Anxiety and overall recovery

Life expectancy

by AgentX86 - 2023-06-29 11:48:53

Welcome to the group (sorry to see you here).

Please, do not use Dr. Google, at least until your anxiey drops to zero. The statistics as skewed, not well explained and, like all statistics, lie. The fact is that you will live longer than without it.  It has corrected a problem that could have killed you.  One down.  There are still a million things that still  could.  A safe could fall off a building and squish you.  Your pacemaker isn't going to help (or hurt).

The pacemaker will fix that one, specific, problem but it can't fix any other underlying problem so you have to work with your doctors to make sure there isn't anything else.  There usually isn't.  Most often the electrical system breaks, while the plumbing is just fine.

Other than the specific problem that the pacemaker fixed, there are few  major chages to your life, or life-expectancy.  Don't worrry. Be happy.

On the same path.

by grendl - 2023-06-29 12:30:48

My situation sounds very similar to yours! I'm two weeks in. Fainting, heart stopped several times, now have a PM -- lots of questions, getting lots of (often quite different, conflicting, sometimes completely at odds) answers :-)

For the moment I'm focusing on the fact that I very probably wouldn't be here without the PM -- very happy it's in place, and eager to resume my normal life. Hope things go well with you. 

Thank You - Anxiety and moving forward

by Sfader - 2023-06-29 13:48:05

Thank you everyone for the support and direction.  Needed a fuel today and I found it.  I am greatful for the information and support.

Shelby

What you can and can't do

by Gotrhythm - 2023-06-29 16:06:59

I remember feeling all at sea, wondering the same things about two weeks after my pacemaker implant.

It's amazingly hard to wrap your head around, but the truth is, you still have the same body, the same heart you had before the pacemaker surgery. Yep. The same. It's not better or worse. If you had scarred lungs or a dodgy liver, you still do. If your arteries were clean, your muscles strong, they still are. And as for how long your body can live, now that you have a pacemaker, as AgentX86 says, it's not less than it was. And it's possibly longer than it would have been, if you hadn't been given the pacemaker.

After you've healed from the surgery, which takes a month to six weeks, you will be able to do pretty much anything you could do before, except hopefully, you'll feel better, less tired, more energetic, have better stamina. All the things you did before--without giving it a thought, you'll be able to do now--without giving it a thought.

The truth is, recovery after a pacemaker is far more mental than physical. And the limitations you face are far more mental too. You say you've recognized you have some self-work to do. That's good. Let that self work include deliberately choosing the thoughts that make your life better, richer, fuller. Challenge those anxiety thoughts, and change them to something that you want to see, rather than dwelling on what you're afraid will happen. See? Mental.

About what to read. There is a lot of misinformation, dire warnings about dangers to your pacemaker that are both outdated and just plain wrong out there on the Internet. I'm not going to tell you to avoid this or that, but do be prepared to take anything you read (including this comment) with a large tablespoon of salt. Cross-check and fact-check everything before you accept it.

Hugs❤️‍🩹

by Lavender - 2023-06-29 18:53:18

You're on the road to recovery physically and mentally. Your brain is wondering what the heck just happened. It's quiet now and you're experiencing post traumatic stress. I too fainted and did so for six months before I finally insisted on a thirty day heart monitor. Ten days into wearing it, I had a 33 second pause-dropped dead on my livingroom floor.  My guy revived me with an inadvertent precordial thump. 
 

My heart was failing electrically but the CRT-P fixed that. My brain was still in danger mode‼️

I felt old. I felt done for it. I got my affairs in order. 
That was two years ago. I'm now back to living life as well as -or even more active than my peers. 
 

How long will you live? Only God knows but it's a good chance it won't be that you die because of your heart. In fact, you just got a renewed life! 
Your brain will soon realize that you're safe. Give it time to adjust. 😉

SFADER

by piglet22 - 2023-06-30 08:23:40

You certainly aren't alone.

The more I talk to people about heart things, the more I reaslise that there are an awful lot of people out there in the same boat.

Just yesterday in casual conversation with neighbours, at least two more had their pacemakers.

My aunt and my cousins' husband have them.

Many people describe their unaccounted for falling down moments.

Get on with life and enjoy the fact you have something to help you along.

Just remember "keep that magnet away from me" and you'll be fine.

Two Weeks In

by Penguin - 2023-06-30 10:10:58

Hi SFader, 

The psychological impact of receiving a pacemaker doesn't respond to advice and commonsense unfortunately.  Your brain's likely to be in 'I'm at threat' mode at the moment and clinging to the concern that it could all recur.  Brains are very slow to catch up when threats are removed. They don't respond to 'you've got a pacemaker now - you'll be fine!' They need a bit of time to acclimatise and believe it and revert to fear very easily. 

Fears of death, fainting, falling and your heart stopping again may be some of the threats that your brain is clinging to. The aim is to help your brain realise that those threats have gone and this may take a while. Take some time to talk about what happened to you, face up to any fears and then gradually address them. 

It's a process.

Talking about what frightens you helps too.  You can talk your fears through here if you need to speak to people who understand or if you want privacy, you could speak to a counsellor.  Partners aren't always the best choice - often they see that you have a solution (a pacemaker) and want you back to normal.  It isn't always that straightforward!  Some partners / family understand and some don't. 

 We've all been through it and it shakes us all to varying degrees but the memory will eventually fade and your confidence will return. Have faith in that but lean on us if you'd like to. 

Anxiety and Recovery - Thank You

by Sfader - 2023-06-30 11:02:50

I am amazed by the grace and support of this group.  What an incredible group of individuals.  You are welcome, encouraging, and yet bring challenge to moving forward in life.  I feel blessed to have found this group.  As many have pointed out it is a period of healing, my mind as well as my body.  I seem to be getting hot easier, is that part of the healing process as well?  Tuning into my body is somewhat new and I don't want to overthink it, but to be concious of my mind, spirti and body.  

Greatful for you all,

Shelby

Getting Hot

by Penguin - 2023-06-30 13:10:59

Not sure about getting hot during recovery Shelby. Maybe someone else may have had that experience but not me. 

Sometimes how we feel isn't necessarily due to the pacemaker, but when something new happens to us after having a pacemaker implanted it's completely normal to think that it may be linked.  You will feel different - but hopefully in a positive way e.g. you will begin to feel a lot better. 

Thank you for your kind response to everyone who answered. It will be a pleasure to see you posting here.

Hot stuff

by Lavender - 2023-06-30 19:50:09

Yes!! I can't tolerate the heat like I used to! I mentioned this to my cardiac nurse and she said that I need to stay out of the heat now. I noticed anything above about 75 degrees F is out of my comfort zone🥵

The A/C is set at 74 and I sleep with a ceiling fan going.