New and Terrified

Welcome to the Club NoBody Wants to Join!

by NiceNiecey - 2018-05-17 03:41:39

But aren't you glad we're here for you???

Many of us experienced the same thing as you: total shock that something was wrong.  My story is similar to yours except it started when I was 55.  I was initially diagnosed with Type 2 heart block and had immediate surgery where I received a dual-lead pacemaker (PM for short on this site; you'll learn a bunch of new acronyms!).

During the first year I was paced, my electrical signals became completely blocked and now I am 3rd degree aka complete heart block, and paced 100% in both chambers.

My faith is also paramount in my life and has been throughout my PM trial.  I am so grateful that I got another chance and I'm here to help you and others get over-the-hump.  

*Keep in mind that you did not do anything that blocks your heart's electrical signals.  You could not have prevented it.

**While most people get right on with life without skipping the proverbial beat, others of us have a bit more difficulty adjusting.  Unfortunately, I was the latter.  It wasn't psychological, it was physical.  Things finally settled down in my chest but it was a hard first year, no doubt about it.

***Now that you're paced, you'll probably look back and recognize that you'd been having some problems for awhile - you just didn't realize it.

****Very soon, you'll be feeling better and stronger than EVER.  You won't be tired all the time and winded walking upstairs in your house!  We take so much for granted.

Indeed, God has given you a wonderful gift: a PM.  I'm 4 years into the journey and think about my device and my heart each day, mostly to give thanks for such a miraculous appliance.  We have very few limits and my life has improved because of my PM.

So, Jannie, welcome to the club!  Keep reading and asking questions.  The people here are knowledgeable and willing to share what they know and help us.  

Niecey

welcome!

by Tracey_E - 2018-05-17 09:53:22

Sorry you're a member but very glad you found us. Yes, it gets better!!!! The time to be scared was before when you were flatlining. Now you have a super duper high tech computer making sure that doesn't happen. It's all uphill from here. Learning about my condition and how the pacer worked helped me a lot. I can accept what I can understand. Know you're not alone, lots of us have been around this block and live healthy, active lives. Let us know how we can help you. 

Hard at first

by Theknotguy - 2018-05-18 12:18:49

Yeah, it's hard at first to get your head wrapped around the situation.  Harder sometimes to learn to trust the equipment but eventually you do.  

I come from a tech background so like TraceyE the more I could learn about it the better I felt.  Others don't feel that way and that's OK too.  I know a couple of pacemaker owners who can't tell you their pacemaker manufacturer and whether or not they have one or two leads.  It's all what makes you comfortable.  

At first my mind was all over the place.  What if?   What if?  What if?  Didn't do me any good and accomplished nothing.  Finally settled down and just focused on one day at a time.  Got through the day.  Things were good.  Don't worry about anything else.  Life is good.  

Since I went through a traumatic experience before I got my pacemaker - CPR, collapsed lung, six day coma, I opted for working with a psychologist.  That helped too.  It's nice to be able to talk with a dis-interested third party who can give you a different perspective.  Am not saying you need to do the same thing, but if you're really stressed out it's another option.  

Members on the forum are here to help.  After all, we've been where you are and know what it feels like.  Hope you can relax a little more.  And I hope your recovery goes well.  
 

must be kind of a shock

by AgentX86 - 2018-05-19 12:36:52

It must be kind of a shock to go from "perfectly fine" to a pacemaker, in a couple of days.  In my case it was more or less the direction I was traveling for a couple of years, so it wasn't a surprise at all.  In fact, it simply removed the choice I was having to make.

I've been in atrial fibrillation and flutter for a decade and have had bypass surgery (which made things much worse), then multiple ablations in the failed attempt to stop the flutter.  Last February, while we were skyping with our family, I almost passed out so my wife hauled me off to the ER.  They didn't find anything in the hospital (they did but ignored it) so sent me home with an event monitor to wear for  a month.  At 3:00AM on the third day (a Friday), I got a phone call telling me to head to the ER.  I already had an appointment with my electophysiologist at 9:00AM that morning, so skipped the ER (probably wouldn't have gotten out of there to make the appointment ;-).  Anyway, the following Monday, I had the pacemaker implanted.  I'd had an 8-second pause, so the PM decision was made for me.

In your case, the outcome is similar but you haven't had the time to prepare yourself.  Just look at it as your guardian angel.  You might not be around without it.

Thanks

by lj_ranch - 2018-05-22 23:01:00

Thank all of you for your responses.  I truly appreciate it and your encouragement.  God Bless each of you❤️

Jannie