Newbie

Hi my name is Peyton and I am a 47 year old male from NC. Just received my pacemaker last Wednesday. While I am an optimist and usually handle life changing events relatively well, I am sure there are times when I will need more or a different kind of support than my family and friends can provide. I imagine that those without these devices just don't understand as much as they try and as well intended as they are. I'm no stranger to having foreign objects such as titanium plates and screws in my body but this seems different to me. I'm looking forward to getting to know people in this club and gleaning information from y'all.

5 Comments

Newbie

by zawodniak2 - 2015-12-14 11:12:26

You don't mention why you got the pace maker but the chances are extremely in your favor that the reason will be resolved and you will get back to a normal life. I, personally don't hardly ever think about having a pace maker, except when I check this web site. Good luck..
Rodger


Pcing options

by Terry - 2015-12-15 01:12:25

Most patients do OK with ventricular pacing that bypasses the native cardiac conduction system. Sick sinus syndrome, with atrial pacing only, activates the heart normally; but a recent article (Feb. 2015) found that 13% of patients whom were paced 40% of the time in the ventricle experienced heart failure hospitalization within a couple years. This was not the case for ventricular pacing that activated the cardiac conduction system at what is called the His bundle, emerging from the atrio/ventricular (AV) node. Check out His-pacing.org.
Terry

Thank you

by Peyton - 2015-12-15 02:12:00

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond to my post!

Welcome

by Good Dog - 2015-12-15 12:12:03

Hi Peyton. Welcome to the club!! I am sure you will find this forum to be a great resource.
I received my pacemaker at age 38 and have had it now for 30 years. I just received my 4th generator last month. So the average life has been about 10 years. I have to tell you, when I received mine at such a young age (BTW...there are many here who received theirs at a much younger age), I thought my life was over. I went through a bout of depression before I realized that I could live a completely normal life. I am here to tell you that my life has been completely normal in every way. Within 6 months of receiving it I was playing competitive sports. As the previous poster said, if it weren't for the occasional pm checks and the battery change every ten years, I'd forget I have a PM.
The technology is amazing and it is getting better all the time.
So I hope you will go out there and enjoy your life. There is no reason not to!
Wishing you the best,

David

Mental to physical

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-15 12:12:06

Napoleon said mental is to physical - something like three to one. So if you've got a good mental attitude about it you should get along fine.

The pacemaker isn't a cure but it is a big help. You'll have thumps and bumps getting adjusted but they usually smooth out.

A lot of members are doing better than 100% of what they did before the pacemaker. The pacemaker is much more of a help than a hindrance.

I had a lot of trauma before getting my pacemaker. Made two marks on the calendar. One at the one year anniversary, the second at the two year anniversary. If I had a setback I'd look at the calendar, shrug, and say, "It hasn't been a year yet." After the first year I'd look at the calendar, shrug, and say, "It hasn't been two years yet." Got rid of a lot of anxiety that way.

Welcome to the club. Hope everything goes well for you.

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Member Quotes

My pacemaker has ultimately saved mine and my unborn child’s life for which I am thankful.