too young to Pace?

I am 26, and have been recently become aware of my low heart rate. I have come close to collasping twice in the last two months due to have difficulting in breathing. not sure if related to my heart. I find when I am resting my breathing is very difficult and feel like i cant get enough oxygen, but when i am running breathing is easy.
I wake up unable to breath so I do press ups or go up and down stairs before trying to sleep again.

But I have to push myself to do this.

My resting heart rate is 34bpm. and early morning and late evening 30 and according to the 24hr ECG 28 during my sleep.

I am quite an active person as in like to go running most days.
but some days I feel so slow and sleepy and have to really push myself to motivate myself and feel very faint.

I survive on these days by pro plus and sugar.

would a pace maker make me less tired and make be able to me more active.

I am currently in half marthon training. I am also in the Territorial Army and if I was to collaspe in front of them it would be over for me would a pace maker help or hinder me.
How often would I have to replace it

17 Comments

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by TLR - 2009-10-09 04:10:21

I'd say for TA it should not be too much of a problem if the rest of your health is good, but it will certainly ruin any plans for mobilisation for at least the next few months.

Just a few points to raise though, you won't be able to do anything after having a PM fitted until your unit's Dr gives you the thumbs up, and that will be months if they do. You may have to change regiment/arm depending what your current role is. You will need to get your PM fitted in your LEFT shoulder so not to interfere with firing the rifle. Your Bergen and webbing is going to be very, very uncomfortable for a long time as the straps dig in. Getting authorisation to use the TES vests/carry radios is a real ball-ache.

Either way have a word with your units dr and see what they say.

finish the sentence, tracey

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-09 04:10:26

I know we've had a few guys here in the military who had problems staying in after getting their pm's.... the rest of that thought is... passing out is worse so if it's going to be a problem then you're screwed either way. But hopefully it will not be a problem!

absolutely

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-09 04:10:34

I am astounded at how much you are able to do with a such a low hr! Did they say why it's so low? There are several things that can cause a low hr, and a pm can fix all of them. When it affects your day to day activities, and you're at risk of passing out, then it's time to think about getting the pm.

Most of us find that getting our hr up again gives us a lot more energy. Everyone is different but I felt better from the minute I woke up. I was begging to pace the halls to burn off some energy when they still wanted me in bed. My rate was in the 40's all my life, dropped to the 20's the day I got my first pm when I was 27.

To answer your first question, you're never too young to pace. We have several teens here who got them as children as young as a day old, others your age who just got them, and quite a few like myself who got them at your age and have been paced for many years now.

I'm not familiar with the Territorial Army. Do they have regulations about pacemakers? I know we've had a few guys here in the military who had problems staying in after getting their pm's.

If you have any questions about the surgery, recovery or living with a pm, please ask away. We've all been there.

comfort

by Tracey_E - 2009-10-09 04:10:39

If you're going to be carrying heavy packs, you can ask the surgeon to bury it a bit deeper so it's less in the way.

Uhmmmmmmmmm

by Pookie - 2009-10-09 04:10:50

my 2 cents worth: get the pacer.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

age has nothing to do with it.

you will feel better.

Pookie

Joey83

by GMan - 2009-10-09 07:10:05

Man your close to being dead! A little lower and it's all over. Why aren't you in the ER??? Is it the screwy health insurance of the UK??? Get help NOW!

Best wishes!

Gary

Never too young to pace...

by Zelia - 2009-10-09 11:10:09

My son who is/was a professional rugby player (Springboks) had a permanent heart pacer implant in April 2008 after being diagnosed with SA Node – Sick Sinus Syndrome – Bradycardia.
His heart rate dropped below 30! He was 21 when he had the implant.

He is a super fit strong, young man; being a health/exercise freak/fanatic and he doesn’t smoke or drink.

He had numerous ECGs done over the years, which showed NOTHING! Only an enlarged heart (which is normal being a professional athlete, according to the cardiologists)

In September 2007 - he collapsed after 20minutes on the rugby field. According to the Drs. it was an asthma attack. He was on Symbicord and Singulair for a couple of months, but fatigue and breathing problems kept ruling his life.
He went back to the cardiologist and insisted on further testing.
After wearing a Holter monitor ECG (It automatically records your heart’s activity for a 24-hour period which provides an extended look at your heart rhythms) - which my son insisted on! Then only, was he diagnosed with SA Node - Sick Sinus Syndrome - Bradycardia and not Asthma!!! His heart rate dropped dangerously below 30. They think it’s congenital or it could have been a virus; they don’t really know… In South Africa rugby is the game, and it starts at school level and children play even when they have flu symptoms. There are many young boys, who had severe heart damage/problems/operations and pacemaker implants due to this. However we did the necessary precautions with our son, but it wasn’t good enough…

I just wanted to share this; that with the more than 10 ECGs done, and all the results NORMAL according to the cardiologists; ECGs to me is not the final answer!!! Follow up with much more intensive testing, etc.
The pacemaker saved his life and after a year he is doing much better. However, he won’t be playing rugby again, which is very sad, but his health improved tremendously!

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED

by pete - 2009-10-10 02:10:42

Your heart rate going down to 30 is far far to low. Yes a pacemaker would help you greatly. You need one now, today not tomorrow. Reduce all that exercise dramatically until this is sorted. Your slow heart rate is almost certainly causing your breathlessness. Running a half marathon might polish you off. It happened to my friends brother, his heart just stopped , gave up on him.
If you are finding that when you go to bed and wake up breathless then this is a sign that you are in urgent need of medical attention.It happened to me so I know how dreadful this can be fighting for breath. Dont hang on the fence. You problem cam be sorted easily with a fairly basic 1 or 2 lead bradycardia type pacemaker. No big deal and you can then get on with your life. Cheers Peter

GMAN WTF????

by TLR - 2009-10-10 03:10:58

What do you mean by "Is it the screwy health insurance of the UK??? "

The UK's National Health Service is not a health insurance scheme. Contrary to the misguided belief held by some Americans it is neither the work of the Devil nor oppresion of the masses. It is infact FREE medical healthcare, and no J. Doe's here mate. You can go off and get private medical insurance if you wish and be treated in a private hospital, but if you don't you will still get treated.

Question TLR?

by GMan - 2009-10-10 11:10:58

Do the high ranking officials....(big shots) use the same
National Health Insurance? I bet they don't.

Also I heard you guys are put on hold and have a waiting period. Dangerous?

Why is Joey83 not getting immediate attention? He was checked and released???

Who pays for you FREE Medical care? The Queen. The King?

Why do some get private insurance and treatment but the masses get what they get???

Sorry to get your heart rate up but I don't hear much good about the UK in many area's!

Gary
State of PA, USA

Answers Gman.

by TLR - 2009-10-11 12:10:34

Gman - Do the high ranking officials....(big shots) use the same National Health Insurance? I bet they don't.
TLR - As I said it is not Insurance, don't know where you get the insurance thing from, totally bizarre. And yes some do, and some don't, its their personal choice. If they want private healthcare they can pay for it themselves and go to a private hospital, it is their right to choose, but like I said they have to pay for private care.

Gman - Also I heard you guys are put on hold and have a waiting period. Dangerous?
TLR - Sometimes there are waiting times, that is the nature of the world of supply and demand. Priority is placed on each case and higher priorities will obviously be treated first, ie a heart attack will be treated immediately as it is an essential treatment, ingrowing toenails or the removal of an ugly wart will be made to wait. For the record my heart problem was diagnosed, PM fitted and sorted within 3 hours, hardly a waiting game is it?

Gman - Why is Joey83 not getting immediate attention? He was checked and released???
TLR - He did get immediate attention. He said himself he was put on a 24hr ECG. Do you think it is right for a doc to administer treatment without first diagnosing a problem? I don't. With further testing a diagnosis will be achieved and correct treatment can be given. And the guy is obviously fit and otherwise healthy and has lived a long time like it, nothing to say he is going to drop dead just because he has now seen a doc. To be fair Joey has only given us limited information in this post so better informed we could make a more suitable comment, ie did he get put on medication after, what further tests are being done, has the dr indeed suggested a pacemaker but Joey is still deciding if he wants to go that route?

Gman - Who pays for you FREE Medical care? The Queen. The King?
TLR - The Queen does not pay for it, we don't have a king. It is paid for by our elected government, who in turn fund it from public taxes.

Gman - Why do some get private insurance and treatment but the masses get what they get???
TLR - Because as I said private healthcare is available to only those who pay for it. Some businesses offer their employees health insurance some don't, some choose to have the luxuries that private health cover provides some don't, whatever happens everyone will get treated some way or another. The National Health Service is available to everyone regardless of colour, age, sex, background, race, religion, etc. Incidentally, if a US citizen has no health insurance but develops 3rd degree heart block and has a PM fitted how much would that cost? Similarly, a man has a heart attack in the street, would the ambulance check he had medical cover before choosing what hospital to take him to? A vagrant sleeping rough, homeless through no fault of his own, is given a savage beating by a bunch of drug addicts, who treats him if he cannot pay?

Gman - Sorry to get your heart rate up but I don't hear much good about the UK in many area's!
TLR - Doesn't get my heart rate up mate, infact it makes me chuckle that anyone thinks state healthcare is a bad thing. And you are right, there are a lot of bad things happening in the UK, and the closer our dimwitted Prime Minister gets to the US President, the more things seem to get worse. Don't get me wrong, I have been to the US myself and enjoyed it immensly, the people were very nice considering, but I would rather be here in the UkK with all of its faults than in the US with just a few of theirs.

Thanks TLR

by GMan - 2009-10-12 08:10:50

I understand the UK much better now.

Gary

worried about rejection

by Joey83 - 2009-10-14 01:10:02

guess just nervous about body rejecting it and also how often one has to have the surgery . plus to guy talking about how much kit will hurt when wearing it after pm fitted makes me very nervous

Earth to JOEY!!!

by GMan - 2009-10-14 08:10:42

Well Joey, you heard all the banter, now WHAT are you going to do???

Surgeries

by Beckes76 - 2009-10-14 11:10:37

My first one lasted not quite five years. Ny second one lasted 7 1/2 years. My third one lasted 8 1/2. Now I have my fourth one for a little over 4 years. I say it is a band-aide operation when you get it replaced. They try to go through the same incision and just take it out and put the new one in and sew you back up..I was out of the hospital the very next day and I was back to work (with limitations) the following week. It all depends on the life of the battery.

More tests

by Joey83 - 2009-10-14 12:10:15

wow thats quite a loud response, the specialist says am just healthly and have a strong heart that doesnt beat much and while it goes below 30 it is during my sleep so ok. and in 30's during the day is ok.

but due to the breathing problems he is booking me in for more tests but he appears in no rush

had chest x ray. clear. and now have a heart scan booked for january!!!! miles away but am going to try move that

did the half marathon went ok although that night was little difficult.

if the pace means doing less training or quitting TA I am not keen and will look for other options

too young to pace

by dw406904 - 2009-11-01 06:11:44

I had a resting hr of 32-33 and played full court BB 4-5 times weekly...if you can run comfortably you may have a block in the electrical signal between the atria and the ventricle that reconnects w/ exercise...I had a stress test, no reconnection, max hr of 105-110...I went on like this for a couple years, then started to have some symptoms like lightheadedness getting out of bed,etc....I got a pm 2 mo. ago and am completely happy w/ the surgery...I do recommend you have a cardiac surgeon do the procedure, not an electrophysiologist and not a general surgeon.
I was told I was in the category where a pm was recommended, but not mandatory, although I would need one eventually...

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

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