Newbie Here!

Trauma + pacemaker

by lyn1951 - 2018-12-04 18:49:48

I would be surprised you did not feel a little off balance being told you have a heart problem and being in hospital having that pacemaker installed.

Wow as my husband put it, when they switched the pacemaker on, his energy levels were back to feeling like he had not felt in the previous five years, since his cardiomyopthy had occured, cause unknown, apparently he was telling them to get on with it, installing the pacemaker, instead of talking about where they were going for their easter holidays, helps us remember when he had it installed, thursday one day befor easter.

he had slow urine flow, and bicep pain that was dismissed as not relevant for 15 months, prior to his heart slowing to 30bpm, and then in hospital to 23 bpm. 

When his heart issue first occured he also at the same time lost his job, carpenter, unable to climb stairs, so we had the double whammy, we both went for counselling, recommended by the heart hospital, and she helped us over the first hurdles, why were we so depressed, the shock of the diagnoses, after never having been sick in his life, being sooooo unwell, wonderful to learn how our brain goes to the worse case senario first, fight or flight response, i suspect this is what is happening to you at the moment.

It was re-assuring to us that the pacemaker was not going to allow his heart to go out of rythum again,  it just chunks along and has for the last 3 years or so, and he gets on with his hobby as a beekeeper, which we are building to be a income earning source, so rewarding for him to know he is working again, he does not know how to stop, even Dr's in the hospital commented to me, does he ever stop, NO I replied, Dr suggested to me find him something to do when he gets home, that was a big ask of me as I was not well either, waiting for hip replacements. but between heart rehab, conuselling, mens shed, garden center for flat walking, even shopping centers for flat walking.

Thank you

by Lulu2018 - 2018-12-04 19:00:25

Thank you all so much for such reassurance! I appreciate that you knew exactly how I am feeling, so that helps me feel more "normal"! 😁 

Again, I am so happy I found this group! 

I am going to take your advice and "pace" myself during the next few days! 😉

Right there with you

by Ali W - 2018-12-05 00:46:54

Hi Lulu,

I am on day 4 with my pacemaker and have to say I can’t tell too much of a difference yet. I have noticed the occasional “thump” in the chest that seems to spur my ticker to take off a bit... other than that I am still pretty sore and wanting to lay around the house. I feel like this is expected at this point. I am trying to learn to enjoy my time at home by watching series I haven’t had the time for and taking cat naps. 

I hope you feel well soon. Good luck!

Ali