Pacemaker implantation

Welcome to the club

by Theknotguy - 2019-03-15 13:22:02

Welcome to the club you didn't want to join.  A lot of us didn't want to join either but we're here.  

Feel free to ask questions.  There will be a lot of things going through your head and the medical people don't always have time to answer.  For some of them you are the Nth patient and they do this every day so they're kinda immune to your questions.  Everything turns out OK in their experience so they don't take time to answer questions.  Very frustrating.  Oh, and the quick answer sheet I got from the hospital as I was leaving had a list of ten items. Four of the items were completely wrong, the next six were partially wrong.  So it was real hard at first to figure out what to be concerned about.  

There is nothing in the typical American household that will bother a pacemaker.  So you don't have to worry about anything in the house.  If you're on a farm, most things won't bother the pacemaker there either.  You will be warned about electric fences, but a long as you don't walk over and grab the fence with your bare hand you shouldn't have to worry about that either.  You don't have to worry about TV station broadcasting antennas, cell phone towers, and things like that.  

You can also look through the forum to see if there have been previous questions asked that will answer questions for you too.  

I hope your recovery goes smoothly and you adapt to the pacemaker quickly.
 

Thank You

by paula3166 - 2019-03-15 13:29:34

Thank you for the comment. I am sure I will have lots of concerns and I am glad I have others in the same boat to ask.

It's a surprise

by El Gordo - 2019-03-15 20:53:16

Mine was the same, caught before something happened. I thought it was low blood pressure. A lot of people find out after they wake up on the floor or in the hospital. I found the transition to be minor, and feel better now than I did for years before.

Robin1 response

by paula3166 - 2019-03-15 20:53:29

Interesting way of looking at it. I have had PVC’s since I was in my 30’s but now I have too high of a load over 15% and a LBBB block that is causing Bradycardia (30-40 bpm) with synscope. I also have atrial PAC’s. My cardiologist referred to it as a defect or aging condition. I was predisposed early on since they were noted in 2001 during a surgery where my heart stopped. They are progressing and he is worried about left ventricle being damaged. So whether it’s a disease or just plain aging it all around sucks when I feel like I am going to pass out, shortness of breath, and too lethargic to do anything. 

I myself hope the pacemaker helps this last year I have been so tired I can barely stay awake. I would like to have some semblance of normal back. 

Welcome

by angkbee58 - 2019-03-23 22:11:39

Glad you are here. I didn't know there was such a thing online called the Pacemaker Club.

This site has given me lots more information about the pacemaker procedure and the time you spend healing physically and mentally from the procedure.

Like you, I didn't have a major event that lead to the pacemaker. I fainted and felt faint a lot. My HR was in the upper 30's and low 40's a lot and I just didn't have any energy to do anything! I felt that way for years but nobody would run tests on me until I changed cardiologists! I hated to do that, but my former cardiologist didn't listen to me and didn't run any tests.

My cardiologist I have now, is always proactive and ordered a holter monitor for a week. That's when he identified Sick Sinus Syndrome and Tachycardia. I knew something wasn't right and he searched until he found it.

Everyone is right about the hospital and EP office not giving you enough information about what to expect. I was nervous and scared until just a few weeks ago. All kinds of thoughts ran through my mind about the procedure itself and how long it would take me to feel like normal again.

I am in my 7th week after the procedure and I am finally feeling more energetic.

Last week, I joined a gym. I never felt like working out when my HR was in the 40's. I had no energy. Now, I feel like I can go and go. Sometimes, I have to rest a few minutes, but I get back up and keep working at it.

I hope everything goes well with your procedure. Let us know how you are doing.