another newbie!!

Hi everyone, i did join last week as hot heart but unfortunately my wireless crashed, i got locked in the chatroom and couldnt get out so had to email admin to remove me, in the meantime i joined again as Hot Heart.

Sooooo helloo!!!

A quick resume of me, college lecturer, thought i was fit! lol, got dogs, kids and a husband, like walking, the gym, rock music, going to gigs and holidays. Ohh i can be a bit of an online flirt as well, but i'm only playing, very happily married.

I went into hospital for lipo on my knees and ankles and ended up in total heart block so was fitted a pacemaker.

Am still shell shocked, but getting used to it. Went for a first check up on Wednesday to be told i'm 100% pacing, got to admit this scared the hell out of me, my pm was set at 60 so theyve dropped it to 50 now to see if my heart will kick in.

Ive spent a lot of time looking at the site since last week when i came home from hospital, its really really good and i'd like to thank all involved. I was given one slip of paper when i left hospital which said total heart block no other problems, but i lef hospital not really even understanding what total heart block was. You have all helped to put my mind at ease a bit, so thanks. X

Oh, by the way i'm 55 but you mustnt tell anyone!!!!!!!! lol

4 Comments

beauchance

by beauchance - 2008-11-15 01:11:11

I don't have my PM yet. I went to a new family Doc and after the checkup she gave me a list of specialists to see including a cardiologist. I skip about every fourth or fith beat and have an enlarged left ventricle. I've read that these are consistent with an "athlete's heart". I've always been a jock and even now at the age of 69 I work out every other day including running steps in the stadium and walking on my hands 50 yards (used to be a gymnyst). My stress test showed my heart beat evening out under stress and my ejection factor is better than 35%. With no unusual chest pain or getting out of breath the only thing that worries me is that about a year ago I had a seizure that put in the hospital for four days. The neurologist found nothing. Only the family doctor suggested it could have been due to my heart not getting enough oxygen to my brain. To her (the family Doc) surprise when I returned for a follow up I did not have a PM she expected from the very start that I would have gottne one. I did not because on my second visit to the cardiologist (after my stress test) he said he couldn't tell whether I was blocked and recommended a catherization. That revealed that all my arteries are clear and so on to the "electrician". I see him next month at which time I have to schedule the operation or not. I'm cynical about physicians and unnecessary operations. What do you folks think I should do ? Incidentally, I have ED will a PM help ?

Hi and Welcome

by Jules - 2008-11-15 03:11:17

Hi I too was implanted with my pacemaker a year ago. Went into Hospital here in France and came out with a pacemaker. Quite frightening but believe me with the help of this site you will be able to ask different questions and get answers which you can ask your cadiologist. When I first had mine I had so many queries but when armed with the right information I have had my pacemaker turned down to 45 beats per minute. Takes time and I still get very nervous when the old heart misses beats, but it does get better.

I was told to make my pacemaker my friend, which helped alot.

Good luck

Jules

welcome

by Tracey_E - 2008-11-15 10:11:03

Welcome to our little club! I've got a complete block also and have had a pm for 15 yrs now, since I was 27. Gotta love those detailed instructions they gave you! If you have any questions about blocks or living with a pm, please don't be shy.

It's not uncommon to pace 100% ventricular if you have a complete block. I do also, always have. I'm assuming that number is ventricle, not atrial. If you were feeling good with it at 60, I'm wondering why they dropped it to 50. Some people feel good with lower minimum rates but I've always felt best with it higher.

Heart Block

by SMITTY - 2008-11-15 11:11:17

Maybe I have misunderstood you, but I don't think you have heart block because of any procedure you have had. Heart block is something that developers --- on second thought below is something I have copied from an article on this subject.

What Is Heart Block?
Heart block is a problem that occurs with the heart's electrical system. This system controls the rate and rhythm of heartbeats. ("Rate" refers to the number of times your heart beats in a minute.)

With each heartbeat, an electrical signal spreads across the heart from the upper to the lower chambers. As it travels, the signal causes the heart to contract and pump blood. This process repeats with each new heartbeat.

Heart block occurs when the electrical signal is slowed or disrupted as it moves through the heart.

Overview
Heart block is a type of arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah). An arrhythmia is any problem with the rate or rhythm of the heart.

You can be born with heart block or you can develop it. If you're born with it, it's called congenital (kon-JEN-i-tal) heart block. If it develops after birth, it's called acquired heart block.

Acquired heart block is more common. Damage to the heart muscle or to the heart's electrical system causes acquired heart block. Diseases, surgery, or medicines can cause this damage.

Congenital heart block may be found before or after a baby is born. If certain diseases occur during pregnancy, they may cause a baby to be born with heart block. Some congenital heart defects also may cause congenital heart block. Often, doctors don't know what causes these defects.

The three types of heart block are: first degree, second degree, and third degree. First degree is the least severe and third degree is the most severe. This is true for both congenital and acquired heart block.

Doctors use a test called an EKG (electrocardiogram) to help diagnose heart block. This test detects and records the heart's electrical activity. It records the data on a graph so the doctor can review it.

Outlook
The symptoms and severity of heart block depend on which type you have. First-degree heart block rarely causes severe symptoms.

Second-degree heart block may result in the heart skipping a beat or beats. This type of heart block also can make you feel dizzy or faint.

Third-degree heart block limits the heart's ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. This type of heart block may cause fatigue (tiredness), dizziness, and fainting. Third-degree heart block requires prompt treatment, because it can be fatal.

A medical device called a pacemaker is used to treat third-degree heart block and some cases of second-degree heart block. This device uses electrical pulses to make the heart beat at a normal rate.

Good luck,

Smitty


You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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