Newbee

Usually no

by Jered - 2018-12-02 18:03:57

I got my  pm at 30 and for the most part I do not notice it I think a lot depends on why you have it and what kind it is how many leads and what have you tho ha that it has limited me on are I can no longer run a chain saw weed eater now every now and then I do feel it “kick on” if you will but I’ve got mine for complete heart block I do wish you the best and if you have any questions feel free too ask 

Newbee

by Trevsgirl06 - 2018-12-02 18:06:38

Thank you Jared! They haven't told me as yet what kind I will be having but I'm sure when they do I will have lots more questions. 

My circumstances were very different, but ...

by LondonAndy - 2018-12-02 20:06:50

... having had no heart rhythm issues before, I needed a pacemaker when they damaged* the electrics of my heart when replacing my aortic valve due to calcification.  This means that I am 100% paced, and all I can say is that i pretty much feel exactly the same as I did before the valve symptoms.  In fact it took me four months after the implant (which was a week after the open heart surgery for the valve) to even think about it!

So I hope you will find you will have a more normal life with the pacemaker.  If you feel anything when it "kicks in", it will be a good feeling, not a bad one.

* I use the word 'damaged' but this is not a criticism of the surgeon - the electrics of the heart are very close to the valve, and not exactly colour coded like electric cables!  

welcome

by Tracey_E - 2018-12-02 20:34:36

Glad you found us! What is your diagnosis? 

I barely notice mine at all. They can place it so that it's out of our way and inconspicuous. 

It's very rare to feel it kick in. It sends a teensy tiny electric signal that mimics the signal our heart should be sending on its own, the heart responds by contracting. Sometimes people get the impression it's a big zap or something, but it's very minimal.

The only thing the pacer has stopped me from doing is roller coasters with magnetic brakes.  Once I was told no to laser hair removal at a spa but I asked again at a dermatologist and they called both their manufacturer and St Judes then said no problem. We can't get on scales that calculate BMI. I can't have an MRI but that's not really an issue with newer ones so you'll be fine there. Anything else goes. I hike, ski, kayak, ride other roller coasters, do Crossfit. I'm currently training for a half marathon. I had two babies after I was paced, normal pregnancies and deliveries. I've been paced since I was 27. I'm on #5 now so been around the block a few times. It sounds a lot scarier than it is. I knew I'd need it for 10 years before I got it. I'd built it up in my head to be something awful but the reality is I feel terrific, night and day from before, and my only regret was waiting so long. It's a tool to give us our lives back, don't give it more power than that. If you want to chat, feel free to message me.

Hi

by TTT34 - 2018-12-03 01:01:52

Hey I got my pacemaker at 34 (12 months ago). Mine is 100% pacing, and I forget that I have it! It was a longer recovery for me because my Doctor put it under my muscle, which was painful afterwards....but totally worth it. I am of a thin build and you cant even see it, only a small scar. I just though considering you are young this may interest you. :)

My Thoughts

by Brettmalec - 2018-12-03 04:44:38

Hi! I received my pacemaker at age 7 (Which I'm coming to find is pretty uncommon) for a second-degree heart block. I'm now nearly 17 and my day to day life has been normal. It has never stopped me from doing anything so far that I can recall. I still use lawnmowers and all (even though it's in that list of things your doctor advises you not to do when you get a pm because it can "interfere" with it) but overall nothing has held me back. I do feel my pacemaker kick in sometimes, more often lately. I've come to cope with it the only annoying thing to deal with for the most part will be pacemaker implant surgeries every 10 years or so (getting my second implant this January). In my case two of my leads are currently bypassed due to scar tissue blocking the connections. So I'm interested in how the lead extraction process is going to go. I'm hoping that these next leads will last longer than 10 years but I feel that with me getting my pm so young and with me growing had possibly caused an issue.