; likes to let hearts do their thing without intervening too quickly. And, like many here, my A/V block is intermittent, so being conservative seems right until it's not.
My implant was at the end of January Tickles and twinges disappeared and pacemaker settled in to be another organ in my body over the course of about 6 months. Don't overdue things, but keep moving; let your body and your pacemaker adjust to each other.
Good luck to you and enjoy baseball next spring and everything good between now and then.

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