After 15 months...

I had my PM implanted 15 months ago and all seems OK. I had my checkup yesterday; you know the one where they raise your HR and then drop it to about 40 bpm to check it out. I hate that feeling, but it’s necessary.

The doc said I had progressed to a complete heart block, but the pacer was doing its job well, and I have no physical limitations or activity restrictions. I do have some general questions:

1. Will my heart keep getting worse with the pacemaker and affect my quality of life, or should it help me maintain a good quality of life?

2. I noticed the past week that my breathing has been more labored when I walk. I have been attributing this to the onset of change of seasons and my congestion. I do have seasonal allergies. I assumed that since my exam went so well yesterday that I didn’t need to mention that to the doctor. Was that stupid?

3. Have some of you had delayed anxiety reactions to having this thing in your chest? I was told that mine should be good for about 7 years. I am at times still in disbelief about this whole thing.

Thanks for your input, and I hope you are all doing well.

Steve

3 Comments

time

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-21 10:10:31

1. I wouldn't say your heart is worse, it's just different, and it won't have any impact on your quality of life. IMO, it doesn't really matter if the block is second or third degree because it's all fixed the same way- with your pm. Your atria is probably beating more or less normally. When the ventricle misses the signal from the atria (that's the block), the pm steps in and forces it to beat. You should feel the same whether the pm helps out all the time or just intermittently.

2. It could easily be seasonal allergies. Fall used to be the worst time of year for me! (I'm in FL now, no fall) Treat the allergies and see if it helps, if not ask to be checked again. As long as it's just a little shortness of breath occasionally, I wouldn't bother calling. If it's all the time, so bad that you can't talk or you get dizzy, chest pain or pressure, stuff like that- call!

3. I can honestly say I've never really had any anxiety, but I was diagnosed as a child so living with a heart condition has been a way of life for as long as I can remember, and I felt so amazingly good after I got the first pm that I was like a kid with a new toy. But yeah, it's perfectly normal! Either immediately or after you've had it a while, it's perfectly normal. It's no different than people mourning who seem just fine for months then it suddenly hits them.

an fyi... getting the battery changed out when the time comes is super easy! Nothing close to the recovery time from the initial implant because they leave the leads.

r u talking about blocage

by walkerd - 2008-10-22 07:10:42

to your artiries the blocked u are talking about. i didnt know the pms helped blockage, ithought there where only a couple of things that they do to help blocage to the heart. ill wait for the gurus to chime in on this one

dave

Thanks

by bullito818 - 2008-10-22 09:10:56

Chrissie:

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I hope those who can sometimes confuse a "block", which is a conduction issue, with a blockage (arterial), get clarity with your post.
Thanks again!
Steve

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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