Brand New to PaceMaker

I had my pacemaker surgery last Friday, 12/16/16. I fainted for a few seconds at work earlier in the week. Went to Urgent Care and was put on a Holter monitor. I told the UC doctor that I had been told in 2003/2004, after a treadmill stress test, I had a Left Branch Bundle Block in my heart but that it would take many, many years for it to become a problem. Wore monitor for 24 hours. Finally, received a phone call from primary doctor's office to go see the cardiologist. I always told any physician about the LBBB, but they never had reason to respond with urgency until the recent fainting episode.I never bothered to educate myself either since it was treated casually. Read up on the on LBBB after Urgent Care. I emailed my grown children about the cardiology appointment and lightly joked about a pacemaker.

I went to the office last Friday, announced that I would return shortly, and went to appointment. I was told that my BPM dropped as low as 30. I needed a pacemaker. Since I had not eaten, my cardiologist told me it was an opportune time to get the surgery. It was a shock. Even though I had joked about a pacemaker, the "many, many" years finally came. I cried. I am a very active 63 year old.  I was wisked to the Lab then to Imaging that morning. After that, the Cath Lab and met with the Cardiologist who was in clinic and would be doing the surgery.

Life has definitely changed since last Friday. Although my co-workers, my neighbors, and mostly-out-of-state and-out-of-country family have been supportive, I know that I need a good support group. Plus, I will be returning to work after Christmas and have to drive myself to work. I am terrified to drive to boot.

4 Comments

Best ever gift

by Jane S - 2016-12-24 06:58:10

A real shock for you but it's definately for the best, no fainting and hurting yourself or causing an accident. You will probably feel a lot better with your heart being more effective.

Relax and enjoy christmas and 2017 will be a new begining for you. Read through posts to learn about post op care, and honsetly driving is no big deal, just make sure the belt is comfy over your device. Thats a big advantage over in the UK, belt is over right shoulder.

You will have more energy and 63 will be the new 40

All the best

Jane x

Pacemaker provision- just like that!

by Selwyn - 2016-12-24 11:29:11

Welcome to the pacemaker club. We 63 year olds are cluttering up the place! 

I can tell you, I had my 48 hours of monitoring at the weekend, my physican asked me to visit him on the Tuesday.  I had the pacemaker fitted on the Thursday. The 2 days in between were the worse 2 days for anxiety I have ever  had. I went around with my own defibrillator, instructing those around me how to use it, just in case I had a cardiac arrest!

To have a pacemaker insertion straight away saved you the anxiety.

I was back to riding my bicycle within a couple of days ( as I was not allowed to drive)  and my car within a couple of weeks.

Your PM will stop you having a collapse, or a fatal arrythmia. Your longevity has some guarantee.  You are safer driving with your pacemaker than before your pacemaker. Personally, I now realise that the dizziness I experienced in the outer lane of the motorway, prior to my pacemaker, was down to an arrhythmia.  I now feel that the same thing is not likely to happen again. 

In the UK you have to notify the DVLA ( driving authorities) about a change in your health eg. a pacemaker. If there are no complications, they are happy to let you drive.

What a Christmas present!

Have a healthy, happy New Year.

Selwyn

Thank you

by MaryVan - 2016-12-24 13:15:28

Thank you for your wonderful response. This is silly, but I did not realize how many people really use pacemakers and live normal lives.  Thank you for mentioning driving notification in the UK. I live in California, so I should inquire about notifications in Ca. Also, I feel blessed finding this site.

LBBB

by zawodniak2 - 2016-12-24 13:30:24

I too,  was very casually told I had a LBBB many years before I fainted and broke a rib.  I was told at that time that I should get a pace maker.  I was too surprised to agree to getting a pace maker and delayed.  After some research, I went to an electrophysiologist for a tilt table test.  His diagnosis was LBBB, bradycardia and what he termed a "lazy heart" meaning it did not respond sufficiently when needed (hence dizziness, low energy and prone to fainting). I asked him if I really needed a pace maker at that time and he replied "you will be needing one in the future".  So at 65 years old I elected to get a pace maker.  That was 10 years ago and I am now on my second pace maker.. It has improved my quality of life and I have no regrets .  You will be just fine !!!!

Rodger

You know you're wired when...

You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.