So frightened

life of the party

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-30 09:11:04

Normal! Anxiety and fear are normal. Denial is normal too. Yes, it will pass. However, if you are recently off anxiety meds for sure have a chat with your GP to see if maybe a few months down the road might be better timing. Most of us are otherwise healthy, and once we get our devices we continue to be healthy and active. I'd even go so far as to say a few of us might still be the life of the party. ;oP

The worst that can happen? You don't get it, your heart stops, no one is nearby with an AED. If they are giving you a defib, then you are at risk. Getting it means having a 24/7 insurance policy. If your EF is that low, you have block and other issues, and they are recommending you for CRT, I'm going to go out o a limb and suggest that you may not feel quite as good as you think you do. We can deteriorate so slowly we don't notice it, we compensate and deal with it, we write it off to other things, we deny and tell ourselves we are ok. I was that way. I knew I didn't feel right, but I had no idea just how bad off I was until I had a normal heart rate again. Night and day!  I've never once looked back other than to regret I didn't do it sooner.

Many of us find the surgery isn't as bad as we built it up to be in our heads, and we come out of it feeling better than we expected. As we heal and get back to normal activities again, it gets easier and easier to cope and eventually forget about it. 

Completely Normal

by Grateful Heart - 2017-09-30 10:59:04

I thought they were wrong too!  I was a "healthy" 51 year old with the exception of being overweight.  I took vitamins and considered myself healthy.  So I got a 2nd opinion and that doctor confirmed it.  Heart Failure, Left Bundle Branch Block, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, SSS and an EF of 24%.  That was 9 years ago.   

After my CRT-D implant, my EF went to 50%, I was no longer short of breath, changed my diet and started exercising.  My heart is no longer enlarged and the past few years my Echo report shows an EF of 55%.  While I have other medical problems, I am healthier now then I have been in 30 years.  I go to the gym 4-5 times a week and yoga twice a week. 

Not everyone has such success and I know I am blessed.  You will get beyond the shock and denial.  A positive attitude is so important in recovery.  Scared but positive.  I didn't know about this site then.  I went to Cardiac Rehab afterwards because I didn't know how much I could move, was worried about being shocked by my device and wanted to exercise in a safe, medically protected environment.  And it was with wonderful, caring nurses to monitor to you.....something to consider.

BTW, I have not been shocked in 9 years....so far, so good....same original device.  I kid with my husband that I probably have a defective device.

Baby steps....you'll get there.

Grateful Heart  

So frightened

by Mapleshaz - 2017-09-30 14:51:45

Thank you so much TraceyE and Grateful Heart. I cried yet another bucket of tears when I read your beautiful words of encouragement. I have even ordered myself a post-op T-shirt with a catchy slogan. I will post again after November 1st, and let you know how I got on. Many thanks again for taking the time to help me through this horrible day. ❤️

Don't be frightened

by Cyclist - 2017-09-30 16:44:56

Hi,

i had a heart attack age 69 while I was biking with my wife. I exercised daily  and considered myself very healthy. I was slim and taking no meds and it still happened. No family history of heart problems. I made it to the hospital on my own and had a stent put in an hour later. That's when they discovered the ventricular fibrillation . When I bike I wear a heart rate monitor and it would sometimes go 180+ bpm and I thought it was broken - my heart was broken. After months of testing and an aborted ablation attempt I had pacemaker put in. I'm 72 now and exercise like I did prior to my HA and implant. I have an AED on board and I'm glad. This technology is awesome and nothing to be frightened about. I have 7 young granddaughters and w/o my pacemaker I probably wouldn't be here. What I really dislike  is taking my medications, but a necessary part of the program. Hang in there life will be good.

So grateful

by Mapleshaz - 2017-09-30 16:58:14

Thank you Cyclist and aren't grandchildren just THE BEST! Pleased to hear you are doing so well. My dream of living forever might just come true!!! ❤️

It's a breeze

by Adrian II - 2017-12-19 19:29:51

I went in at 7:30 in the morning and my wife took me home at 12:30.     I was worried of course but it wasn't that unpleasant.  My anxiety leading up to the procedure was the worst part.  I seemed to calm down when they started prepping me. The nurses were so nice.   In a few days I was walking about the neighborhood with minimal pain.     We are very lucky to have these amazing devices available to us.  Humans throughout history gradually got weaker and died.  That kind of thinking does help me.      By the way, I was running 3 miles before I knew I needed a PM.  I had very minimal symptoms although I was known among my family and friends for needing a late afternoon nap if we were going out at night.    3 cardiologists said I needed the PM and it was inevitable. 

Good luck,   Adrian