Hello Everyone

Just returned from my first follow up visit after receiving my pacemaker on Nov. 25, 2008. I am using it at 100% and for some reason this makes me feel very uncomfortable. This whole thing happened so fast - went to the hospital on Monday, the 24th, straight from my doctor's office and had the surgery the next morning. I think I am still recovering emotionally. Other than that I feel great. The soreness is gone and I have so much more energy. What can I expect now, can I live a long and active life? I am "only" 57 and I have a lot of living left to do. Some encouragement fellow members!!

9 Comments

Encouragement

by Pookie - 2008-12-08 05:12:36

Hi.

Wow. It sounds as though you sailed thru your pacemaker surgery like a breeze. Excellent. You mentioned that you are pacing 100%, do you have one lead or two, and if two, is the 100% pacing in the top or bottom lead?

The recovery (emotionally) is normal. Most people who have a procedure done to their hearts will experience some anxiety, stress, and/or depression. I"ve experienced all 3 and to this very day I sometimes still do. My pacemaker was a disaster but I won't bore you with the details, suffice it to say that I had 5 operations in total...but I'm fine now. If you think the emotional recovery is dragging on a bit longer than you thought, then by all means you should contact your doctor as there are some excellent counsellors out there to help.

Glad to hear that you have your energy back!! You must be really happy about that. And yes, you can now expect to lead a long and active life!!!

So nice to hear such a positive outcome.

Pookie

It gets better!

by boatman50 - 2008-12-08 05:12:42

Well Kat, welcome to the club. I also had my pm put in very quickly. I passed out at home, then in the hospital a few hours ( my heart stopped for 26 seconds) later and had my pm put in within a few hours. After some time getting used to it and some adjustments I hardl;y know I have one. Its been over 2 years now and I still get sore at times in the pm area, but no more passing out! Really there is no problem living a normal life, maybe some restrictions. Its all good though!

long healthy life!

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-08 06:12:34

I got my first pm in 1993 at age 27. I pace nearly 100% of the time, and I've never felt better! It's a bit unnerving to know our hearts are dependent on a computer, but with time it will just become a part of you and you'll mostly likely rarely give it a thought. If you have any questions about the device or living with a pm, please don't be shy!

Recovering

by Paper_Nan - 2008-12-08 06:12:55

The emotional recovery does take awhile, especially when everything happens so fast. I don't know if you had prior issues with your heart. If not, I think that makes the emotional recovery longer.

Before I got my pm, I was passing out frequently. My doctor sent me to the cardiologist to make sure all the bases were, but he didn't think it was a problem with my heart.

So, wow!! What a shock!! I was admitted to the hospital right then. No time to really think about anything other than who is going to pick my children up from school, feed the dogs, that sort of thing. It wasn't until after the pm was already in that I got hit with reality.

It took awhile for everything to sink in and for me to really be okay with seeing myself as someone with a pm.

Nan

RaggedyKat Keeps On!!!!

by greyfox - 2008-12-08 11:12:05

The more you read, the more the discover of a lot of similar stories. I went to the hospital for the 3rd time in 2 months this July 4th with an episode of a-fib. Laying in the ER, I felt a chill and from an earlier experience thought, "oh, I'm converting back to normal rhythm, good deal." I made an announcement and realized no one was listening to me. They were all watching the monitor screen behind me. The next thing I knew, a nurse with paddles in his hand appeared. Sort of made me a little curious. The nurse who had been watching the screen whose company I was enjoying moments before said something about me getting a pacemaker before I left the hospital. Huh? She then printed out an EKG trace, which showed a 7 second flat line. Days later after a punctured lung from one of the leads, I was home and a little nervous and asking who ever would listen the same questions you're asking. I got pretty much the same answers too. Since then, the accompanying drugs have settled out and the pm rate has been adjusted to more suit me. It's not the same because I'm conscious of the pm most of the time especially when I stop whatever is occupying my time. Amazing what something no bigger than a couple half dollars can do and for me, that's 98% of the time. I don't know what's going on the other 2%. The only thing that's changed in my life is I don't play golf any more but I needed a reason to quit anyway. It was my life's frustration. Everything else is pretty much the same including long rides on my motorcycle in the Connecticut country side. I'm turning 62 in January and like you look forward to hanging around for a long time. Otherwise, saving money for retirement would've been a waste of time. Enjoy yourself RaggedyKat, this is the season of thanking and rejoicing. A little lifesaver just happens to be sharing that time with us all.
Terry

Time to get on with life

by ElectricFrank - 2008-12-08 11:12:57

It sounds like you are doing great. Sounds a lot like what I experienced. You are fortunate to have been able to get the pacemaker so quickly. This is really the best scenario as your body isn't subjected to poor circulation for for an extended period of time. This makes for a fast recovery as soon as pacing is established.

As for expected lifespan you can expect it to be normal. The 100% usage doesn't mean you are totally dependent on the pacer. If it failed you would just be back to where you were before it was implanted having sufficient heart beats to stay alive.

Depending on settings you will likely need it replaced in 5-7 years as the battery is used up. By then the technology will have advanced to even better pacers and possibly self charging batteries.

By the way if you haven't done so already, be sure to ask for a copy of the pre and post programming report at your next checkup. This can be very helpful in asking questions here on the forum.

So enjoy the holidays and life,

frank

You'll forget it's there after awhile

by Barbara9999 - 2008-12-09 07:12:57

When I was told that I would have to have a PM due to drop falls and coninual 9 minute flatlines, I was given a short time to prepare myself. I had the implant in Nov 2003 - hmm, it's been 5 years now - and it is in use about 89% of the time. At first I was embarrassed about having a PM - thought only OLD FOLKs had them - mind you, I was 62 at the time. However, you will adjust and as others have written and you will be happy knowing that you have a "little" mechanical device that keeps your heart beating so you can keep going. I forget 99% of the time that I have the PM (the other 1% is when one of the grandkids bangs his head into my chest) and I bet that you will forget too as time passes.
Barbara

Update on You'll forget it's there after awhile.

by Barbara9999 - 2008-12-09 07:12:57

Okay, folks, not 9 MINUTES, 9 SECOND flatlines. Talk about keyboarding one thing and thinking another. That certainly qualifies as embarrassing and an OPPS>

OPPS

by ElectricFrank - 2008-12-09 11:12:40

Well, you woke us all up! Even 9 seconds is a long time.


frank

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.