My new pacemaker/defibrillator

Hello everyone. I am a 55 year old woman with a history of Atrial Fib and Mitral Valve prolapse.
I had a mitral valve replacement (mechanical due to my age) June 1 2005. At the time I thought that this was gonna fix me up......well....I waited and waited and never received my strength back after the surgery. I returned to work...but it was extremely hard. My heart was measured at 45 at that time, and by October 2007 it had dropped to 25.
Durring my heart surgery, my surgeon performed ablasion which he said would take care of the atrial fib...it did not work.
So......on January 23rd this year I went in for my Pacemaker/defibrillator. I do feel better.....but still not as good as I felt before the Valve replacement surgery.
I am very thankful for the doctors and the pacemaker/defibrillator..but I am a bit distressed as to how my life is going to progress or egress. I hope this keeps my heart failure in check and that I am not going to be looking at further surgeries. Just a bit tired of the whole thing. I am on a permanent disability...and feeling really crappy about my life. Can anyone tell me....will this pass???? I use to be so happy and energenic. Now I just pretend to family and friends.
Hate being such a big baby.
How do I pull myself out of this hole??
Thanks to all,
Barbm

1 Comments

hello barb

by pat - 2008-02-19 07:02:00

just wanted to let you know that you are not alone, and no, even though you might feel like it you are not a big baby. my husband had to have a valve replacement about 7 years(he was just about 49 so they gave him a mechanical one also) ago and it took him a long time to get over that big one, and it is a big one, meds to get used to etc, etc. and yes he still has a few problems, i myself had a pm put in aug 07 and there are still days when i just don't feel up to par. with both things going on for you it is no wonder you feel bad. in my experience i at first went through a lot of depression because i, like you felt crappy about having a "thing" control my life, but as time went on i started feeling a lot better healthwise and with it most of the depression went. this website was a godsend to me though, a lot of these people here helped me more than the drs or my family did. they listened and they cared and most of all they understood what i was going through.so hang in there barb, it will get better.
just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts,

pat

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.