New Pacemaker

• by Mpete
• 2019-03-17 17:20:07
• General Posting
• 936 views
• 2 comments

Hi. Just wanted to give thanks to everybody here.  Aside from the doctor,  this is really the only place that has helped with advice and perspective throughout all of this. 

Just a small background.  I'm 29 years old and just had a single-chambered pacemaker implanted.  It was implanted due to having bradycardia but my AV node was really just mis-firing and throwing the whole thing out of sorts. I was passed from doctor to doctor with each telling me most of the same, some of it different.  They told me it would be dual-chambered and since I'm a small guy,  it would pop out and be noticable. This was also explained in ways to give the impression of limited mobility due to my personal physiology.  

Being 29, relatively young and spry, a lot of what I was being told was disheartening.  Not only is my heart slowing down where I'm a fall risk,  but the "fix" for such a thing leaves me with what sounds like a lessened quality of life.  It was all I was left with so that was the choice and the procedure was scheduled.  I lucked out though.  I went in for an MRI of my heart for another reason and I couldn't get off the table.  I had been symptomatic quickly and evidently.  They admitted me to the hospital and that's when a doctor gave me hope.  

The EP there was the foundation director that worked with the hospital.  Apparently top-notch and I found out why.  He explained in a polite way that he would advise a different approach.  He explained that a lot of doctors recommend the normal dual-chambered pacemaker even when it isn't totally needed.  He went on to say that doctors do get paid more for putting that type in so sometimes they may be gaining a bit more while keeping you safe and covered.  He said that in certain cases,  like mine,  he wouldn't go that way.  

All in all, I ended up with a single-chambered pacemaker implanted on my right side.  There is less wire so there wad no need to coil any up.  Along with that,  it was placed in such a way that I truly can't see it. There is no bulge or popping that can be seen at all. My mobility has not been hindered at all. I don't partake but the doctor even said that I could still fire a rifle with it at my shoulder. 

This may apply more so to the younger crowd but this is what I'm trying to say.  It can be and probably will be scary. It works.

  You're young and you may feel scared like your life is being cut short by what's going on and you may feel like you've lost control somehow.   You may feel like the solution only carries with it other problems. I was hesitant with a pacemaker and didn't want this "thing" inside me.  It works. I never knew what a normal heart beat was.  It feels amazing.  Once you begin to trust it. Trust that it's there to do its job and will do that job with precision.  Let the anxiety slowly fade away and let yourself trust your body again.  You have a new lease on life and this time, you're upgraded.  

I ask this though.  Please find yourself a good doctor. Find a doctor you can speak with about all your fears and concerns. There are doctors out there that want to help and will truly help you if you let them.  Be smart and avoid the ones that give you "that vibe" that you're just another patient and gets you in then out. 

Good luck to everyone going through any hardships. Hang in there. 

Thank you.