Brand New

Hi,

I just had my pacemaker implanted two weeks ago and I'm 30 years old. I went in for a tilt-table test to see why I had been passing out and check my blood pressure. 6 minutes into the test I passed out and my heart stopped for 16 seconds. The cardiologist came in and explained that the best option I had was a pacemaker. He explained that because I had been experiencing these passing out episodes for 4 years now and that perhaps the first time I blacked out my heart could have stopped for 1 second. But the next time I pass out my heart could stop for 30 seconds or a minute, so he said it was important that I get a pacemaker implanted that day. And I did.

Of course I scared everyone, no one was expecting me to go into the test and come out with the explanation that I need a pacemaker. The nurse that did the test and all the nurses that help with the surgery all said I was too young to have a pacemaker. All I could think was, "Well, if it can help prevent my heart from stopping I don't mind having the pacemaker implanted....or even having to go in to have it replaced about every 7 years, as long as I can live life to the fullest." Try not to think about how young you are when you find out you need a pacemaker, just think of the possibilities. You can live your life according to how you want to, not dictated by something you can't control (as in my case a heart that kept stopping). Think hope, think I can.

14 Comments

NEVER TOO YOUNG

by pete - 2008-07-30 03:07:35

I admire your positive and practical attitude. It will serve you well. You can never be too young to have a pacemaker if you need one. I am sure you will get along fine with your new little friend. Good luck and have a long happy life. Cheers pete

Hi tinkerbell!

by dw5281 - 2008-07-30 03:07:41

Don't worry I'm younger I'm 27 (& nowhere near the youngest on here!) & have had my pacemaker for almost 6 months (on August the 13th) & I love it!! I had it put in for blackouts as well - i recorded an episode on my ILR implant & they found that my heart stopped for 26 seconds - i was too shocked to be scared! I was scared afterwards thinking about what if! My pacemaker has made a huge difference to me & I thank all the people who invented it that I could have one! I'm a PE teacher & am active all the time & it makes the world of difference! I have more energy, dont feel the cold nearly as much, can exercise better & am generally much happier!

I rarely think about it now & no one gives it a second thought. Be assured that you will forget all about it & just feel priviledged that youre bionic! I'm so glad I had mine put in & I hope that you continue to remain positive & your recover is going well - the discomfort soon goes I promise!

Lots of luck & hugs

Debs x

Just a comment.

by Paula - 2008-07-30 04:07:22

Hi Tinkerbell. I had a flashback when I read your posting. I was 30 when I had my pacemaker implanted (much to my family's shock), and am now 53. I had a replacement after 10 years and another one a few months ago. I've never had a problem and feel fortunate to be walking around. Just be careful of big magnets. Let all doctors know you have a pacemaker - some offices use equipment (like my dentist) with large magnetic components and they aren't supposed to operate them if a pacemaker is in the vicinity. Noone will suspect you of having one because of your age, so just be aware. And best wishes.

Welcome to the Club

by ela-girl - 2008-07-30 05:07:12

Hi there, Tink!

I can relate to your story...I was 29 when I had my pm implanted and am now 31 going on 2 years with my dear, titanium pal. I had severe bradycardia with a heart rate of 4 BPM and BP of 60/40 when I had my "spells." I also was diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope and was blacking out for 5 years until I had my pm implanted via emergency surgery. I'm so glad to have a life again! I love my pm! There are a handful of us on this site who can relate to your condition, so you are not alone!

Happy pacing!
ela-girl

Wish I had been as positive!

by ixdes - 2008-07-30 06:07:39

What a great attitude! I am 39 and had my implant about 3 months ago. Like you I had gone for a tilt test after a fainting eppisode and was told they would probably not find anything. 30 mins later was told I needed a pacemaker! It certainly came as a bit of a shock. Unfortunately I was not quite so positive about it, especially when the nurses and everyone else around keep telling you you are too young. As you say, if you need one - you need one.

My kids made me laugh though - we told them I was having a computer fitted to stop me falling over. My son said that it should have windows XP home installed to start with, then upgraded to XP pro when I went back to work. What could I say...

Hope your recovery keeps going OK.

Simon.

Hello

by bini - 2008-07-30 07:07:45

Welcome to the club! I Love your positive attitude! Many young people have pacemakers, in fact a neighbor of mine has a child 5 years old who has one.

If you need it, you are NEVER to young. As you will see alot of people on this site have a PM for fainting episodes/VVS...including myself. I am 32 years old and got my PM for VVS/POTS.

Good luck and stay positive...let us know how things go!

Christine

No music!

by locobill22 - 2008-07-30 09:07:00

I wish my ICD had an MP3 connector! For $45,000, you think they could have included Itunes and a headphone jack....

Bill

greetings

by maryanne - 2008-07-31 10:07:17

Welcome to the PM club.....like most I have had my PM for so long now it is just a part of who I am...it has never stopped me from doing anything I have wanted to do. I have gone sky diving,parasailing, zip lining, swimming,running, skiing, tubing, you name it...and was even pregnant with my first when I had my first PM.....so keep up your positive attitude it will bode well for you....enjoy life that is what the PM is suppose to allow you to do!

Cheers!

younguns

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-02 03:08:13

I'm so glad to have found a place where I'm not the baby! I got mine at 27. I'm 41 now, still by far the youngest at my doctor's office, and still get the "you're too young" comments with every visit. I feel downright old here, how cool is that?!

When I got my last battery change, one of the nurses started with the "you're so young" then went on to marvel "and you're so CALM about it!". Well, duh, without it I'd be so DEAD, and with it I have a full perfectly normal life, so you won't hear me whining about getting a fresh battery. I offered to freak out if it'd make her feel better but she said it was ok. :o)

Simon, that's so cute! Thank goodness they don't come with Vista ;o)

Life Saver

by jackson3cac - 2008-09-07 10:09:26

Thank you so much tickerbell for your comments, I went in this past wed to have a tilt test done, Passed out.. Etc... Doctor came in a said we will need to put a pacemaker in. so I am scheduled for this tuesday and scared to death. thank you all for this group, I have been going nuts reading about all this. And most of what I heve read has comforted me to know the dicision I am making to have this done is the right dicision.

i feel better now

by emmygee - 2009-11-16 01:11:40

hey everyone :)
i think the age i was tops all of yours,i was 15 when i got my pacemaker.i was really scared at first but now i see the huge improvement it has made. My life is so much easier now that i have it,i find myself not as stressed out about things.

Hey Everyone

by GoingStrong - 2009-12-18 05:12:34

I just joined by I am so sorry "emmygee" seems that I have mostly all of you beat. At the age of 11 I recieved my pacemaker and it has now been 6 years. Personally, I just wanted to come in and tell all of you that a pacemaker should never be a burden. I love mine and it has given me the opportunity to gain the courage to face my fears and not let anyone else get in my way. At first I used to complain but then a friend of mine told me, "You know the pacemaker slogan is NOT Bad for everything except your heart." With the help of my friends and family I am still here today.

Thanks for all the positive thoughts!

by swatford - 2010-01-04 04:01:05

I have always had super low blood pressure, and was diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope. I get dizzy a lot and would pass out a good bit. My doctor found out that my hemoglobin was a 5.2, so I had to recieve 3 blood transfussions and wear a heart monitor for a month. Recently, I had to have a tilt test done and my heart beat dropped to 40 beats a minute and I passed out. I'm only 27 years old! All of this has been going on for the past 3 years since I was 24. I was told two weeks ago that I need to get a pacemaker put in. Currently, I am on 15 pills a day to regulate my heart rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin. This was super scary news! My husband asked me how I felt about all of this after we left the hospital. I thought about it long and hard, and while it is very scary, I imagine a life with children, no dizzy spells, and a regular healthy life!!!! I'm so glad that I found this site and post! It is helping me stay positive for my upcoming surgery! Thanks everyone! :)

Im young

by horse-lover - 2011-08-03 12:08:28

Week ago on tuesday i went into surgrey to get a pacemaker..i am 15 years old so i think i out beat all of yall. My horse saved my life cause if it wasnt for him the hospital would never found out. When i went to the doctor it was just a hit and run that my heart rate was so low. My heart beatwent down to 25 in my sleep. I have 3rd degree heart block which is the worst to have )): but im up i cant really say i have more engrey i feel the same. Thanks for reading((: and god bless u

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To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!