Needing a pacemaker

Well im pretty new to this so all help is welcome! Im 21 years old and told I need a pacemaker. I just wanted to see if you guys could help me out! Thanks Rachel

4 Comments

rachel

by jessie - 2007-12-12 11:12:00

hello dear, welcome to this site. we are a bunch of crazies but wonderful people who care and love and live to the best of our ability. there are young and old. learn from both. we are here for you. we were all where you are at one pont. take jessie

Hi,

by randrews - 2007-12-12 11:12:09

Everyone here has experienced the news that they need a pm or some other device. It can bring on a whole bunch of emotions that come and go.
Can you let us know more about what led to you needing a pm. What are your feelings about it? This site is a great place full of information, encouragement and comraderie. There are quite a few young people like yourself here.
Take care friend, stay in touch,
Rusty

welcome

by gevans - 2007-12-13 09:12:14

Hi Rach,

This is the best group ever! There is such a wealth of knowledge here - and the willingness to share it. I personally love the encouragement and advice. You painlessly learn from others rather than "trial and error" on your own (which in this area is not the way you want to go).

I was so excited to get a "new beginning" that I was a bit overzealous in my approach to living "post-implant" and was cautioned to ease back into it. Now things are just fabulous because of the great advice I received here (which is sadly missing from some in the harried medical community).

You will also see a lot of posts regarding how apprehensive a lot of newcomers are. Its natural to feel that way, but when you get assurances from all the veterans in this group you will relax and adjust to the new device you will be carrying with you. It won't be long until you don't even notice it, much less dwell upon any restrictions. More than likely, you will feel just the opposite and relish the "new" you and all the possibilities that lie ahead in your life thanks to this surgery.

Enjoy...and keep in touch with us,

Gary

Welcome to the best club ever!

by ela-girl - 2007-12-13 12:12:43

Hi, Rachel!

Well, the 3 posts above really said it all! You have come to the right spot to have your questions answered and feel supported. I am 30 (I don't know if that's considered young, old, or in between--it's all a matter of perspective anyways) and got my life back after getting my pacemaker. It's been a year and 2 months today since getting it and I'm so thankful. It takes time to adjust to a pacemaker but it allows you to get back in the game and enjoy living life. I can now do things that I hadn't been able to do in years--like driving and hiking! I can tell you that in the realm of heart surgeries, pm surgery is considered quite minor. That doesn't mean it's minor to us! Doctors usually leave us pacers with a lot of questions because they don't bother to fill us in on some stuff. So, please come here and check in often and ask anything...and I mean ANYTHING. Someone will have an answer for you.

So, please let us know WHY you are needing the pacemaker (your symptoms, conditions, and such) and WHEN you will be having surgery and HOW you are feeling about it all. It helps us to know a little more about your situation because I'm sure there is more than one person who has what you are dealing with and can be even more of a help to you.

Private message me sometime if you'd like to talk more. I'll give you the low down!

Stay positive!
ela-girl

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.