PM put in very soon, nervous

Looks like I will be getting a pacemaker put in the end of this week or early next week. :( Bradycardia has not improved no matter what the cardiologists have tried. Heart rate still staying in the 40s even with activity, and sometimes dropping into the 30s and even 20s. They are going to have me meet with the surgeon Thursday morning to talk about the pacemaker and answer any questions I might have and then tell me what day they will be putting it in. I am not at all happy about this, and have cried on my husbands shoulder more than once today. :( I know I can't keep going like this with the bradycardia so bad that I'm half asleep or passing out all the time and feel awful with no energy. I just wish there was something else they could try before resorting to the pacemaker. They tried a couple of different meds and on this last one even tried doubling it and then tripling it, and still no improvement. So, I guess we are at the last resort. Just have to pray and know that God has brought me through everything else and He will bring me through this too.

Thanks,
Jessy

13 Comments

Nervous

by GrandmaD - 2013-01-30 03:01:33

I think I speak for all of us when I say it's natural to be scared. Anytime somebody says you need a little help to keep your heart going the way it should is a pretty big shock! The good news? If your like an awful lot of here, they will "install" (I like that word because it sounds high tech) your PM and once you heal physically you will feel great and forget you have it a lot of the time! It's a wonderful little piece of machinery that keeps the people here alive to tell the tale! If you need to talk, vent or anything else, this is the place to come. There is everyone her fron the newbys like you to the inbetweens to the old hands who are full of wisdom! I fit somewhere in the middle, being pm dependant for about 12 years, but newly diagnosed with CHF (a year ago) and starting a whole new chapter of fun and games! There is usually someone here who can help and always lots of people who try! Good luck to you and keep your chin up!

Debera

nervous

by Alma Annie - 2013-01-30 05:01:22

I can really understand how you feel, but you will feel so much better with a pm and your life should return to normal, as pm will not let your heart rate drop too low. There is very little you can't do in life with a pm. Make sure you have all your questions ready; it might be a good idea to write them down in case you forget.
I am so glad that you have found this site; you will have lots of support.
Let us know how you go. I will be thinking of you and will say a prayer for you.
All the best
Alma Annie.

Getting A PM

by SMITTY - 2013-01-30 05:01:57

Hello Jessy,

I can understand your concern about the upcoming PM surgery, but such concern for me would have been unnecessary concern. To give you an idea of what was involved, below is something I have written about my PM surgery experiences to help some of the other PMC members have an idea what they will be experiencing. I got my first PM in 2000 and the 2nd one in 2009. Both were done in the same hospital but by different Drs. Both surgeries were almost identical and maybe this will give you some idea of what you are facing.

I arrived at the appointed time, which was 7 AM, for me. After about an hour I got an IV and spent the next 2 or 3 hours being "prepped" which consisted mainly of getting about a quart (at least it looked like that amount) of antibiotic through the IV and the surgery area cleaned and cleaned real good.

Later that morning the doctor showed up and examined the area for the implant. After another hour or so I was wheeled off to the surgery area where I spent another 30 or 40 minutes being "dressed or draped" for the surgery. Sometime after I got in the surgery area I received some medication to make me relax so they said, but what it did was make take a nap in about a half-sleep mode. I vaguely remember being told they were injecting a local anesthetic into the area where the PM would be implanted so that I would not feel the anything. About 45 minutes later I was told, "okay Mr. Smith, we are through and your pacemaker is working just fine." I was wheeled back into a room where I had to wait for awhile to be sure I had no adverse reactions to any of the meds I had received. About 5 PM I was told I could go home.

I was not unexpectedly sore and my healing was no problem. I did have restricted use of my arm for a few days, the main thing being not to raise my elbow above my shoulder, or lift more than a few lbs. Each of us is different, therefore get slightly different instructions) with the arm on the side of the PM. I was not allowed to drive for about 24 hours and then for short distances for a week or so. All in all the pain is less than most dental surgery I have had, and since I was retired even with the first one, it did not interfere with any activates.

One last word, you will go home with your Drs best guess on PM settings. Most of the time these are good, but occasionally some people need to have those settings tweaked. If you think your PM is causing you a problem, if it is just that you think something is amiss, let your Dr know, otherwise he will have no way of know everything is not perfect.

Good Luck,

Smitty

Benediction

by donr - 2013-01-30 10:01:18

"God, grant me the strength to change what can be changed; the serenity to accept what cannot be changed; and the wisdom to know one from the other."

We will start from the end of the service & work our way to the beginning!

Seems tome that you have been given just about enough alternatives & they do not work. The PM is the natural & most successful alternative, & pretty close to the final one. It's time to accept that & recognize that the alternatives just plain did not work.

Being selected as a new PM Host is a great honor. Sort of like a baby - it's forever from this point forward. No big deal.

You talk about falling to sleep - try doing it over a bowl of pasta in a Chilli's restaurant & doing a face plant in the bowl. I had a tough time explaining the tomato stains on my face when I got to my cardio's office just across the street a short while later. Next thing I know, I'm in a hosp bed & a few days later hosting my new little buddy. I'm the newest Steve Austin - I'm BIONIC!!!!!

Jessy, you are joining an elite group of very special people. It's early in your career, and your reactions are NOT UNCOMMON!

Please tell us why you are so unhappy about this event. It would give us some insight into how to help you.

You are authorized to be stressed out & perhaps even freak out - but you cannot live the rest of your life like that, so spill your guts here & get the help you want/need from those who know - we wear that tee shirt.

Don

You're Going To Do Great!

by Many Blessings - 2013-01-30 10:01:45

Hi Jessy,

We all know exactly how you feel. I hope that helps some. We've all been there so we all understand.

I didn't want mine either! I wasn't only upset about it, I was flat out pissed! LOL! Because you're feeling uneasy now, be prepared for some possible emotional ups and downs after you have it put in. That is perfectly normal.

I wanted mine out as soon as I got home and started having some weird issues. Most were caused by pain meds they gave me so I would sleep (Percocet). I hated the side effects and thought it was from my PM. I got right on this site and started asking everyone for help in getting it out of me NOW. LOL! Luckily, some others asked if I had started taking any new meds (Percocet was the only thing new I was taking). They also mentioned setting changes, which was a God-send! After I quit taking the Pecocet & got a couple of setting changes, I was good to go. I was, and am, so thankful to everyone here for their input and support. I know you'll feel the same way.

I can't say enough to be extremely open and honest with your nurses, doctors, and PM tech before and after your procedure. They can help you figure things out if you're not feeling as well as you think you should.

If you're having sedation during the procedure and you want more, ask for it. If you want to be more awake, ask for that too. After your procedure, if you need pain meds, ask for them. If you don't want any, let them know that too. If you have any questions at all, ask right away. Sometimes, after you leave the hospital, it's hard to get a hold of someone right away when you have a question or just don't feel right. Don't wait, and don't leave until you have all of your questions anwered and concerns heard.

I hated having the sling on my arm for the first 24 hours. Mine wasn't a sling you can move out of, it was taped down to, and around my chest so I couldn't even loosen it up. After that, I couldn't lift my left arm above my waist for 3-4 weeks (you may have a different time frame). I had some issues with my PM site/pocket, but that went away as well. I also had some PM setting issues, one being the PM was pacing my diaphragm which felt like a cross between a burp and a jerking/pumping in my diaphragm. Thank God I said something right way so they could fix it. I almost didn't mention it because I thought maybe it was a normal side effect (which I didn't like). One setting change fixed it for good!

Like others mentioned above, my settings weren't right for me, so they made so changes which made me feel a lot better. You may have some changes that make you feel worse, so if you're EVER not feeling well (and that goes for any uncomfortable, weird, or icky feeling), let them know, especially after a PM check or setting change. A bad setting can do anything from making something jerk that shouldn't be jerking, to heaviness in your legs, weakness, tiredness, fatigue, tingling, shortness of breath, etc. If it doesn't feel right, mention it to everyone you can, that might be able to help you. I can't tell you how many people out here have posted some really weird symptoms that the docs & PM techs said "the PM wouldn't cause that", that once they had a setting or two changed, fixed the problem immediately. Don't let it go until you feel good.

I hope we've all helped you some.

Very best wishes to you! We'll all be thinking and praying for you! We can't wait to hear how you do. Make sure to post ANY questions you have, and you will have questions. LOL! As you know, everyone here is awesome!

Thoughts and prayers,

Tammy

Appt this morning - PM or no PM, that is the question

by mstexan - 2013-01-31 06:01:36

Will be heading to my appointment this morning. Not sure what to expect... Just praying for God to guide the cardiologist and I to the best decision and for strength and courage to accept whatever that decision is...

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful advice/suggestions/thoughts/prayers!

PM it is....

by mstexan - 2013-01-31 08:01:22

They are going to put in a PM on Tuesday (Feb 5th), single lead. Praying it gets me back healthy and with energy. Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and prayers.

Good Luck!

by Many Blessings - 2013-01-31 09:01:29

Good luck Jessy! Everything is going to be okay!

Nothing to it!

by Joanna - 2013-02-02 10:02:31

I got my first pm on 12/17/12. Was pretty much awake throughout the entire procedure, which was done in the Cath Lab. There is nothing to it! You will feel a little tugging while the Dr. makes the pocket to insert you pm, but it won't hurt. And the pain I experienced was very minimal. I only took 2 pain pills while in the hospital and that was it! In fact, to be quite honest, I really think this procedure was a lot simpler than childbirth LOL! At any rate, you will do great and feel SO much better. I, too, had a lot HR in the 30's. Felt SO bad all the time. Went through that for almost 2 years before my Dr. finally concluded my medication was not working. So, all in all, I am very glad I went through with it and you will be too! Let us all know how everything goes! And be sure to listen to your Dr. and not over do...

Surgery

by LeeT - 2013-02-02 12:02:09

Don't wait any longer have the surgery done you will feel better. If you go to the hospital, try for the early morn follow instructions you will be out the following day. I am very active a gym member for well over 20 years but I needed a PM. It's extremely important to listen to your cardiologist and staff for a speedy recovery. DON'T WAIT you'll be fine.

Bionic Woman :)

by mstexan - 2013-02-05 01:02:34

Well....tomorrow is it.....I become the BIONIC WOMAN! Pacemaker being put in tomorrow. Being told to think positive and believe that after tomorrow I will feel amazing and be ready to run marathons and do back flips and hand stands and who knows what else.... LOL. Ok, I'm not sure it’s going to be that easy, but I'll be happy if I even get close to any of that. So sick and tired of being sick and tired. We also just got confirmation of the genetic disorder that runs in our family which causes our bodies to not absorb vitamins and so we stay very vitamin deficient and have to deal with all the problems that causes also. Thankfully it sounds like that can be fairly easily corrected with vitamin therapy and monitoring. So several members of our family are starting with that and others are getting tested. This will be the beginning of a much healthier year and life!

I'm bionic now :)

by mstexan - 2013-02-06 12:02:40

PM implanted yesterday.

1%-2% of the population have a congenital defect where their subclavian veins don't join into one branch before connecting to their heart. Of course I would be special enough to be in that 1%-2%, so they were not able to put my pacemaker on the left side as planned. So I'm right handed and can't use my right arm for a little while. This should be interesting. LOL.

Achy/sore and tired, but home and doing ok. Apparently my HR is really low this morning and the PM is firing frequently. It almost feels like the strong PVCs I have sometimes, but it is a little different. Guess I will have to get used to that feeling. Also have a headache, but at least my HR isn't in the 30s and 40s and I'm not very lathargic or passing out. They had to use sutures and staples and I'm pretty sore, but not too terrible.

Thank you everyone for the thoughts, prayers, advice, and suggestions!

New feelings after PM implant

by mstexan - 2013-02-10 07:02:08

My arrhythmia problems have been bad for so long that I don't remember what it feels like to have a "normal" heart that speeds up and slows down when it is supposed to. Ha! Before the PM, even with strenuous exercise, my HR would only get in the mid to upper 60s, and would only stay there a minute before dropping back in the 40s. So now when my HR gets up in the 70s and 80s it is a little unnerving. I have to remind myself that it's normal and get use to feeling it beat faster for the first time in a long time.

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Member Quotes

Life does not stop with a pacemaker, even though it caught me off guard.