One Week Till PM Implant

Hello to all.  I have quietly been coming here to read for a while and as the time approaches for my PM, my anxiety level keeps rising to a feverish pitch; so now it is time to ask some questions.

I’m a 58 year old male in ok health, but have had problems with various arrhythmia since 91 many ablations later, and I mean many, I have sinus node dysfunction because of the many burns I have had.  I have lived with a HR in the 35-45 range for about 8 years but for the past year I suffer from lightheadedness and fatigue and lack of breath. My last visit to the cardio Dr. (when I was leaving) said I should make another appt.  He said the only appt I need to make was for the PM other than that there was nothing to talk about anymore as my options had run out.  He said that only my upper chamber is beating now and long term refusal of the PM will just put a strain on my heart and make it worse as I wait.

I would like to hear from a few people who have had some similar problems that can maybe help my emotional state and anxiety as next Tuesday (the 19th) is the day I go in .

John

Sets95@aol.com

1 Comments

You will feel so much better!

by qwerty - 2011-07-12 01:07:44

First relax. It is surgery but the benefits way out weigh the problems. I am 60 and got my PM January 2010. My heart rate was about 35 to 40 during the day and at night would drop to the low 20's and yes even stop some. But it always started back up. I wasn't real excited about getting a PM and went to 3 Dr. but finally they convenienced me it was way past time because the "stopping" was significant. Anyway, they put me in the next day and it was done. I won't say it was the most fun thing I have ever done. But I really did feel better pretty quick. I found out the lack of blood flow had made me feel a lot worse than realized. Some folks feel so much better immediately. I did feel better, and mentally I was sharper (which isn't saying much for me), and this was quickly. But my problem had been ongoing for a while and the "recovery" took a while too. It has been over a year now and I walk 2 and 1/5 miles a day and I continue to get stronger.
Just remember you will feel better, Just give yourself time and be patient.
Hope this helps. Remember to take a button up shirt to come home in. You can't put a pullon over your head with one arm down!
Welcome to the club and keep us posted.

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I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.