Hello. I'm new to this club

Welcome

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-05-29 23:01:34

Glad you found PM Club. Informative and supportive.

Thanks

by GnR - 2017-05-30 02:35:54

Thank you for welcoming me. I have been dipping in and out of this club since my diagnosis in Jan 2017 and have found it helpful, comforting and informative. 

Routine medical for dizziness and high blood pressure lead to 24hr BP and Halter monitor which revealed the my heart had been pausing intermittently and my cardiologist told me I needed a PM. I was completely overwhelmed with the news and my world collapsed there and then. Three weeks later I had my surgery. Had to cancel holiday to Australia, not allowed to work or drive for weeks prior to and post op. 

Surgery went well. Done under general anaesthetic. Surgery at 11am, discharge at 5pm home. No meds. I was uncomfortable for about a week afterwards, back at work on day 15 post surgery. Driving 3 weeks post surgery. 

Still having palpitations an bouts of dizziness which my Doctor is investigating, bit worried if I'm honest. 

Recent check up showed pacing 1%. Nurse said everything going well. Settings fine, no adjustment requires.

Apparently I have an "all singing and dancing PM-does everything". MRI safe. Dual lead. Self testing. Still unsure exactly how it works. Next see my cardiologist in October so will ask him more. 

Feel very lucky this was found. No reason why or how this has happened to me or how long it's been going on. Cardiologist ran many tests, no conclusion. All they've said is there is a problem with the electrical conduction in my heart, causing my heart to pause.

That's my story so far. Anyone going through the same should not be worried about surgery or having a PM. I feel very lucky to have one. 😉

get a printout

by dwelch - 2017-06-01 02:37:37

Next time you are there when they are printing out the report for the doc, ask them for your copy as well.  Will help understanding/know your settings.  A weath of collective knowledge at this site.  

They are actually not really that complicated of a device as far as their job goes, any medical device is "complicated" in that it had to endure tons of paperwork on its design, testing, etc.  but the job of the device in this case is to simply replace the eletrical signals your body should have been providing, well your body was producing them just at the wrong time or rythm or rate.

You are in good hands here...welcome to the site.

If you get anxious about your pm working, take your pulse, manually, for a full 60 seconds, confirm you are still alive.