Getting a PM in a week, nervous wreck!

I can't imagine myself in this situation, I am extremely nervous about my PM implantation in about a week. Apparently I have a 3rd degree HB, and asymptomatic Brady. I feel my life is never gonna be the same. I want to cry but can't seem to find time in between the nervousness. I feel like I'm broken. Is that normal? I feel like I'm not going to be me. Obviously I'm having a hard time coming to grips with the reality of its finality. My denial helped me a lot until it had to pat me on the back and go, "Dude, can't do nothing else for you". Like I'm only in my early thirties.....man this sucks.

9 Comments

Tracey is right

by Zia - 2016-02-18 06:02:45

...as always. I felt pretty much the same as you six years ago when I was told to "get it now" Main difference, I had 75 years experience of being totally healthy, then got slammed with this. You aren't broken, just slowed down a bit, and probably you'll find yourself better than ever afterward.

Quality of life

by Theknotguy - 2016-02-18 09:02:09

We can give you a lot of platitudes but that doesn't really help much. I feel, if you look at the posts on the forum, you'll see people getting on with their lives. So, even though it feels like the end of life as you know it, that isn't the case.

Yeah, you'll have the 4-6 week healing, then you'll probably have an adjustment period, but after that, life goes on.

If you care to look up my story, you can. If you don't, I won't get the least bit upset. Was walking down the trail with the dogs. Not a care in the world. Wake up six days later in the hospital. Two years - that's years not weeks - of recovery. But guess what? I feel better now than I did two years ago. And that's being on medication and having a foreign object in my body. Oh, and a nice scar from the implant I happened to see in the mirror this morning.

If you look around the forum you'll see people your age with pacemakers who are mountain biking, running marathons, swimming, skiing, and the like. So while it feels you life is coming to an end, it isn't.

Yeah, the implant procedure can be scary, especially to younger people. Yeah, there are a lot of things you're not sure of. But the vast majority of people who get the pacemaker do very well and get on with their lives.

Hang in there.

Getting PM

by Grilor - 2016-02-18 11:02:51

How did you find out about your 3rd degree HB. How low is your pulse. I have the same but no Pacemaker yet. I wish you well . Lori

life goes on

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-18 12:02:03

I got my first one at age 27, also for 3rd degree heart block. I felt the same way before I got mine, terrified doesn't begin to cover it. That was before the internet so there weren't places like this where I could learn more and talk to others like me. I found out the surgery wasn't nearly as bad in reality as I'd built it up to be in my head, and after I realized I wasn't nearly as asymptomatic as I thought I was. I felt terrific, much more energy than before. The more I healed and got back to enjoying life, the more I was able to try new things because I no longer tired easily, the less I thought about it. Without it I have no doubt I'd be dead by now, but instead I am healthy and active 20 years later. I truly rarely give it a thought other than to be grateful my problem has a fix.

Food for thought... if you had a friend break a bone and get pins, or a diabetic on insulin, would you think they are broken or in some way inferior? Probably not. Don't be too hard on yourself. These things just happen. Nothing we did caused it, nothing we could have done differently would have prevented it. Take some time to mourn and be angry, but then force yourself to let it go and move on. Attitude affects healing, so try to go into it with the best attitude you can.

You will feel better

by Reboot1212 - 2016-02-19 12:02:58

Your new friend will help you feel better. Listen to your doctor, allow yourself time to heal - physically and emotionally and enjoy the benefits of the gift of life. You have much to accomplish for yourself and others!

You'll be Fine

by MathTeacher - 2016-02-20 02:02:02

I got my pacemaker a few months ago. I never had time to focus on it, since my husband was murdered ten days after my implant. I learned there are things a lot worse in life than getting a pacemaker.

I now work out at the gym. It helps me destress from what life has handed me. I really get my heart rate up and sweat. I'm swinging a racket and feeling fine (physically, at least). I walk my dog over four miles several times a week. The kids at school think I'm really cool being the only cyborg teacher on campus. You'll adjust to it in no time.

Thanks for all the responses!!

by smiling_kid - 2016-02-20 06:02:41

Thanks for all the words of encouragement, I absolutely think this site would be a great help in my future life with a PM. I really appreciate it. Sorry for your loss MathTeacher, TheKnotGuy your words were appreciated. TracyE, loved the comparisons with diabetes and bone pins, no I wouldn't think they are broken. Thanks for that. Lori I found out about my 3rd degree HB when I went for an EKG, which was precipitated by a series of routine BP checks that showed my heart rate at between 44 BPM and 48 BPM. Doctor sent me home with a holter monitor for 24hrs. Didnt like what he saw, so after a few weeks he redid the holter test again but this time for 48hrs. Then he was like, "Yeah, you need this, your SA node isn't working optimally". Anyway, thanks guys, it's less than 5 days now, the days keeps coming faster and faster, just like my heartbeat- ironically.

Prayers for you!

by Grilor - 2016-02-20 10:02:32

Good luck to you. I'll be praying for you. Your situation sounds similar to mine. Read my post if you get a chance.

9 PMs so far

by FirstDuely - 2016-02-24 01:02:11

I do remember where you are today. So many thoughts and concerns. If we could only forget about what is about to happen and instead go on with our life as if this little episode never happened. Reality sometimes sucks!
I was 36, working as a science teacher, had a tiny son with a daughter soon to be born.
I chose to dwell on those around me and on living each day filled with as much of what was normal as possible.
Yes, hospitals are not fun places but look forward and keep your plans in front of you. So when you get home, what are those things you need to do, concerns about the house, the car needs tires, my wife's birthday is next week and I forgot to get her that jewelry item she wants. Etc.
it has been 30 years with the occasional replacement and then healing and the adjustments made all the time to get the PM adjusted "just right".
Our daughter was born 4 days after my first implant and I had to practically escape from the hospital to get there. And then the nurse called me into the delivery room and I got to cut her umbilical cord! They knew what I had been through. Being a Science teacher I asked where to cut, they said in the middle, I asked if I cut closer to her body if it would give her an "innie". My daughter still to this day thanks me!!! My long winded point is this: just think about your future and getting up every day and living your life to its fullest. As they say, the alternative sucks.
Obtw, I was the first person in the U.S. to have a dual chambered pacer implanted, second in the world.
I am the data point to watch at 65 years of age.
Gary in Hemet, CA

You know you're wired when...

You can proudly say you’re energy efficient.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.