Worried and scared

moe72

by zawodniak2 - 2018-12-01 09:55:28

Your symptoms will not improve and resolve themselves on their own.  In most cases, they become more frequent and potentially dangerous with time (like fainting/passing out at the worst time}.  A pacemaker will resolve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. It is quite normal to be alarmed and concerned when faced with our situation.   Trust the amazing technology and try to use an electrophysiologist for your procedure.   

                                       Rodger 

Sarah

by doublehorn48 - 2018-12-01 09:58:24

In august 1987 I walked into our apartment and picked up my youngest daughter, Sarah.  I started crying and my wife asked what was wrong.  I told her that I didn't know what was wrong with me but someone in their mid thirties shouldn't be gasping for air when they walked up a few stairs.  I told her that I would never see Sarah turn twenty.   My wife took me to the ER at Yale New Haven.  A week later I had the first dual chamber pm that Yale New Haven had ever implanted.

Last Thursday we went to Sarah's house for Thanksgiving.  Sarah has two children.  Granpa got to play with all four grandchildren.  And there's one on the way.

Not only are you going to walk your daughters down the isle you are going to have grandchildren to enjoy.

Life just gets better.

M. Scott

Grieving process....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-12-01 10:37:55

We all go through the shock and fears when we get the news.  It really is part of the grieving process.  Talking about it with others helps,  learning about your heart condition and how the pm will help also helps.   There are alot of people out here with alot of experience and knowledge.  For the most part we are not medical professionals, just regular folks having gone or currently going through it.   Take the time to cry, the time to grieve, but then get back up on your feet and get the device implanted.  Learn about it and how to talk to your doctor about various settings based on your lifestyle.  Good luck!

Thank you

by Moe72 - 2018-12-01 12:07:06

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my post. It made me feel much better not only emotionally buy fiscally !! :) Seems to me like doctors and insurance move like molasses ! I hope they can give me an answer soon so I can move forward !! I wish all of you the best.

Moe

Relax

by El Gordo - 2018-12-01 20:37:35

I got mine June 5th and it gave me my life back !

I didn't know how sick I was until after the PM went in. Balance, endurance, cognitive function all hugely improved, and no more major head rushes. It's been a blessing.

Don't worry, I'm sure it's a surprise, but these things work. You just have to get your head around it.  Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it. You're lucky they identified the problem before you had an incident, and that it can be dealt with so simply.

Don't tell yourself a bunch of nonsense, and if you do, don't listen.

Gracias

by Moe72 - 2018-12-01 20:46:04

Thank you Gordo and all who replied....your words and advice have meant a lot to me.

The record is........

by donr - 2018-12-02 01:26:14

....approaching 50 years!  That's only because the PM wasn't invented much ealier than that!  I,ve had mine fortSSS since Feb 2003 - & I'm a piker!  Looking for my 3d device next year.  You are lucky - the PM was developed just for SSS.  It now solves a lot more complex problems than that.  If you do ot get struck by lightning, or smacked by a speeding concrete mixer while crossing the road, you'll do all those things you talk about.

Donr

I feel for you

by RoyT - 2018-12-02 03:30:29

In February of 2018, i had someone take me to the ER.  I had been feeling extreme fatigue and passing out for a couple of days.  My decision to go to the ER finally came when I could barely stand on my own.  I got right into triage for vitals and EKG.  My heart rate was in the 30's.  I was taken back immediately.  I waited a couple of hours for the cardiologist to come exam me.  During that time, I received a dinner plate. 

The cardiologist wanted to take me right in for a pacemaker, but couldn't because i had just eaten.   I was kept in the ER over night, hooked up to monitors and checked on by nurses frequently.  That night, I cried, prayed, and cried some more.  I really didn't want the pacemaker.

None the less, I went to surgery first thing in the morning.  I was given some IVs to relax me and to block pain.  I was awake during the proceedure but didn't care.  I didn't feel pain, but I could feel the pressure of the doctor poking around in my chest, attaching the leads.  The proceedure didn't take long.  I was kept in the hospital two more nights.

I didn't have post surgery pain, just some discomfort for a couple of weeks.  I had weight lifting restrictions for six weeks (nothing over ten pounds with my left arm) but was otherwise back to normal routine upon release from the hospital.

My health is so much better since getting the pacemaker.  I have a much better walking endurance and feeling much better.  If I knew how the PM would improve my life, I would not have had any reservations about getting it.  My advice is this: if the doctor thinks you need it, then go for it.

I do have a scar between my collar bone and shoulder, but a small price to pay for what the PM has given me.

You'll be alright

by TTT34 - 2018-12-03 01:11:55

Hey I got my pacemaker 12 months ago at the age of 35. I have two young children and I was really worried as well. I think the anxiety is partly because...well it is scary...but I also think that when our heart isn't working properly it can impact on our mental wellbeing as well (fatigue, lack of oxygen etc). I feel better physically and mentally! In 12 months time you will forget you even have this little thing attached to your heart! Good luck.