new member. installed 3 days ago.

Hi. I had a pacemaker installed three days ago. Not sure what to say, except that its good to be in good company. Looking forward to getting active again in the coming weeks.

Thanks, James.

8 Comments

Welcome:)

by Pookie - 2011-06-21 02:06:04

Hi James,

Glad you found us. It's a great site full of supportive and caring members.

Take it easy for the first little while; then before you know it, you'll be back to being you - only better:)

Take care,
Pookie

Welcome

by ElectricFrank - 2011-06-21 02:06:59

As time goes on you may have questions about your little beast. Be sure and post them.

Then again you may be one of the really fortunate ones who 6 months from now won't remember you have a pacer a good deal of the time.

Most of us have fun obsessing over oursl LOL

frank

enlightened

by ironmanbrit - 2011-06-21 03:06:38

Thanks everyone. I am 36, and thought pacemakers were usually meant for 70+, but I see now that people of all ages get them.

hi catherine

by ironmanbrit - 2011-06-22 01:06:20

hi catherine. i totally understand what you are going through. i didnt want the pacemaker, but there werent any other options!

The way I see it is; we haven't had a leg amputated, we don't have terminal cancer - we have had an extremely advanced piece of technology inserted that will keep us around for a very long time.

As for the armpit, yeah my whole shoulder and chest area around there feels beat up, but we have had them sliced open, so i expect that. I know recovery will be a few weeks yet, but i can feel so much better than a week ago - no more symptoms for me.

In 20 years time, our pacemakers might be the size of a watch battery, who knows, I am just glad that I WILL be around to find out :)

How else are you feeling? Tired? You back to work yet?

James

new too

by cathpipon - 2011-06-22 08:06:33

Hiya James

I got mine on 17th June too. I'm 37 and cant get my head around what's happened. Everyone said it's for the best - but i'm finding it hard to come to terms with. I feel like I have a 'fat' armpit, it's not in my armpit - it's just over a bit but I hate it. How are you feeling about yours?
Catherine

getting better

by cathpipon - 2011-06-23 04:06:05

Hi

I saw the cardiac nurse yesterday because I was so upset about the position of the box. She explained that as the swelling goes down it will tighten in and appear less 'in the armpit' and closer to my chest. Back to work on Monday, not so black and blue now, more green mottle! Stitches out tomorrow - I already feel faint thinking about it. I know by this time next week i will be feeling a whole lot better and recovery is really good from these - all the posts on this site are so comforting in that they show life does go on and you have to stay positive. I'm still tired, but putting that down to the drugs last week, hope to be 'fully charged' by monday. today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today.
Catherine

good to hear

by ironmanbrit - 2011-06-23 11:06:37

Catherine, good to hear you are getting better. I looked at my 'scar' last night for the first time. about 3 inches long, and very yellow bruised around my chest! The suture stitches come off next Monday for me. Rest up this weekend I think! Where are you from? What pacemaker did you get installed?

hang in there....

by shartey - 2011-07-09 12:07:21

My pacemaker is 4 weeks old...and the changes for my entire body have been noticed...

As time goes by you will feel better and better, I was so sick before getting my pacemaker that this is a slower journey for me. At 69 I have always been able to be active, extreme walking, gardening, golfing, in the past year things were falling apart, I had no idea that my heart was slowing down and skipping beats...and neither did the drs. I went to the emergency room 4 times before it was figured out.

Hang in there it will get so much better...and if you feel sick, many times it is the meds...the first meds were horrible for me...at the end of the 1st week, I was airlifted back to Fayetteville, Changed the meds and I am fine.

Good luck...and this is a great place to be.

You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

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