SHOULDER TO CRY ON

Hi everyone --- thank God for this site and for all of you knowledgable people. I had my PM 09/10/07 almost a month and I went back to my Cardo today. I had a few questions and concerns which I wanted to address with him, so I did just that. I am a nervous/scared type of gal anyway, so of course everything he said to me was really taken to heart. He interogated my PM while I asked if everything looked ok - he then replied I see a little problem there. Of course that response scared me - then he says "your pm is working fine. He said it was working at 50 percent. Last time it was working at 20 percent --- is this a normal thing. Now he wants me to come back next month for a stress test. I did not have a stress test initionaly because it was determined that I needed a PM. I also told him that I was feeling much better than 3 weeks prior but there were times when I still felt a little light headed ... he said that has nothing to do with the pm.

So now I am really terrified! should I seek another Cardio doctor just for a second opinion. All of this has really set me back ----- I'm just scared to do anything. I know that I should be greatfull for not having any worse problems. I feel like I just don't know what to do -- now my question is what else is he going to find wrong with me. AM I OVER REACTING?

4 Comments

remember tests are only tests

by nat - 2007-10-09 11:10:11

Its really hard dealing with the idea or possibility of something being so serious wrong ,but remember you have a good doctor if they are checking into things that don't seem exactly right. Your fear whould be validated but don't let yourself go to places that you can't know yet.

Hang in there.

Don't Panic

by gldoble - 2007-10-09 11:10:58

Yes you are over reacting, however. Your Carioligist should have done stress test before hand. I had before my implant 5 CT's, 4 MRI's, 2 Stress Tests, one physical and one chemically induced.

Not a candidate for Bypass surgury so it was off to La Jolla for a dually, (IDC and PM). As to your PM changing usage, if the doc says your good to go then your fine. Mine was done on 8/16.

Something you need to realize and I've said this a number of times to different folks. You have been given a wonderful gift. Not of life like with a transplant but rather time. Time for all the things you would not have been able to do or enjoy. Not the Zen type of enjoymnet either. This is time to live, To have the same thing you had yesterday and today. To live through the good the bad and the ugly. And if you want to learn how to change your time so you can apprciate things, (not because of some finality), the things around you but simply because you can. And you have the time to do it.

Please realize that the only thing you need to worry about any more is, is how you are going to take your coffee tomorrow morning. And at the very worst every 5.5 to 6 years go in in the morning and have your PM replaced. Then you know what happens. You get another renewable lease on life.

And keep on ticken just like my Energizer Bunny. Keeps on Keep'n on.

So try not to be afraid and think about what it is your going to do tomorrow. Cause you no longer have to worry.

So Chin up and all that rot, and I'll share a cup of coffee with you in the morning.

Greg

P.S.

Welcome to our very exclusive club. :)

No worries

by lucybell - 2007-10-10 07:10:39

Hi Rancho- Really don't worry about the increase in pacing- when I went in for my first time they told me that I pace 70% of the time- I am only 27. My cardiologist did not seem to think that was a big deal- he said many people pace all the time. For your dizzyness- that is more of a blood pressure problem. Are you getting enough salt in your diet? Have you had your blood pressure checked? I always got dizzy before the PM that I had in August and they told me that I would just have to deal with it forever- it was all caused by the mono virus. So anyway being dizzy really is not your heart (from my understanding) its your blood pressure. Stay calm- really a PM is not that big of a deal- life could be much worse! Good luck:)

Don't worry

by boatman50 - 2007-10-10 08:10:19

I don't think you have to worry. The usage rate will vary depending on your activity level. My lower rate was set at 55bpm for awhile and I had a usage rate of about 40%. Then they had to raise the lower rate to 70bpm. If I rested and my resting rate was less then 70bpm, the pm would kick in and keep it at 70bpm, so the usage went up. The docs have said there is nothing to worry about as far as a higher usage rate, I just might have to get a new battery a little sooner. So take care and enjoy what you have, a little electric buddy that watches over you.
Boatman

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