1st Pacemaker Replacement

• by Pookie
• 2015-11-30 04:11:55
• General Posting
• 1027 views
• 8 comments

Hi Everyone!!!!!!

It has been quite some time that I have visited here.

For about the last year and a half I have been going to get my pacemaker interrogated every 3 months and FINALLY (without any warning) I was told on November 26th that I need a new pacemaker and it is going to be on Friday, December 4th!!! I don't even know if I am in EOS (end of service) but does it really matter???

I am beyond terrified. I say this because of what I went thru 11 years ago. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Short story: Had dual lead pacer for bradycardia and one of the wires punctured a hole in my heart and your heart is in a heart sac, mine filled with blood (took 2 days after initial surgery) and then I coded not once, but twice and had to have emergency surgery to fix the problem. Then one of the leads kept falling and hence 3 more surgeries - all within 10 days of staying in the Cardiac Critical Unit. Then 5 months after THAT, yet another surgery because the pacer migrated into my armpit. For 5.5 years I felt like crap then finally a PM Tech figured it out that my Optimization setting should be OFF when in fact 99% of pacer patients tolerate ON. It is part of the Rate Response. I was beyond fatigued and short of breath and with one little setting I got my life back!!!!

After all that I went thru I was diagnosed with PTSD and just the thought of going in for this type of surgery has me in a tailspin. I am sure I will be fine, but tell my mind that - LOL.

I meet with the cardio team this Tuesday, so hopefully some of my anxieties/questions will be answered. I'm just so shocked that I am getting my pacer changed so quickly - but I guess it is best to get it over with.

Just thought I'd update you all - those who remember me :)

Take care and I hope everyone is doing well.

Pookie