PM at 36

New life

by Theknotguy - 2019-06-06 10:43:24

Your questions are the usual questions asked.  Yes, it is a change in lifestyle but it isn't the end of your life.  So, to answer some of your questions.  

Can anyone tell.me what happens next? 
Next thing is to get the pacemaker.  

How will I feel after?
We can't answer how you will feel after.   Some people get a euphoric feeling at first because the body is getting more blood and oxygen.  Others feel the same, some people feel worse.  It just depends upon you and your body. I've had my pacemaker for six years now and I lead a "normal" life.  Sometimes going for days not thinking about my pacemaker.  But, then again, I'm on the forum a lot so am reminded frequently.  Others I know who have a pacemaker don't think about it until time for their checkup.  

Will it affect my life style?
If you live and extreme lifestyle such as free form mountain climbing, you are an arc welder, or you are a commercial pilot, it probably will affect your lifestyle.  Otherwise, probably not.  TraceyE, another member of this forum, is probably the most extreme doing crossfit training, and she leads a very active and "normal" life.  After the initial healing period, I went back to my same lifestyle with very few changes.  Actually the changes were due to  injuries received prior to getting my pacemaker and my ongoing heart problems but not to the pacemaker itself.  People tell me I'm the "picture of health" for my age and I have to laugh.  

Will I live as long?
There is no reason you won't live as long as you would without a pacemaker.  In fact, you'll probably live longer because your heart problems are being addressed.  

I wanted more kids. 
There are quite a few women who have had children after having a pacemaker.  So the pacemaker shouldn't be a reason not to have kids.  
 
My youngest is only 2!
Just had a conversation with my son.  Said he's really worn out chasing a four year old and a 1 1/2 year old.  Don't think a pacemaker will help him either.  

Can I still do this?
Yes, most certainly you can.  I won't go into the attitude conversation but a positive attitude does help.  Other than that you should be able to go on with an active and positive lifestyle.  

My best wishes for you.  
 

Relax

by AgentX86 - 2019-06-06 10:45:18

Given that you have the "wires" to both ventricles severely damaged, the chances are very good that you'll fell much better than you do today, the day after surgery and it'll only get better from there. Sure something can always go wrong but it's exceedingly rare that anything goes seriously wrong during the procedures.

OK, I've covered your first question.

2) Sure. It'll affect your lifestyle.  It'll make it better (if you choose to let it). Your heart will function normally. OK, you will have to put up with a few doctor's visits a more "normal" person wouldn't and some setting adjustments, perhaps. Maybe two office visits a year, after this year. You'll also need a replacement pacemaker in about eight years.

3) It will not affect your life span. In fact, the pacemaker will allow you to live longer than you would have without it. More importantly, it will allow you to live better. Will you live to be 98? OK, you got me with that one.

4) Can you have more children? Sure but you'll have to have help, at least for the first 30 minutes.

Chill out. It's only going to get better. You've got nothing wrong with you that can't be easily fixed with today's technology.

I was so scared to get a PM but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought

by Jo S - 2019-06-06 13:44:05

I'm so sorry you are going through this.  I can imagine how it feels to suddenly be diagnosed with a heart problem at your age because I was very suddenly diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure about 6 months ago.  I felt too young to be suddenly going through this when I felt fine at 46, so I can imagine it would be even worse at 36.

I was devastated when I found  out I had not responded to medication and would need to get a biventricular pacemaker with a defibrillator.  When I asked my cardiologist how most of his patients adjusted,  he said most of them didn't seem too bothered by it after the initial discomfort and adjustment.  Honestly, I thought he was clueless or his patients were lying to him.  

I'm less than a month out from getting my device, and now I see what he meant.  It was quite painful for a few days, but I am back to exercising and am leaving on vacation next week.  Mentally, it stills feel like a huge thing to wrap my head around, but the reality is that I can pretty much live my day-to-day life as I did before.

I know it's hard to believe that now, and I don't know the specifics of your medical situation.  But I did want to share that I found the adjustment much, much easier than I anticipated. 

Got mine

by Zackalope - 2019-06-06 23:25:43

Got mine at 28.

I felt better in general after the pacemaker.

I had a complication during insertion, which caused pain for a month, but I physically felt better other than that, just a little. I could run farther, faster.

Will it affect you? I hope so. I felt better, so I didn't take as good care of myself as I could have during 8 of the last 10 years I have had it. Hopefully it won't effect you negatively.

Will you live as long? I was told once that people with pacers, IN GENERAL, don't have a shortened lifespan compared to non-pacer people.

Can you have more kids? I have a 1 year old and 6 year old. I wish I had them younger, but yes, you can have kids. If you are female, however, check with your obgyn but I doubt it will effect much depending on a few factors.

A block isn't that bad - I have a genetic FULL block, full AV. So worse than yours, so I would jump at the pacemaker if you have a block in order to promote your heath if that is what the cardiologists think.

Keep up the posts, support helps.

Thanks all

by Osbo82 - 2019-06-07 18:22:21

Thanks all for.your responses. I am now scheduled for an echo next week and a 48hr ecg also next week. We have bupa through work so it's all.happening very quickly. Hoping to have answers in a couple if weeks. 

Sounds like I will be feeling better with more energy after the op so that sounds exciting!

Will keep.you posted. X

You'll be fine

by jeffreybiri - 2019-06-08 20:32:09

I have had my pacemaker since I was 12 years of age and I am currently 32 with a little 16 month old girl. The 20 years I've had this pacemaker it really didn't stop me from doing everyhting I wanted to do, especially physically. Sure you probably can't be a professional wrestler now or MMA fighter or football player but you can still play other sports like basketball, surf, skateboard etc. To answer your question:

How will I feel after? 

You'll probably feel better, if the doctors are recommending one I can't see how this wouldn't help. Just take good care of yourself, exercise, eat well and avoid stress and I think you'll be perfectly fine. There was a time in my life where I was terrible out of shape and overweight and it affected my heart and increased my pacemaker activity but as soon as i lost the unwanted weight and got a much stronger cardio and stronger heart from working out I immediately felt better and the doctors could tell the difference.

Will it affect my life style?

Sure it might affect your lifestyle, but it all depends on what kind of lifestyle you have. If you go balls to the walls with activities like skydiving, mountain climbing and high action sports then it probably will but if you aren't into that you'll still live a great life. Honestly I've had my pacemaker for about 2/3's of my life and I don't think it really changed my lifestyle. I still partied in my 20's and lived to tell about it. Granted I never was a rager but the pacemaker didn't hinder me or stop me from doing so.

Will I live as long?

I have met people who have lived to see 80+ years with a pacemaker so I think we are all fine. As long as you stay healthy.

My youngest is only 2! I wanted more kids. Can I still do this?

Yes of course! I plan on having at least 1 more. Like I said just keep up with some exercising and you'll still be able to chase these little ones everywhere and even play sports with them.

I hope this helps. Cheers!

Bundle Branch

by RedRocksGirl - 2019-06-11 02:25:26

I got my first device this past January due to heart failure, had a block in the left bundle branch. The next morning I IMMEDIATELY felt better! It was amazing to me, I knew it had been bad, but didn’t realthiw bad until I was feeling good again!

I was very active until about 6 months before my ICD and have had to wait a little longer than most to get back into anything very physical (I’m on crutches and use my pec muscles with each step I take so needed extra care in letting them heal up.) but I just did a great hike/rock climbing 2 days ago and felt fabulous! We were even at a pretty good altitude and I didn’t experience any shortness of breath or increased heart rate  . It was heavenly.

My own kids are pretty much grown now, but I work with 20+ five year olds everyday and am able to keep up with them just fine. 😉

Best of luck to you!

Don't stress

by joelz82 - 2019-06-17 15:16:43

Hello,

First those are great questions, second take a breath your going to be better than fine. I am just over a year into my first pacer, implanted at 36 years of age. I can relate trust me, first time in my life I can say I was truly anxious about anything. All experience's are different however within a week I had a noticable change for the better. I feel 10 years younger, I used to have a hard time chasing my 3 children, now it's so gratifying to not have to catch my breath and instead actually catch my children. 

It's important to stay positive and not what if your self, I did all that to the point that I had to take anxiety medication for the week before the implant. You are going to come out better than you went in.