Anxiety about my pacemaker

I wanted to say that I am new and this site is great. I wish I would have found it 2 yrs ago but at that time I was in denial about the pacemaker. Since then I have had this fear that my battery will die or my leads will come loose and I will drop dead.
Am I the only one that feels that way? Last week I was called and told to go to the ER immediately. They had read the holter that I wore the week earlier and found several pauses. They cant beleive I never passed out. The chance of me dropping dead was also high. So I ended up in surgery. The pacemaker was removed from my abdomen and a new one was placed in my chest. The said that is was possibly a lead fracture.
Now I'm even more terrified that I could drop dead after this. I also have no underlying rhythm. so no battery no life!!

6 Comments

Welcome!

by pacergirl - 2008-01-18 11:01:56

Hello Holly, nice chatting with you.

I was reading your post and I think the system proved to be a lifesaver for you.

If it were me, I would be feeling a lot safer now, that you have a new pacer. The system check showed the docs what they needed to know. They were able to keep you alive and healthy!

I too have to rely on my pacer to keep me going. I pace at 95%. So I say oh well.... it is always something. I'm just glad I have it!

Good luck!
pacergirl

Battery

by janetinak - 2008-01-19 03:01:02

Hi, I can relate with the fear of battery failure as that was one of my chief worries. Who hasn't taken a flash light out of the drawer & its dead. That was my fear & I am lucky to have a great EP team. The Dr's Nurse who is an Advanced Nurse Practioner spent a 1/2 hr with me (& didn't charge for time) & explained that there is plenty of warning. So when my 1st PM's battery was getting low I got some SOB & was checked on phone & sure enough it was wearing down. The SOB was the PM refusing to speed up for increased activity & conserving energy so it can keep going. SOB was not a big deal but a warning. I am 100% paced so I feel a lot better that what I was told happened. Don't have any experience with lead fractures but sure some of great PM buddies will respond.

Keep on pacing- Janet

welcome

by Blueaustralia - 2008-01-19 05:01:12

I am pacing 100 per cent. At first I used to think what if this happened or that happened. My anxiety level was very high. I also suffer from depression. ` As time went by I found myself thinking less and less and maybe I wondered if it was a case of building up confidence. This site has been of enormous help to me and as I live in the country miles from anywhere I could not have managed without my pacer friends. So Welcome and keep in touch with us all. It does help. Sincere regards.

I can understand your anxiety

by bambi - 2008-01-19 09:01:14

Gosh, after what you went through, of course you must be feeling anxious! Thank goodness you had a holter moniter on to alert the Dr.s to your problem. It would be wonderful if we could have guarantees on products [and a pacemaker is a product], but reality shows us that there aren't guarantees. We can't be sure we won't be hit by a bus crossing the street, but these things are out of our hands. Don't worry too much about things you have no control over. You are actually safer with your pacemaker than without it. After the stress of this latest scary episode lessens, you will feel more confident I hope!
Bambi

best friend

by lindsay - 2008-01-21 09:01:21

One of my best friends Madeline has had her pacemaker since she was born. I met her through a Heart-to-Heart program through Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Imagine being a little kid and her parents knowing that she would die without her pacemaker. Just remember to be happy that your pacemaker can help you and that things could always be worse. People like you are very lucky!

Hello!

by uvagershwin - 2008-01-25 07:01:43

Hi! Yeah, I feel like that sometimes, but knowing that I am not totally dependant also gives me reassurance. I am sure you will be alright, since PMs are tested many times before put in people's bodies! Lol. :)

Keep smiling and try to let your negative thoughts leave.

Sydney

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