Nervous "Pacer"

I'm a Newbie both to this site and to having a Pacemaker. In fact I just had it implanted On Monday, 3 days ago. I could sure use a little reassurance that all will be well from all you veterans. I am 54 yo, suffered from tachycardia for yrs and then Whammo, developed an intermittent block that made life miserable, I guess it was a Tachy-Brady Syndrome type thing. At the moment I'm bruised and sore, and worry often that I might have one of those "complications" I've been reading about, you know a lead wire poking thru the heart, cardiac tamponade, and the list goes on. I'm trying to follow all the rules, but really I am scared and well, a little down about this new addition to my life. I'm kind of afraid to be too active for fear of having the tachycardia because will that dislodge the leads? I know these are all questions I can ask at my first pacer check and I will, but in the meantime any encouragement will help me cope.

5 Comments

Focus on the benefits!

by ela-girl - 2007-10-04 11:10:01

Hiya, Carol!

The first thing I want to say is to focus on the good and not the bad and all that could go wrong. I personally feel that attitude has a lot to do with how we feel, and you just might drive yourself crazy with worry. Besides, worrying won't heal you any faster. Now that's easier said than done, I know, but there is something to be said about keeping a positive mindset. :)

I totally understand being down and having to deal with all the emotional baggage that comes along with having a pm. I am 30 and had mine implanted on an emergency basis almost a year ago. But your pm will help you live your best life for a lot longer.

Now I'm no doctor, but I can't imagine your activity or tachy is going to dislodge your leads. One reason it is so important not to lift your arm past your shoulders, overextand your arm, pull with your arm, stretch your arm behind your back, and lift/carry anything over 10 pounds is to allow the leads time to entrench into your heart's wall. Usually we are told to watch this for the first 6 weeks. It does make for a bit of an inconvenience, but if you have questions on how to do some daily activities, just post something and watch the responses come in! Most of us are cleared to do our favorite activities within a few months (except possibly contact sports).

Just take your time and don't beat yourself up if it takes you weeks to feel better. It's hard to wait patiently for time to pass when you just want to feel 'normal' again. Use lots of pillows to prop yourself up to sleep and ice the incision area if it feels sore.

Welcome to this elite club. The people here are great! Feel better and keep us posted-
ela-girl

PS: I loved your use of "Whammo!" I haven't heard that in years! :)

Welcome!

by pacergirl - 2007-10-04 11:10:27

Hello Carol, my name here is pacergirl. My real name is Susan... hello. I am 54yo with heart block, tacky and bradycardia. and some sort of valve problem. ;-) after awhile I gave up on remembering all the "issues" unless I'm at the drs. So as I said, welcome, glad to know you. I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish. My thoughts are that if I pull a wire then somehow "they" will figure out how to give me a new one. So that's it for me now. If I break I expect that I will survive and my great Cardiologist will fix me. That's what he told me and I believe him. Just my thoughts, take care and welcome.

Hi Carol,

by Gellia2 - 2007-10-05 01:10:29

58 years old here and I had a "Whammo", too. But, mine was 32 years ago and I'm still ticking. When I got my first pacer in 1975, they didn't tell me any precautions so I promptly went out and bought a horse. This was after a dislodged lead and replacement three weeks after the first surgery. Now, I never said I could ride so I fell off that horse more than I stayed on but the lead stayed in place and so did my pacemaker. It got to the point where I forgot I had it and just enjoyed the ride when I could stay on. You will, too. Having a pacer takes some adjustment, and maybe I was just too young to think I was anything other than invincible, but you will learn to live a fairly normal life.
The people on this site have invaluable information and can help you with nearly anything. Make good use of us. We're here.
All the best to you,
Gellia

Hi there Carol

by gldoble - 2007-10-05 01:10:49

You will be just fine. 50 years here working on my next life span. I had mine done only 7 weeks ago. And all is good. Yes it will be a pain in the shoulder and you won't be able to sleep well for the 1st week. But then........tada, nothing changes. Except you now live like the rest of us with my new very best friend the Energizer Bunny.

Its easy to say not to worry or get to wond up about this but it will slide from you thoughts sooner than you think. I guess the reason is you realize "um I'm not going to die today and I suppose I'll wake up tomorrow" But at least my Heart will keep on Beat'n till its time to get the batteries changed.

My kids think its cool, I am now the Bionic Dad and you better believe I play this to the hilt. A slight case of going BORG gets them to bed in record time.

So hang tuff, enjoy you new found time and FEEL !!!!!

It's good to be here.

Your new friend

Greg

another newbie

by kginpaz - 2013-01-22 06:01:45

Hi Carol! I can certainly relate to your feelings- I also had a Whammo experience and had a pm installed a little over 2 weeks ago. I live in a rural area and was air-lifted to a hospital in a metro area for the surgery. I am 64 and have had no previous health problems at all, so this has been a big adjustment. I am still staying at our daughter's house, 3 blocks from the hospital where I had the surgery. I know I should go home, but I have been feeling secure knowing that the hospital is so close if I need it.

My pm surgery resulted in cardiac tamponade, which I experienced the day after the pm insertion, while I was still in the hospital. So I ended up having the procedure to drain the blood around my heart, and a stay in ICU for 2 more days.

I can relate to your doubts, fears, and worries! I have felt them also for the two weeks since surgery, but the last 3 days have finally been good, and I am feeling SO much better and closer to normal. I think that it just takes time and we just need to keep reminding ourselves that our hearts have been through some major changes and are trying to adjust. I think I will try to go home soon- everything feels a bit scary and I get anxious easily, but I just try to calm myself down. I hae never been the kind of person who freaks out easily, so this has been difficult, but I can see the light at the end of the dark tunnel!

My best to you- take it day by day and get lots of rest!

kginpaz

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