Helloooooo :) 3rd pacemaker coming up soon

Hello everyone - I've been off the grid for awhile now but that seems to be changing for me. I have a dual St. Jude pacemaker. Has a 10 year plan they said. That was in 2010. Well seems that my heart ahs decided to stop working all togehter. Nothing. I have no natural beating of my heart anymore. I learned this a few weeks ago. I went into a "What in the heck" kind of thinking. It has really taken me by surprise. I have gone through the total denial thing, the now what do I do thing, the Oh My Gosh! thing. Now, I'm in the asking questions mode.  So, I asked my dr. WHY?  He simply stated that my heart has stopped funtioning at the level it has been at since 2005.  That was the year I received the first PM. In 2010 I received the 2nd PM. It was projected to last 10 years! Wow, that's great I thought. Then a few weeks ago I got the call that says I now need a new PM 1 year earlier than projected. I asked how did you know? My Merlin alerted my dr. of my distress. That's right, the MERLIN sent a message that my PM was going to be running out of life sooner than expected. Wow! So-on April 22 I will receive my 3rd PM.  This time I am taking on an entirely new attitude. I am doing some research as to what kind of St. Jude PM I might get. This time I am being proactive.  I will know which PM my Dr. may choose from. I've already downloaded the pdf manuals for the 2 models of PMs that St. Jude makes for my situation. I find this most interesting-sure beats being scared all the time.  Call me crazy but I like to know what's available. And... I hope I actually get 10 years on this 3rd one. If not then I want a partial refund! hahahah

10 Comments

Welcome Home!!

by donr - 2019-03-18 00:33:29


A lot of water has gone over the bridge & under the dam since you took your sabbatical.  Sorry it had to end this way.  Wish you the best in your path toward a new life.  I';vew said it man times - the PM is far more reliable long term than your native heart.  The PM didn't quit eqrly, your heart rolled over on its back, folded its little old legs into its belly & grew little X's where its eyes were.   At least there is a solution for your problem.  Back in the 1950's, before you were born, ther was solution  Yu'll make it to 100 yet!  See you are still a member of the "Red Hat Club."  That & a purple dress sure stand out in the lobby of Cracker Barrel.

Donr

 

 

 

 

 

You Make me smile

by pacergirl - 2019-03-18 00:48:37

Donr, it's so good to see you!  I'm still a Red Hatter, we always have a lot of fun. So many of the ladies are so sweet. I really enjoy the friendships there. 

My new PM will be fine, I was just so surprised by the way it came about. I'm doing ok mos tof the time... just getting so old hahahhaha.  I hope to live to be 100! Just like you were saying!  I love how you described how my heart gave up! HAHAHAHHA :-). love it, made me laugh!

susan

by jessie - 2019-03-18 02:37:12

it's good to be proactive. i havent been on in awhile. hoping and praying things go well for you.jessie really miss you 

9 is close to 10

by Tracey_E - 2019-03-18 10:11:53

How did you get up to 3 already?!?! Guess we've known each other a few years more than I thought lol.

10 is an average and a guess so 9 is pretty good. I've never had one last longer than 7! This last one is 4 years old now and the last check said 9 years, every one before that said 10+ so I'm pretty happy with that. It's not just how much we pace, it's also how much juice it takes to make the heart beat, condition of the leads, extra bells and whistles we use, safety margins... lots of factors so it's hard to  predict exactly how long it will last. 

#3

by pacergirl - 2019-03-19 10:28:13

haha, that's exactly what I was asking? Where has the time gone?  2005 was my first implant and that doesn't seem that long ago!  I guess I have taken it for granted that I my PM would keep me going. Doc says that my heart is in "total failure" haha, which has run this PM down far faster than projected. The Heart Block has gone from working on it's own at 50% of the time to 0% of the time.  Guess it's jsut done. Oh well, at least the PM I have picked up the slack. Thanks be to God. So, that changed everything. My dr is great, he has a plan~ he ressasured me. Life is good, I'm going fine and my new PM date is next month. It's so good to be reconnected with you all again.  I see you are doing well with your marathons!  Well done. I'm trying to walk some with my fat little pug "Frank". he rescued me/ hahahaha

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2019-03-19 10:57:01

Pacing 100% isn't a big deal, many of us do. Welcome to the club! lol Your heart is still doing the work, it just needs the little kick in the pants more often now.

Heart failure is usually when it's not beating strong enough to circulate the blood, which is not at all the same thing as how much it beats on its own. 

pacing

by Cheryl B - 2019-03-19 13:54:03

Pacergirl:

I am also 100% paced.  Found out at the last ICD change this past May.  But I try and use it to my advantage.  I tell people I could drop down dead at any minute if the batteries are not Duracell.  I like them better than Ever Ready.  LOL.  So far no one has given me any sympathy.  Probably because I keep moving, and I am much more energetic than most people my age.  Your attitude is great, and I truly believe that's also what's kept me out of depression and the "Why me" syndrome.  I'll say a prayer for you tonight and I know you'll be fine.  You are actually one of the people who helped me back in 2010 when this all first started happening and I was so confused.  So thanks.  I owe you a prayer.

Cheryl B.

:-)

by pacergirl - 2019-03-19 21:03:40

Ahhhhh, you are so kind! I helped you back in 2010? Wow, I am so tickled that you even remember!. I'll take that prayer and say one for you.  :-). Seems my heart is bigger now than it should be... my husband says it's just a part of me and that it's all in how we look at things... We can't change it so He says I have a BIG heart! hahahha, Crazy guy, I'm so grateful for him.  Thank you for your kind thoughs.

5th

by ROBO Pop - 2019-03-20 10:54:03

No, not my 5th device, I'm drinking a 5th in celebration. Apparently the Pacer Chicks are getting the band back together?

So very good to see you. Unlike the others, I'm not paced 100%. I'm paced 200%...think about it you'll figure it out. Like the wisened old(remember when she was a pup?) TraceyE said, pacing full time aint a big deal. Get that new device and start raising a rucus around here again, it's so boring people are falling asleep.

Patch

hehehehhehe

by pacergirl - 2019-03-20 16:19:42

Oh Patch, it is so good to "see" you.  I have missed you very much! Your awesome personality, your funny comments and wonderful personality. 200% You make me laugh.  I will get my 3rd PM and this time it darn well better last the projected time. Ha! My Doc. jsut laughed at me and added "If you didn't go around speeding all the time, it would have lasted longer!" Love that guy, he always get's my sick sense of humor! So very, very good to see you!

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

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