I've been thinking...

• by bambi
• 2007-11-29 11:11:46
• Coping
• 1935 views
• 4 comments

For years now I've been perplexed and frustrated at the confusion there seems to be concerning what exactly a pacemaker will and will not do. I think, generally, all of us were made aware of our issues concerning heart rhythms either by an abnormal EKG, symptoms, or episodes of passing out, ect. Most of us have no expert knowledge of our sometimes surprising diagnosis', and we listen with a kind of numbness to the news that we need a pacemaker or an ICD. I know I truly was under the impression that a pacemaker or ICD would correct and "fix" all my problems and I would CEASE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS! So when I experienced not only all the old symptoms, but some new ones as well, I went running to my Dr. Most of the time, my concerns were met with a nonchalant lack of interest. I was told over and over, it was not the pacemaker! There is where the confusion and frustration starts. I read post after post about people not understanding what's going on, and the outrageous lack of information we're given to deal with this! I've had a pacemaker for 7 years now, and it was not until I read Smitty's wonderful informative posts, did the word "assist" jump out at me and make some sense of what a cardiac device is supposed to do. Now I think I understand that the pacemaker doesn't fix the original problems, but will sense an abnormal rhythm, and then assist the heart to beat in a more normal way. That's probably way too simplistic, but I think that's it in a nut shell. If I had known this at the beginning of my "walk with a pacemaker", it would have eased my worries and reassured me. The technicians and Drs. love to discuss our read outs among themselves, but show disrespect and annoyance to us when we ask questions. Also it seems that they are only interested in the functioning of the device, and not with how we are actually feeling despite the fact that the device is "doing it's job"! What do you all think?
Bambi