pacemaker

HI.. I am 53 and 4 years ago I had an ASD/PFO repair with an amplatzer closure device. It took almost a year and a half to diagnose. At first I just felt off and told the doctor I think something is wrong. I was tired all the time,had developed breathing issues. All the test cameback negative. Once the holes were discovered I went downhill quickly prior to the closure. I felt better for awhile, last year I started feeling off again. I was exhausted all the time, hard time breathing, and gained weight disapportioned to my diet. I told my cardiologist I think something is wrong! I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and Mitral valve prolapse at the same time. Within 2 months I was having near fainting and skipped heartbeats. I had an internal heart monitor implanted. The first 2 check ups I was told my symptoms were not heart related. This last one my cardiologist says it is and now I will be having a pacemaker in 4 weeks. To say I am a little freaked out is putting it mildly as I work in a critical field.(911) Does anyone else work in a stressful field like 911? If you have had a pacemaker, did your symptoms go away? thanks for listening.

2 Comments

Hi Suesp85

by Grateful Heart - 2014-12-24 10:12:29

We need a little more info. Are you a dispatcher or uniformed member.

If uniformed, it will usually depend on your Department.

I was a 911 Dispatcher but that was prior to my device implant. Take the time off you need to recover physically. If you use touch screens, you want to be sure the leads embed fully before you start jumping and reaching for them. Even if you feel you will be careful, you will forget about yourself when handling emergencies.

As far as the stress (that's a given), . Take care of yourself through exercise and nutrition to help relieve the stress when you are able to get back to exercise. That will also help with the diabetes.

As far as symptoms go, you should feel better after the implant. Needing a PM is a shock to most of us. You'll get through this....we've all been there so ask your questions.

Feel free to private message me if I can be of any help or if you need to talk.

Grateful Heart

Newbie

by TJFallenAngel88 - 2015-01-12 03:01:47

Hey
My name is Theresa and I'm 26. I currently work as a police dispatcher. I was initially diagnosed with inappropriate sinus tachycardia. My resting heart rate was around 130 and would climb to 220 pretty quick. I've had two ablations done this year but now my heart rate is going too low. About a week before Christmas we were having a particularly busy night and 6 hours into the shift I was coming off the radio and my heart rate dropped and I passed out. I spent th next 5 days in the hospital while they tried to recreate what happened (Funny you can't recreate the stress of a 911 room in a hospital bed lol). But more then likely I will have to put a pace maker in within the next month or so. I always knew it was a possibility. I was just wondering if there is anything I need to know before I go in?I want to be a police officer more then anything and I've been working in the field since I was 18 and dealing with this issue and for me the pace maker seems like the light at the end of the tunnel. I know the risks with a pace maker and I have a friend that is a cop with a pace maker, so I know it's possible I just wanna know what I'm in for recovery wise

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.