One Week

First off, I just joined this site and I absolutely love it. I've enjoyed reading all the posts as well as learning so much more about pacemakers and other's experiences with them. I just got my pacemaker implanted last Tuesday. It has, been a crazy journey. It started out when I was seven, I started passing out. Throughout the years the fainting never stopped. I saw doctor after doctor and had been diagnosed multiple tines, only to have the doctor change his mind. Four years ago my care team had decided to put a loop recorder in because my heart was seemingly perfect yet I still fainted over and over. Within two weeks the device was infected and I had to have emergency surgery to have it removed and was in the hospital a few weeks to treat the infection in my blood stream. My cardiologist started me on medications and I was prescribed to wear compress socks, shorts, and stomach wrap, as well as a high sodium diet. This Was IN Order to increase my blood pressure and heart rate. I'm now 24, and a month ago I fainted at work, broke my nose and had my fourth concussion. I was admitted to the hospital when a new EP doctor put a linq recorder in to see if they could catch what my heart was doing when I faint. Within two weeks I was told I have Sick Sinus Syndrome. My heart rate drops to about 20-30 bpm. I then have 5-10 second pauses and faint. This happens at any time of day and in my sleep, 7-10 times a week. I finally received a diagnosis with evidence on how to be treated. After too many stitches and broken bones to count. Hence getting my pacemaker last week as well as the linq removed. I'm in the healing process and trying to learn as much as I can about my pacemaker as well as my condition.

A concern/question I have for you all....after your surgery did you feel a pressure and pain in your chest when you breathe, especially if you are laying on your side. Lastly how long was it till the pain subsided near your surgery site?

Thank you all so much for being on this site and sharing your knowledge and journey. It has helped me cope immensely, and nice to get to hear from others with pacemakers.

2 Comments

pain / pressure

by bluebowtye - 2014-10-27 04:10:31

Hi welcome to the club! I'm so glad they finally figured out what was wrong with you. Sounds like you have been through an awful lot.

As far as the pain / pressure you are feeling when you breathe, I did not have any of that. I did however have minor pain around the incision site for a good week or so. Tylenol took care of it for the first few days. It was hard getting dressed. I could not lay on either side for awhile. It seems like it was a few weeks before I could lay on my left and several months before I could lay on my right. It was not really pain, just discomfort. I have no problems now laying on my right but sometimes I still have discomfort when I lay on my left and that's because I can feel the pacer being "smushed" in there.

When I went in for my checkup at 3 1/2 weeks I complained of a "tight / pulling" feeling around the incision. My doc discovered there was a stray stitch still in there that hadn't dissolved with the rest and once he got that out (he had really dull scissors and it took lots of pulling & tugging) I felt so much better and the next day those pulling / tight feelings were gone.

Good luck to you. I'm sure you will have all kinds of emotions as your body and brain adjust to all of this. I found too the more I learned about pacemakers and my condition in general the better I felt about it all. My need came about very suddenly and was totally unexpected and shocking so mentally it took awhile to come to grips with it. This site helped me the most. I did not find out about it until after the surgery was done but it was so comforting talking to others going through the same thing as me.

Take care and good luck to you as you recover.

~Sheila

Weird feelings

by Theknotguy - 2014-10-27 06:10:57

Glad they were finally able to find your problems.

Feel free to ask questions on this forum as there are a lot of knowledgable people on this site.

When you first get the PM they set the voltage higher. This can lead to all sorts of feelings and may explain the "tightness" you're feeling. They will reset the voltage to a lower level a couple of months out. No big deal on resetting the PM, I was comfortably sitting in the chair when they did mine.

Hope things go well for you.

You know you're wired when...

Your electric tooth brush interferes with your device.

Member Quotes

I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.