New PM patient

I found this site and it has been a Blessing! I had My PM placed exactly one month ago! Before having it placed, I had low Pulse rate (40's) I experienced a weird dizzy spell while driving! I would lay down to go to sleep, and feel like My pulse stopped and I was fading into the Mattress! On Thanksgiving morning (After a night of no sleep) I walked the Dog and felt OK. I was feeling quite scared so I called a Friend who is a Cardiac Surgeon! He said to go to an Emergency room and have a EKG strip run. I did and they said I had a Complete Block! They said they wanted Me to stay! I said Great let's do it! They said they would give Me a Pacemaker the next Day! I called My Wife and told Her what was Happening. She Made Thanksgiving for 30 people and came over. I am a Pastor, so I called another Pastor to come and pray with me! The next day they ran an Echocardiogram and said My heart looked Great! they said it was simply an Electrical problem! I was finally wheeled to the Operating room. I was scared but looked into the lights and prayed! Before what seemed like a few seconds they said I was done! I told them I was starved! They took Me to My room and fed me! I had a good night'ssleep and went Home that afternoon. My question is, I have had weird feelings like My Heart skipping and being afraid to go to sleep! I have gone back to Work (Pastor/Contractor). I am OK when working but I am constantly feeling odd sensations! Is this Normal? I went in to have My follow up at The Doctor's office and they said it looked good! I had an EKG, but I still get scared! I have always been a "Whitecoater" about Doctors and have dealt with anxiety. Is this anxiety or should I be worried? Thanks for your input, Pastor Mike

5 Comments

Your feelings

by Good Dog - 2015-12-27 07:12:40

I recently posted to another person on this site that the most difficult part of getting a PM is mental (psychological), not physical.
I think that what you are feeling is perfectly normal. It is hard to know exactly how much is physical and how much is mental, but I'll tell you this; after getting my PM I was hyper-vigilant noticing any irregularity and checking my pulse rate. There are times when you can get a palpitation and/or your PM tries to initiate a beat when your natural rhythm kicks-in. It can feel like a double beat and create an odd sensation. My point is simply that anything unusual you feel now no matter how harmless, is likely to make you feel unsettled.
You will find in-time that you can trust your PM. It is important to know that even if something should go wrong with your PM (extremely unlikely), your heart isn't going to stop. You obviously have an escape rhythm that will keep you alive. You've already been in Complete block and you survived that so you should know.
So relax and try to enjoy your life. That is the purpose of having your PM. You should now be able to do anything you want to without worrying.
I wish you the very best!
Sincerely,
David

If anything

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-27 09:12:54

If anything your pacemaker should make you a better pastor. Especially when working with people in the hospital. Now you can look them straight in the eye and tell them you know exactly how they feel.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Thanks

by Pastorm - 2015-12-28 06:12:02

Thanks guys! I needed to hear what you both said! I am getting better every day! I will remember what you said and try to keep my Mind on the Good things! Pastor Mike

It takes time

by Grateful Heart - 2015-12-28 06:12:31


Most of us do not get used to needing a pacemaker right away, it takes some time. Educating yourself and then your family about your condition and device can help ease your/ their concerns about having a pacemaker. Knowledge is power.

Fear of the unknown. Sounds like a great sermon Pastor! You can turn this into a positive and apply your experience to those in your congregation.

It's a win/ win! :-)

Grateful Heart

a second chance

by knb123 - 2015-12-28 09:12:12

I, too, was diagnosed with complete heart block in the ER and received a PM emergently. For months after my implant, I felt hyper-vigilant about anything related to my health. I took notes and reported everything to my docs at visits. So far, so good.

I'm not a doctor but I can relate to what you describe. As long as you're tracking things and reporting them to your doctor (and watching for the things they told you upon discharge), it's likely that you're just experiencing the normal post-op experience.

The best thing about receiving a pacemaker? You are suddenly given a new lease on life. Enjoy it, make the most of it.

(PS. During my implant I hummed hymns...I can remember telling myself, "Don't hum 'O Day Full of Grace'; you know that always makes you weepy." I didn't want the EP staff to think I was in pain.)

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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