Newbie here!

Newbie

by clubhopper - 2017-03-09 13:04:25

I received my PM last July and, like you, did not have any contact with anyone who had a pacemaker.  Surgery was easy and pain was minimal, but I suffered a lot from anxiety.  One night at 3:00 a.m. when I was feeling extremely anxious I went on line and found this group, for which I am really thankful.  Just being in contact with people in the same boat was so reassuring, so don't hesitate to post at any time.  As a matter of fact, this is where I get most of my information about pacemakers as I knew absolutely nothing about them.  I sometimes still feel like I am "waiting for the next shoe to drop" and still feel lightheaded the odd time when my heart beat goes below 60, (PM kicks in at 50) but generally have a lot of energy - walk 3 miles every second day, curl twice a week and will start golfing again when the snow finally melts.   I had a checkup at the pacemaker clinic in February and was told everything was going well, and I don't have to go back until February, 2018.  I have always been a "worry wort" so really not surprising that I ended up with so much anxiety.   Take it easy after your surgery, do exactly what the doc tells you, keep in contact with this group and don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter how silly they may seem.  Good Luck!

the new you

by Tracey_E - 2017-03-09 13:35:01

Bradycardia is a fairly simple fix so most of us find our symptoms go away immediately so it will be easier to keep up with your kids. 

During healing, you can expect to be told not to raise the left arm over head or lift anything heavy for 4-6 weeks. Other than that, do what you feel up to. How old are your kids? If they are younger, you might want to let someone take over for a few days. I didn't feel that bad, but it's nice to give the body a few days to recover. I took it easy the first week, after that I was mostly back to my usual schedule but moving more slowly and napping most days. 

Wear a button up shirt to the hospital. You won't want to be pulling anything overhead the first week or so. 

If you have trouble sleeping, I found it helpful to hug a small pillow. That kept me from rolling onto my sore side. 

They may send you home in a sling. Don't wear it after the first 24-48 hours. Other than not raising it high,it's important to move the arm normally so your shoulder doesn't freeze. 

I was 27 when I got my first one so I know all about being "too young." Think of it this way, we are too young to feel OLD. The pacer is an easy fix, doesn't much matter how old we are if it gives us our lives back. I'm 50 now, on my 5th device, healthy and active. There is nothing I want to do that I cannot. If you have questions or just want to chat, don't be shy. 

Newbie

by zawodniak2 - 2017-03-09 14:14:00

I had symptoms exactly like yours for quite a long while (years) until I passed out and spent several days in the hospital.  Since I also have a left bundle branch block,  the cardiologist urged me to get a pace maker.  I was in denial and asked them to run more tests which confirmed bradycardia and LBB. This event also resulted in a fractured rib.. Since we were traveling in a motorcoach at the time and not in our home location, I delayed but became acutely aware of my pre-syncope events. I finally went to an electrophysiologist for a tilt table test and he confirmed the need for a pace maked, if not then,  definitely in the future..  I got it  and glad I did as my symptoms are gone. The anxiety of passing out again and having a serious accident is also gone. Now on my 2nd Pace maker after 10 years.  You will be fine and back to your normal self!!!

                              Rodger

The new me

by itsmemorgan - 2017-03-09 14:14:57

Clubhopper:  Thank you for your input! It seems like you have healed nicely considering you have been doing so much in such a short amount of time.  That is reassuring.  

Thanks TraceyE for those little tips, sound advice which I will take!  It's little things like that I would have never thought of since this is all new.  My children are 16 and 5.  Both can wipe their own butt, feed and bathe themselves so it shouldn't be too hard managing them however it is Spring Break next week so my husband will be taking them to visit family an hour and a half away so I can have some peace and quite to relax and recoup for a few days. 

Welcome to the club!

by admin - 2017-03-09 19:41:27

We're glad you found us.  I don't really have any additional tips, but do wish you luck on the 13th.  You will be just fine and be back to better than normal soon.  I've lived a quality and healthy life with a pacemaker since 1978.

Blake

Advice

by Hamsquatch - 2017-03-09 23:39:22

Good advice here so far, depending how you sleep (my bed looks like a tornado hit when I wake up) sleep with an oversized shirt on but keep your PM side arm inside the shirt (don't put it through the sleeve). Best of luck I was 28 when I had mine implanted, seems like a lot more young people are getting these devices. 

Similar age to you just had my inserted 5 days ago

by Chantellerose - 2017-03-11 06:06:06

good luck I'm sure you will be fine. I was told by doctors I'd be feeling fine after 3 days. So I'm shocked 6 days on I'm still feeling very sore(I had mine sub muscle though) a lovely lady called Tracey on here said that quite normal tho. You will definitely need help the first 4 days even just getting in and out of bed and taking your trousers down to pop to the loo...I wish you good luck! Keep in touch and let us know how you get on xx

On age

by AyeJay - 2017-03-11 16:39:05

Don't feel to bad about being young. I've been battery operated since I was one. (Neonatal Lupus leading to a third degree heart block). The adult (shoulder) implant isn't that bad as far as recovery goes. I recommend maybe finding a bra that snaps in the front, way easier to manage with one hand. If you do regular female health check ups make sure your doc know about the change before they do a breast exam, just so they can avoid pushing on it too much.

no worries

by dwelch - 2017-03-14 01:14:38

I got my first pacer at 19, have had them for 30 years now.  On number four, getting a three lead in the next few weeks.

Your shoulder is going to be really sore mostly from the fact that if you move it the incision hurts, so you will find yourself holding those muscles to avoid that pain.  You will get past that the incision will get better, soon.

Realistically your biggest problem is protecting your pacer and shoulder, esp near term, if you have kids not having them hit the area, laying on your shoulder wrong, my biggest problem was the seat belt in the car and pretty much has always been the biggest problem.  The pacers today are so wee bitty compared to my first one.  I have tried various things from that car seat belt thing they are trying to sell to putting clips on the belt so it isnt completely snug.  For a long while one of those fake sheepskin things that wraps around the belt is my go-to.  Seriously, the seat belt is the biggest problem.

Your docs will be leaning toward longer life with the settings and the pacers they choose.  My history is that pacers never last as long as they are supposed to, at the same time the estimate the computer spits out is not that accurate either, dont get too worked up about that.  

I am right now dealing with a low Enjection Fraction (EF) caused by 30 years of pacing with a two lead pacer.  So getting a three lead which should smooth that. out. 

Certainly the folks that just posted, but no doubt like us you might always be the yougest patient in the waiting room, you might be the youngest patient in their practice or one of them.  You might wear out a doc or two as they retire and you keep going.  That is all fine, I was very happy when I first found this site to know I wasnt the only one that started young.  Very strange/funny at almost 50 to have/feel that you are getting old, but at the cardiologists they are talking about since you are so young we want to preserve the right side in case down the road we may need to move everything over as you will probably need new leads. (note I had one break first replacement and they capped it.  am getting a three lead so four wires on one side assuming there is room).

Been reading some of the posts about MRIs.  I have been told, even today, no MRIs, so that may be a change for you, sounds like from the experience here some folks and some countries and facilities are using MRIs on non-MRI safe pacers and there are no issues.

On that topic dont worry about metal detectors.  They wont hurt you, but the guards dont necessarily like it so just tell them you have a pacemaker and they will let you walk around and wand you, sometimes you feel special sometimes you get to go a longer line or a side room and get patted down.

Static electricity from walking on the carpet in socks, etc are not going to hurt you, dont get worked up about that either.  My first pacer was pre-internet I had almost no support group talk about not knowing anyone with a pacer, I was 19 years old.  There is so much more info now and this site, so really, the seat belt if you are in a left hand drive country is your biggest problem from my experience.