Curious about young PM recipients.

I was 38

by Good Dog - 2024-01-10 14:52:41

I had just turned 38 by 2 weeks when I went into complete heart block. Like you; my heart was structurally sound, but I did have a congenital 1st degree AV Block. Actually, my 1st degree block wasn't discovered until I was 27 years old. I think that was my first ever EKG. So my GP sent me for a cardiac cath. Not sure why, but they did not find anything, so they called it congenital. Anyway, I woke-up in a complete heart block one day. I went to work and felt awful, but worked all day and ended-up in the ER that evening. Got my dual-chamber PM the next day. That was 37 years ago almost to the day. My life has been completely normal since and I still have the original Atrial lead and a 28 year-old RV lead. My first RV lead was recalled so I received a new one at battery change and the old one was capped and remains in-place. I take no medication and have no restrictions to-date.

Dave 

Vasovagal

by Mae11 - 2024-01-10 15:48:17

I'm 33 and had my PM placed at 30. I also have vasovagal syncope and have the same PM as you. 

welcome

by Tracey_E - 2024-01-10 16:44:36

I've had literally decades of medical staff staying "you're so young!!" and being the youngest in the waiting room. When I had my last replacement, one of the nurses said how young I was to be getting a pacer. I was 45 at the time and pointed out that this was #4 lol. So yeah, I get it. Yes, we are uncommon but there are still a lot of us out here. IMO, sites like this are priceless for bringing us together.  Until I started coming here about 10 years ago, I had never met anyone else even close to my own age that was paced.

I would say you are median age around here. We have parents of babies up through 80's, folks newly paced and others paced since infancy. 

I was 27 when I got my first one for congenital heart block. I'm 57 now.

Hi!

by Liv1 - 2024-01-10 17:35:20

Hi,

I received my pm 6 weeks ago and I am 44. My nervous system is also out of wack, or as the nurse told me during the operation "your body is a drama queen". 
I have been fainting when I experience pain since as long as I can remember, but 14 years ago they realised why. They were hoping that it would stop once I turned 40, but it only got worse. The doctor said it was quite unusual but wouldn't say how usual/unusual it is to get a PM, as in my case for being a drama queen.

You are not alone

by Lily - 2024-01-10 19:07:02

Hi, I got my PM at 36 years old. That was 2 years ago, when I was diagnosed with AV block.

Hi

by Julros - 2024-01-10 20:41:07

My son got his pacemaker/ICD when he was 38. He has a genetic abnormality that will causes atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and will likely lead to dilated carediomyopathy. 

He is a cycling enthusiast and nothing much keeps him down! 

Pacemaker since 5 years old. I’m 40 now.

by Nina38 - 2024-01-11 09:08:51

Welcome to the club. :)

To share a bit of my story. I've had a pacemaker for complete heart block since I was 5 years old and now I am 40.

Blessed to be here. Blessed to have such amazing technology... :) 

Pacemaker Since Infancy

by Buzbuz9 - 2024-01-11 22:18:52

Hey like many of the other comments I am also a young person with a pacemaker. I am currently 24 but have had a pacemaker since I was 7 months old. I was born with a significant VSD that when they repair it they severed my AV node giving me bradycardia and a need for a pacemaker. I am currently on my 5th about to get #6 next week. We are definitely the minority of pacemaker havers but you certainly aren't alone.

I got min a month before I turned 40

by Firefoy - 2024-01-12 20:00:41

I got my first device 2/7/2010.  I got my second device 2017.  Both for SSS with CI.  I used to feel like the youngest guy in the waiting room but 14 years later, not so much any more.  

Pacemaker at 40

by Topdog - 2024-01-14 19:06:49

I got my first pacemaker at 40 due to a 2nd degree, Mobitz (Wenckebach Phenomenon).  I'm slotted to get an "upgrade" to a biventricular pacer next month, due to a dilated left and right atrium.

Like everyone else, I'm typically the youngest person in the clinic.  I only know one other person with a PM and she's a 66 year old lady in my Sunday school class.  She's super sweet, but it makes you wonder about your mortality.  

I don't let my PM define me.  Even though I had to retire from law enforcement (I now have a much easier and higher paying job), I'm more active and starting officiating basketball last year.  The league director didn't know I had a pacer until I had to tell him about my upcoming surgery.

36

by dwelch - 2024-01-25 06:55:13

Diagosed with complete congenital heart block pre teen, first device at 19.  36 years with devices (I have leads older than you).  On device number five.

Yes you will pretty much forever be your doctors youngest patient.  And depending on life choices and insurance you keep one doctor, you will retire at least one doctor if not two or three (they retire and you find another).  

So we are kinda unicorns in that respect.  Been on this site a long time now but it was scary and lonely before finding this site and while each of us may be that one special patient our doctor has, across the country/world there are many of us. 

You are not alone. 

We have our own questions that other folks dont have.  And hopefully you can find answers here or at least find others with the same questions and concerns and can find answers together.

Sorry that you had to join this club, but it is really good to have this club and not be out there on your own with only one short visit a year with the doc who cant always answer all the questions.

My diagnosis is different than yours and I hope that being 6 weeks (or more as of the date I read this) that you only have a couple more visits this year in a few weeks and then in a few months and then go to a typical annual schedule, only having to sit in that room once a year.  I hope the device helps your condition to that level of peace.