6 days post pacemaker implantation

• by Cmandersonrn2010
• 2019-12-18 08:43:21
• Coping
• 1032 views
• 3 comments

Hey everyone. I'm 38 years old and had to have a pacemaker placed 6 days ago. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting my week to end like that. Then again, 2019 has been a year of unexpected events. My 16 year old son had a heart attack in January.  That lead us to find a congenital birth defect known as an anomalous left coronary artery with an interarterial and interseptal course. He had open heart surgery to repair it in August. He is already back to wrestling and doing amazing. My husband nearly dropped dead from a heart attack in February.  He was found to have an 85% blockage in his LAD. They put a stent in and he is doing wonderful. Two knee surgeries later (one for me and one for my 14 year old son) we thought we were finally done for the year. Last week I started showing symptoms of CHF so I went to the ER. They hooked me up to the heart monitor and found my heart rate to be in the 30's. I've always ran a low heart rate (40's-50's) and would have occasionally near syncope, dizzyness and shortness of breath. I've noticed a decline in my energy level in the past few months and during the time of my knee surgery my heart rate was noted to have dropped down in the 30's but I still seemed to be compensating at that time. I guess I just quit compensating.  The cardiologist performed an echo, looked at all of my EKG's and bloodwork, reviewed my medications and said there was no other cause for my bradycardia other than sick sinus syndrome and said I needed a pacemaker right away. A few hours later it was in. I can honestly say I feel like a new person. These past few days I have had energy. I had been dealing with pain from inflammation every day for so long. My joints hurt so bad that I didn't want to move. I had knots forming on the soles of my feet to the point where it hurt to walk. All my bloodwork came back fine and we just couldn't find the cause for all the inflammation.  I can honestly say i have been pain free for 6 days!!!! I feel like I've been given the gift of life. Now I am just trying to adjust to life with a pacemaker. I've noticed a thumping feeling every once in a while. It feels like there is something inside my chest flicking my heart. Sometimes it feels like a double flick, like a gallop. It usually doesn't last long but this morning it has gone on for about an hour and a half. Has anyone felt this with theirs? My follow up is on december 30 and I have my box next to my bed. I assume they can see if there is a problem.  Does the box download information automatically every night or only when I submit it? Still trying to get used to everything.  I'd appreciate any input.