discouraged

hi all. God bless all the wonderful people in this site! I feel very discouraged...i saw my cardiologist last week and he told me that i have to live with what i have...there is nothing elce he can do for me. I really dont get it. According to him i have atrial tachycardia and i also have ventricular events... im not sure what they are called: qvc or pvcs? He also says i have vasovagal disease and supposely not related to my pacemaker but i just wonder why im having this now? i never had fainting episodes before this dumb pacemaker...all my problems have come since i got it. I constantly feel like there is something "off" like my beats are not where they are supposed to be. I have migraine headaches all the time. and looking for some comfort in my doc i get nothing but...." you have to live with it"! How cruel. Im really loosing faith on doctors...no offense if anybody here is one.

4 Comments

PM. problems?

by johng - 2007-05-29 05:05:39


brokenheart,
being discouraged after heart problems is not unusual.
We all take time to recover from the physical changes to our body, and to the mental effects of illness.

If you don't have trust in your cardiac doctor, (because of his/her attitude), then talk to your family doctor about your concerns. Ask them to arrange a meeting with your Medtronic Representative to have the PM. checked.
This should help you trust the PM. settings at least.
Recovery may be a slow process, we all need support at times. Talk about any problems with people you DO trust.
For me, a problem shared is a problem halved.
I hope things get better soon, keep pushing.
Best wishes, Johng

Don't give up

by hooimom - 2007-05-29 07:05:57

Brokenheart,

Don't give up. Get a second or third opinion if needed. There should be something that can be done to help with some of your symptoms. You have every right to be discouraged. We all get there sometimes--with fewer problems than you are experiencing. Don't accept your doctor's answer so easily.
Michelle

discouraged....

by brokenheart - 2007-05-29 09:05:14

sorry that i didnt have enough info. well, this is my second pacer. first one stopped working. This is my second opinion cause my first doc was the one who messed me up in the first place and ablated too much in my heart giving me complete heart block. The doc i have now is supposed to be chief of cardiology and the "best" in town. i have had my pacemaker for 1 year and a half. my cardiologist is an ep also. I live in the city. And my family doc doesnt really know a lot about me and doesnt really seem to know what she is doing either. so basically i am out of luck!

There may be help on the horizon.

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-05-29 11:05:59

Hi Brokenheart.

I'm so sorry you had such bad luck with your first doctor. I can relate to you regarding your ablations, having had 4 myself, and all unsuccessful, the last one took the AV node, and left me with complete heart block, and 100% pacemaker dependent.
I came across this web site, and thought you might be interested in looking into it.
www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/messages/34735.html
It's The Heart Forum.
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues.
Questions posted in The Heart Forum, are being answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.
It is one of the best heart clinic in the nation, and they might just have the answers you are looking for, and may be, help you find a more compassionate and knowledgeable doctor in your area.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Take care,
~ Dominique ~

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.