21yr old getting a pacemaker..

Hi I am a 21 year old female. I have a condition called IST, and a hole in my heart. I've been on soooo! Many medications, with little to no effect. I recently had ablation surgery and it didnt work : ( My IST is actually worse! The doctors now have informed me that I will be getting a pacemaker within the next month and a half...I'm really scared and was wondering if anyone can give me an insight on what it's like to live with one. Thanks all!

Amber : )

10 Comments

Hi Amber

by jenh - 2008-05-06 01:05:56

I was actually 11 when I got my first pacemaker! (I'm 35 now and just had my 4th one implanted last year.) I just wanted to say that I totally know what it feels like to be really scared. Each time I have another surgery, it feels like the first time all over again. But, I have to say that, in spite of a few minor complications over the years, having a pacemaker has been such a blessing to me. In my twenties I worked many very active jobs -- camp counselor, ski instructor, fitness center, kayak guide. I would never have been able to do any of those things with it!

It's very, very common to have anxiety, and even some depression around surgery and recovery, but I hope you can trust that the final outcome -- a healthier and safer life, will make the hard times worthwhile.

Best wishes! Jen

just quick....

by sweetkozy - 2008-05-06 02:05:40

Just a side note here......

Being so young, see if you can't get it placed under your pectoral muscle. I was 22 when I had mine done and my EP highly recommended it (due to my age....nice guy...lol). I'm 27 now and I am glad I chose too...... Based on some of the issues I have read about, being a woman and having a PM just under the skin. Look into it if you want. Got to get going, but if you have any questions just mail me. You will do great!

Cheers:)
Jenny

Like the Dentist.

by peter - 2008-05-06 03:05:17

Having the pacemaker implanted is no big deal. Its not like major invasive surgery. I would compare it as no more unpleasant than having a couple of teeth out. Just a bit of discomfort but no real pain. You will be more fascinated than frightened. Just relax and concentrate on what is happening as its your own personal experience. Living with one is no big deal either. I must admit that I think of my little friend several times a day but they are only happy thoughts. Relax you will be fine I promise you. Cheers Peter

Youngin

by OIMAPRINCESS2477 - 2008-05-06 10:05:11

Hi Amber welcome. I am also 21 with a pacer. I got mine in December 2007. My life has been the same as it was before the pacer except for the fact that im not passing out anymore. I try not to let the fact that I have a pacemaker change my life. I feel alot more healthy and normal now that i have it. I think the one effect the pacer has on me is that I can feel it when it goes off. Its like little butterflys in my chest. Its kinda funny. If you would like to talk more please feel free to send me a private message or email me at oimaprincess247@gmail.com.

Britt<3

Young Pacer

by scadnama - 2008-05-06 12:05:00

Hi Amber!

I am a 23 year old female. I have had my pacemaker for 6 months. It was initially implanted because my heart was going too slow and causing me to faint. I now suffer from IST as well. I had an ablation about 5 weeks ago, but it was unsuccessful, so they are going back in to do an SA node ablation in about 3 weeks. After the ablation, the pacemaker will do most of the work for me. If you have any questions, or just want to talk, feel free to send me a message anytime!

Amanda

amber

by jessie - 2008-05-06 12:05:04

hi it was nice talking to you in chat. keep coming back to the site. ask the young ones also to write to you. do not be afraid . it will be okay. jess it is a relatively simple procedure. they gave me something so i dozed in and out and before i knew it i was on my way home. so it wasn't bad. the first few weeks a little pain at the site. i used tylenol e.s. and ice packs. it healed okay. try not to get infection and you will be just fine., they will give you instructions at the hospital. so please don't worry too much. you will be fine. it is better to have the backup of a pacemaker. take care jessie

Welcome Amber!

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-06 12:05:06

Welcome to the club. I am sorry you are having such health problems for a young person. However, there are quite a few folks here that are pretty young!

I have a pacemaker, it has been 71 days since I received mine. I am a "senior" citizen, however. From the posts I have read most of the younger folks seem to recouperate much faster than some of us. We have friends who have a daughter who just graduated from college this year and she received her pacemaker when she was 15. It took her a bit to get it all settled down, but she had several heart problems and it solved one of them. She is living her life to the fullest now!

It is scary to think of a pacemaker, but I am sure you will do fine. My suggestion is to learn as much as you can about it. Ask your doctor to give you lots of information! Read through this website (it is the best forum online!) and use the search feature, it will help you find postings of interest.

When I received mine, I received a dual chamber medtronic pacemaker. I have what is called heart block due to my AV node not fully conducting the electrical impulses. In other words, I have a little electrical problem ~ my pacemaker takes care of it. I am not "paced" very much, just 2% of the time. It only works when my heart isn't doing its job. The rest of the time it just "sits and waits".

The surgery for me took about 1 hour and 15 min. It depends on various things, where you live and where you are having the procedure done and if they need to take care of anything else while they are putting in the pacemaker. I wasn't officially "out", but I told them I didn't want to know anything, so they sedated me heavily. It is different than being given the narcotics that totally put you out. I was sleeping, but lightly. They give you novacaine (or whatever to deaden the area) and make a little 2 inch incision under your collar bone. (Standard placement is under left collarbone... there are other placement options, which you should inquire about and check out.) They put the pacemaker there under the skin and tissue. Mine has healed nicely and I just have a tiny line scar and a slight bump where the pacemaker is. Very thin folks often have a more prominent bump. Hopefully CathrynB will respond ~ I think she had hers moved and the placement thing is important.

I was in the hospital 23 hours. They did my procedure in late afternoon and they kept me until morning. They checked the pacemaker in the morning and sent me home! After "implant" you have restrictions on using your arm. Can't lift it over your shoulder for something like 6 - 8 weeks. Don't lift anything with that arm over a few pounds for the same time. This is really important to allow the leads they connect to the pacemaker to your heart to "settle in".

I was horribly nervous and anxious about the whole thing. My doctor gave me some meds to help with the anxiety and they really did help me. If you feel really anxious, ask him/her about it.

Once you are over the initial recovery period you will have checkups at first maybe every 3 months, then maybe 6 months. Once they get the settings on the pacemaker to fit your specific needs you will just check in to see how it is doing and see how the battery life is doing. Because I don't use mine very much they told me my battery would last about 10+ years. When the batteries need replacement, they replace the whole unit. This is a good thing. The technology is advancing rapidly and by the time replacements are needed the pacemakers are smaller and can do more!

This forum is a great place to ask your questions ~ no matter how little or big they may seem. The people here have been great to answer all of mine and be very supportive and helpful At first I couldn't sleep at night and I found the chat room helpful!

Here is a good website that explains the pacemaker procedure. It might seem scary, but as surgeries go that isn't too bad. I had relatively little pain. I only took a few pain pills and then I was done. One of the other gals here didn't have any but used an ice pack and that gave her a lot of relief.

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/tests/procedures/pacemaker.htm

Welcome, again. I hope I didn't make you think this is only a walk in the park... it is life changing. But for the good. It will take awhile to adjust but as you have gone through other heart related issues you are a "veteran".

You will do fine. You will feel better. You will be able to live your life and carry on and do the things you want to do! My only other suggestion is stay with family (if you can) for the first week or so after the procedure so you can get rest. Besides none of us like to be alone just after getting back from the hospital.

Swedeheart

No worries

by the-good-fairy - 2008-05-07 01:05:13

Hey Amber.... don't worry about having a pacemaker.... I had my 1st one implanted when I was 17... and had a new one implanted 8 years later... I've had a pace maker now a long time... now i'm a healthy 30 yr old woman and don't know where i would be without it.... without a doubt it will change your life.... For the better...I know it is a bit of an inconvience but an active life is more important... the skies the limit... and your the pilot.... look at it this way... Your SUPERCHARGED!.... Oh and a pacer makes a great conversation piece..... and it's a breeze going thru security sceeners at airports..... no lines for wired peeps... lol...chin up and enjoy your new found energy.

Hey Amber, I'm about to be 21 too!!

by dana7787 - 2008-05-07 01:05:52

I was 11 when I had my first pacemaker implanted but it was for the opposite reason, my heart beat was too slow due to Congenital Heart Block. I just had it replaced for the first time last Tuesday (april 29th). I have never had any problems. I believe I was more nervous the second go around because I am now 20 and understood better then when I was 11 what was actaully happening. But everything went VERY well. Mine is also implanted under the muscle, as someone else said, I live in Florida so a lot of tanks tops are worn and many people didnt even notice my scar until it was pointed out. You will do fine in surgery! Just be thankful its just getting a pacemaker implanted and not open heart surgery! That's what kept my mind at ease going into surgery just one week ago today!

Email me if you have any more questions!! Hope this helped!! :-)

THANK YOU : )

by AmberL - 2008-05-07 05:05:20

I just want to say a quick thank you to everyone that has been replying to my post. After reading all of your comments, I feel so much better about what I'm about to have done. I really like this site, its seems to me that everyone is very kind and willing to answer questions and lend a helping hand. Thank you all so much! It means alot to me. I feel kinda special, like it's a club lol. I club that I look forward to being involved in! Thanks again. Feel free to write me anytime : )

-Amber

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