Pacemaker

Hi. I just had a pacemaker implanted 8 days ago. Totally unexpected and of course, totally scary to me. I am 47 years old. I was told my heart rate was slowing down a lot and getting pauses. Now after having the pacemaker, I feel like I'm constantly aware of every breath I take and always walking on eggshells. I got a couple quick pains in that area today and of course it freaked me out and had to call the doctor. I saw him yesterday and everything checked out fine. How long 'til I start to feel normal again and not let this control my every waking moment?? It's even hard to go to sleep at night 'cause of my paranoia. Help !

9 Comments

normal?

by winesap - 2008-08-22 08:08:08

Yes, these computers we all carry around in our chests are difficult to fully comprehend and deal with. Take a pass through the pictures in the member gallery - we're all just regular folks. You are now a member of our club - don't we all look normal and healthy?

Modern pace makers are reliable and robust. Recovering from surgery takes a few weeks, give it time. Work with your Dr or EP to tune the PM to your needs.

Many of us find the mental transition harder than the physical transition. Some need a bit of medication to help with the emotional transition but I'd recommend you first try other techniques. Go through some of the posts here - we have all kinds of stories. Talk to a counselor or pastor or friend or ...

So far, I've avoided becoming normal. If that should happen, it would freak my family and friends. They all like and appreciate my irregular behavior and thank goodness the pacing I get has not made me too regular.

it'll come

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-22 09:08:38

I'm 41 and on my 4th pm. Welcome to the club! As winesap said, we're just normal people. When they install it, they don't tattoo it on our foreheads. ;o) I'm a busy mom and business owner and most people who know me have no idea that I'm completely dependent on a pm. I don't make it a secret but it doesn't exactly come up in conversation often, either. I look and act just like all the other moms at the PTO meeting and at the gym.

It does feel like you're measuring every breath and counting every hb at first, but it'll go away with time. At first, I'd lie in bed at night, counting my hr. Within a year, I rarely gave it a thought, going days and even weeks without even thinking about it.

The pains you had were probably just the pocket healing. Little twinges are normal. (big twinges sometimes are normal too!) Shortness of breath or getting too tired are signs you need reprogrammed, sometimes it takes a few tries to get it just right for your lifestyle and it's very easy to do. The only thing to really worry about is pressure on the chest or numbness in the left arm. You can be comfortable that anything else is just healing, your body getting used to its new computer. Physically, 6-8 weeks is about right to recover from the surgery. By that time, you should feel better than before the implant, more energetic because your hr is staying up where it should.

Mentally, well, it just takes time and to some extent it depends on you. Know that it is perfectly normal to take time to adjust, but there's no reason to be paranoid. The danger was BEFORE you were diagnosed, now you can feel confident that your heart will not slow down or stop. You could have been one of those people who went to sleep and never woke up and all the friends and family were shocked because you had never been sick. Seriously, you are lucky to have been diagnosed before it was fatal. Try to remember that on the bad days. A chunk of titanium in our chests sucks sometimes, but being dead would suck more. :o)

If you truly cannot sleep, ask your doctor for something to help you out short term, or try some herbal or home remedies. It's hard to deal with anything- both emotionally and physically- if you are not getting enough rest.

Ask a lot of questions when you go for your checks and learn about how the pm works. For me, that knowledge is a big part of acceptance. It's hard to accept something we don't understand so don't be shy about drilling them and asking tons of questions. Ask us your questions here. Search the archives and read the old posts (but keep in mind most people don't have a fraction of the problems you'll read about, the people who felt great immediately don't come looking here!). Keep on asking until you feel confident you know what's going on in your body.

This is just my opinion, and I know it's easier said than done, but the first step to adjusting to this is to see it as a blessing instead of a curse. If you view it as an intrusion and something horrible, you will never reach acceptance and it will drag you down and prolong your recovery. Sure there are disadvantages and inconveniences, but every day is a gift, and you've just been given a whole lot of them. The glass is always half full, and all that! Take it easy on yourself, that normal feeling will come back.

It gets better!

by Gonnie - 2008-08-22 10:08:23

I'm at 4 1/2 weeks with my device. Like you, totally unexpected! I'm a 54 yo female with relatively few health problems in my past so I was somewhat blindsided by all this too. The good news is my arteries are clear, just my electrical system is out of whack & they fixed it! And I didn't have to have a heart attack or god forbid, sudden cardiac arrest, to learn I have this problem! My device is an ICD/resynchronizing PM and the thought of the ICD going off scared the heck out of me at first. But every day gets better & I find myself going several hours without one single thought about this new part of my body. The nurse told me to go home & forget I have it and that's helped me (altho she must not have one or she'd know that's easier said than done!). Tracey is absolutely right - we've received many gifts. This isn't the end of our world - it's a great new beginning! You'll feel much better when the constant nagging pain from the incision is gone too. That happened for me about a week ago & it's made a world of difference in my attitude. Keep reading & you'll find many of us who know exactly what you're feeling!

it only last a short time

by debbie54 - 2008-08-23 02:08:52

I received my PM 8wks ago, i'm 54yrs old and like you very shocked I needed it. I had no symptoms. I hurt my hip and ended up in the hosp, thats when they found this. I was very confused and angry. Long story short -- I had all the feelings you have, its almost like i wrote your post. TraceyE is so right, she was very instramental in helping me get to the point i'm at today. I've been adjusted every two weeks since i got it, but they finally got it right. I feel pretty good now. I started going to the gym a week ago and that helps alot. Try to be patient with yourself and look at things like Tracey and Gonnie said, "your very fortunate the docs found this when they did". This site is wonderful, very informative and supportive. I truely believe I wouln't be where I am today emotionally if it weren't for Tracey. Just know these are all normal feelings and emotions.

Debbie

Debbie

We are so alike......

by Loopy Lou - 2008-08-23 09:08:17

Hi and welcome!

I am a busy 43 year old of Matthew (11) and Amelia (8).

During a routine ecg and health check on 5th July 2008 it showed a low pulse rate of ....35!!

I was so shocked and horrifed as I hadn't had any symptoms at all!! Ok, so I was a bit tired - and sometimes walking upstairs I got breathless. I put that down to my mild asthma!

So to cut a long story short.... I became poorly (maybe the shock) and went to the docs who told me to get straight to casualty! Because my pulse rate kept dropping they kept me in hospital and didn't let me go home! My surgery was booked for 17th July - but it was a failed attempt as they couldn't get the pm in on my left side as the veins were too small!! They stitched me back up and a week later it was sucessfuly done on my right side!!

So there I was a young mum with 2 scars and a bump across my chest.... blimey! I was in a bad place mentally! The shock - the anger - because I am very healthy - I don't smoke, I drink rarely, I am slim and have a good lifestyle. I cried so much - couldn't sleep coz I kept playing back both operations and couldn't get my head around the fact I have something inside me and in my heart... Then the bruising and swelling and not being able to sleep....!!! but the turning point happend due to my strong will power !! and the people in this Pacemaker Club. Also the love and support of my friends and family.

I still get pains but I have a wonderful doctor and pacing technician chap who are only a phone call away.

I would love to stay in touch with you and see how you are getting on.

Take care and feel free to drop me a line...... anytime! we can always meet up in the Chat Room!

Love and hugs, Loopy Lou xx

Pacemaker

by sonkitty - 2008-08-23 11:08:02

Thanks for all your notes. I tdoes help knowing I'm not alone in all this. The other thing that made it harder for me too was that the doctor wasn't able to get the 2nd lead in my chest due to my bone structures, etc. He tried for 2 hours. He says now that unless I really can't handle the symptoms of the pacemaker kicking in (I can feel them every so often - like a flick/click in that area) and everything else is doing okay, I really don't need to go back to surgery unless I'm due for my PM to be changed. I think if it was a more successful surgery with the 2 leads, maybe that would have made me feel better now? Who knows . . .

I had the same issues

by Bionic Man - 2008-08-24 08:08:03

I'm 45 years old. I'm heading into the 9th week with my pacemaker. I had the same problems you had prior to the pacemaker and I felt the same as you after. I started to feel much better after six weeks. It will get better. When I left the hospital the Dr's told me I could go back to most of my normal routines in a day or two. I believed it and really started pushing myself because I thought something was wrong when I couldn't. Take it easy and hang in there. You'll be fine. It just takes time. This website is a big help. The people here really helped in my recovery.
Good Luck

Pacemaker

by sonkitty - 2008-08-24 10:08:54

Thanks again for the comments. It's just hard since I'm only a week and a half into all this. Still in the "why me" "feeling sorry for myself" stage. I know it'll pass in time, but it's hard while you're in it. And if one more person calls me the Bionic Woman, I'm gonna scream !

PC 10 days ago!

by dship - 2008-08-28 06:08:20

WOW, this is the first time I've been on the computer in a long time and now I learn I'm a "Pacer" and I have been "Pacing" for 10 days. It was a relief to read the posts! I never knew anyone that had a pacemaker or anything about sinus node dysfunction, the surgery or anything. I've asked, "what me" too. I started walking yesterday and also for a short bike ride. At 10 days i hope it's okay. I wondered when i could begin to sleep on my left side. Also recently diagnosed with sleep apnea I've been trying to us the cpap machine. Together it feels overwhelming. Also most people say, "Most people I know with pacemakers are in nursing homes." I turned 53 two days after my pacemaker was implanted. Not quite ready for the nursing home. People can be very insensitive. Thanks guys!

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

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I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.