AV Block

Almost exactly the same

by Persephone - 2022-01-22 20:23:11

Hi Ohio - nice to meet you and I hope you're feeling well.  You could very well be telling my story - it mirrors yours very closely.  4 yrs out, I really don't think about my PM much, but those early times were very confusing, I didn't understand what was going on, I had a bit of lingering brain fog from not having enough blood O2 for that extended amt of time similar to what you describe, and I felt sorrow for the loss of control over my situation.  The good people here have been tremendously helpful in providing guidance and resources - invaluable help.  I hope you're getting the help that you need to heal.

Coincidentally, the last time I traveled to the state of Ohio was just a few weeks before I received my surprise PM.  It was around this time of year and looking back at it, going over the mtns (even though they're kinda short mountains) in freezing fog was a great metaphor for the HB experience as it continued to progress when I returned home.  Stay well.

A/V Block

by TAC - 2022-01-23 10:11:39

It must be very frustrating for you that after doing everything "right" you developed a health problem, something you never expected. Well, that's life. It seems to me that all the organs in our body have an "expiration date" from the day we're born. Not all organs are 100% perfect. Some are damaged at birth and others have bad genes. Therefore, they all have different "expiration," dates. Sometimes you wonder why an alcoholic doesn't develop liver cirrhosis while a non-alcoholic does. You are probably puzzled why you developed A/V block while some people who never took care of themselves reach an old age with a perfect heart. Anyway, you have to deal with reality and take the appropriate steps without even asking "why me". Nothing is predictable in life. Take it as it comes. Good luck.

Similar situation

by Elisabet - 2022-01-25 19:02:05

I also have a pacemaker for complete heart block. I had occasional dizzy moments (brief but intense) for years before they became frequent enough that something was finally captured via a holter and they sent me to the ER to get the pacemaker. By that time I had both a cardiologist and an EP (both of whom were, of course, out of town when I needed the surgery) and had actually had a lot of imaging done including a cardiac MRI. 

In my case there was a straight-up explanation for the heart block, as I had had a large dose of chest radiation during cancer treatment back in the 1980s, and they could follow changes on my EKG over the years as radiation damage is progressive. 

Aside from this, though, twice I've been hit with major medical crises (one was the cancer) that had nothing to do with anything I'd done or not done, just out of the blue. I will say this though: being in good shape means it is a heck of a lot easier to get through it. It sounds like you are taking care of your body and are in tune with it, and that's really going to help you moving forward. Wishing you the best.

no surprise

by dwelch - 2022-02-01 16:03:01

I have CCHB, as in from birth.  My pediatrician heard something, sent me to the cardiologist, and you can literaly see complete heart block in seconds on an ekg, no waiting around.   So that was a surprise moment, but this was the 1980s.  pacers were not new certainly but not super common either, just beginning to be that way. I was like 12 or so so I really dont know what was going on, just told I couldnt do things (which I did anyway and should be dead), and was watched for several years, then at 19 got my device.   

So unlike so many people here, heart block or other, I did not have the wake up in the ER with a pacer day.  And I can understand that kind of shock.  

But as others have said on this site, if you need one you need one, and I have said many times, if you have a heart problem that needs a pacer, heart block is one of the best ones to have, super easy for the pacer to fix.  

34 years with devices, on pacer number 5.  Quite easy to live with.