What Does It Feel Like???

I will not be getting my pm untill July. I am Really nervous.
What does it feel like? Can I feel when it is pacing? Does it feel like palpitations? That seems like it would feel uncomfortable.
I realize it will take some getting use to.

For instance...someone said when they have a few beers..it makes the pacer kick in and they don't feel well. Would it not pace often....or everytime your hr drops? Does it make you feel funny?
Can i ask the doctor to set it low..It was normal for me to rest at 42 bpm. Now I am slippng down into the low 30's. I have even heard some say..you don't have to worry in the low 30's. I think you do. How much lower can it go without serious repercussions?
Sorry so lengthy..but I am Scared.

Holly

9 Comments

I would be foolish not to be afriad

by gldoble - 2008-06-12 03:06:10

Hello Holly,

Welcome to our freinds site. Yes you should be afraid but not to the point that it stops you from "re-living" your life. You are going to get a gift that technology and god have created together. I have an IDCPM with 3 leads. Placed just a year ago.

And yes I was frieghted and scared to death. To the point of saying well hell lets just let life take its course and if SCD kicks in so be it. But as I was waiting I sat down one night wand wrote my kids thier black letters for when I did pass. Then I realized somehting, I am going to be given a chance, not a second chance but a chance to CONTINUE.

Since, my implant I have travedl around the world 6 times for business and will go off again 6 moe times before the end of the year. I have done things that I never would have been able to do if I had stoped. Like of all things getting a 12" dragon tatoo on one arm with plans for another on the opposite arm. I have had food and drinks from all parts of the world. I have met manhy kind and not so kind people in both the world and here. So what did I really get.

Well I've seen my daughter turn 5 my twins turn 10, my friends pass away and made new friends. And of all my new accuaintances an older woman that had a bad stroke, and becuase of our converations she actually has started to smile again, even if her face can't. That was cool. The wrosrt of this was a complete melt down on my part, too many problems to much LIFE. But hyou know what. This is a lot better than not being here.

When this damed thing in my chest finaly can't do its job anymore and its been replaced x number of times I will know that I have truly lived. Which in itself is cool.

I have been to wonderful places on this planet as well as horrible rotting jungles before this and have done horrible things in the name of my country, but now I can go back and beg for forgiveness, and I have.
I can extend a hand and a smile. And know no matter what this toy does either to me or for me, I am here.

You can't feel it pacing or anytihing else, after the surgury and in time you won't even notice it. I have been eating, drinking and all around merry. So just do what your Dr. says and you'll be fine. I might have become a bit nuts but thats what happens when you relaize you are alive and with all of the pain, hurt, love joy there is nothing but two things. The sun will come up tomorrow and so will you.

For now, have some educated fear but don't let it stop you fform living. We are will and will continue.

Welcome to LIFE as you have never experienced it before.

Greg

Feeling You Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2008-06-12 04:06:17

Hellyo Holly,

First and foremost, if you feel your pacemaker helping your heart beat, it needs further adjustments. We may feel the heart beats caused by our heart's natural pacemaker from time to time, however the strength of the electrical impulses from that PM may vary in strength. But the strength of the impulse from the manmade job is fixed by the doctor, nurse or technician and does not vary.

As for what a pacemaker will feel like, as I said you should not feel it working. There will be a little soreness at the beginning but that is usually gone in a few days to a couple of weeks. Thereafter, you should have to place your hand on the little lump made by your PM to even know you have one. In the event you do have feelings of discomfort or uncertainly that you attribute to the pacemaker, call your doctor.

So sit back and relax. You will feel better with the little electronic gadget helping keep your heart beat at the optimum level.

Good luck,

Smitty

Don't be too scared

by winelover - 2008-06-12 05:06:56

Hi Holly,

Of course you are scared, most of us probably were when we got the word that we needed a pm. I don't know what diagnoses you have and why you are getting the pm, or how you have been feeling, but you might find that you will be feeling much better afterwards. Yes, it would be nicer never being sick and never having to need a pm. If I could choose of course I would not have mine, but if you do need it, it is really not that big of a deal. Sure there are a few things you can't do at least for awhile but I always think about what I for sure couldn't do if I didn't have it, and that makes me feel lucky and blessed. This brings me to your question about drinking alcohol. As you can see from my username I love wine and it is actually my job - among others - to drink wine. I do on almost a daily basis both at work and at home and I never experiences any extra beats caused by that. Being really tired on the other hand will do that to me.
I don't kow how old you are, I was 42 when I had mine and am 100% paced and it has never stopped me from doing what I enjoy, and I can not feel it pace, I just know that it makes the beat go on. So don't be too scared, that might give you palpitations. Try and think positive thoughts.
Good luck

It is a mixed bag... but not bad...

by Swedeheart - 2008-06-12 06:06:06

Hello Holly,

No one was more terrified than I to find out I needed a pacemaker. I was totally surprised and was sure the doctors were incorrect on their diagnosis... finally denial left and I understood it would help me. I have partial heart block and sometimes my pulse goes into the 30s.. mostly when I am asleep.

Lots of good advice given in responses so far here. You won't feel your pacemaker working, but you will "feel" that it is in your body for awhile. It took me quite awhile to get used to that. A few challenges in the beginning, but it is all very individual... I was really run down before my pacemaker was implanted, and I am a senior citizen, with those two things against me it took me longer to recouperate than many. I am at about 110 days since my implant and doing much better now. It may take awhile for the doctors to get the right "adjustment" for your individual needs and life style ~ there is no "magic" formula for everyone.

I was very nervous prior to receiving my pacemaker and my doctor was great when I asked him about it. He gave me some meds to help calm my jitters and it really helped. I would get so nervous that my heart would beat fast and my blood pressure would go up! I also asked the EP Doc (who did the procedure) to be sure I didn't feel, see, or remember anything... I just didn't want to have more anxiety. They accommodated my wishes to the best of their ability.

You might discuss placement of your pacemaker with your doctor. I did quite a bit of questioning about this because I had 3 weeks before I received mine after I "knew" I would get one... Mine is a dual lead Medtronic and is placed right under my left collarbone. It was sore at first and I just now can begin to sleep on my left side. For the first 8 weeks or so I couldn't sleep in any position other than on my back. Others have fared much better... a few the same as I on recovery. The only "issue" I have with my placement is that my bra strap irritates it a bit, but it isn't horrible. Some women ask about other placement especially those that are really active in sports, etc. If you try the search function above you will likely get threads that discuss placement if you key in that word.

Being careful for the first 2 months seems to be a recurring theme. Some docs say a couple weeks for recovery, others say a couple days, but reality and many reliable doctors and web sites tell most of us to not lift our left arm above our shoulder for 6 weeks, and not to lift anything with our left arm (or pacemaker side) weighing more than 5 pounds or so for 6 weeks. It takes about 3 months for the leads that travel from our pacemaker into our hearts to firmly set. Yanking on a door or picking up heavy objects, etc. can do damage during that critical time period. Most of that was easy for me... my doctor told me not to lift mine above my shoulder or lift the weight, but otherwise to use my shoulder normally... otherwise I could get a "frozen" shoulder and that is quite painful and would require more visits to doctors and physical therapy. So... inquire of these things and be prepared for what you might need to do. I was able to drive after a week, and that was a wonderful thing! They didn't let me drive prior as they were afraid I would have an "episode" and pass out and kill someone or myself!

I too enjoy a glass of wine now and then. I have noticed that if I have 2 glasses my blood pressure/heart rate goes up into a zone I am not comfortable with... but it might be my medications rather than pacemaker that react negatively to the wine. I would ask your doctor, I can't imagine a drink now and then would be harmful unless you have specific meds that would react badly.

Your pacemaker will change your life... there will be good days and bad days, but life is that way any how. It will improve the quality of your life and keep you safer. There will eventually be few restrictions. MRI's are no longer possible, and certain types of welding. You might ask to be screened individually when going through the electronic scanners at the airport... but lots of folks haven't had any problems. All will depend on your specific needs.

This is a wonderful site and great place to ask all your questions ~ even if they have been asked before. We all go through many of the same concerns and wonder about this and what it is doing! In the long run it will be a good thing. If you are really worried, talk to your doctor and be up front with him or her about it. They will help you get through this "jittery" time.

Good luck. Please keep us posted on your procedure date and other questions!

Swedeheart

Pretend it is a routine procedure

by tedlutz3 - 2008-06-12 06:06:21

i had my ICD put in at a hospital in Pittsburgh where they said they do 4 a day.
of course, you're going to be apprehensive, but my doc explained everything and i left it in his hands and God's will.
exactly a month after mine implant, i had to go back in for a "re-wiring." l of the 3 wires shifted and i did not have the pacing feature. i was upset because the first incision was healing great. he cut in again and replaced a lead.
at my next checkup, they said the device is pacing me 99 percent of the time and said i had no "episodes."
just have faith that your implant will go great without any problems. there's lots of us with them.
best wishes
t.

THANK YOU

by LIVE_STRONG - 2008-06-13 01:06:32

Well I am sure you can understand how grateful I am for your responses.
You have helped me so much! I will still have many more questions, but hopefully someday i can pay it forward!

Thanks Again, Holly

Never a second thought.........

by auntiesamm - 2008-06-13 03:06:02


Holly - I am one of those who has had absolutely no problems with my little technologic gem which I got in May 2006. When I was found to be in 3rd degree heartblock, ended up in ICU I was more scared they wouldn't get it in soon enough to keep me alive! First night in ICU I was on all kinds of monitors, lines, etc, and during the night my HR dropped to 20. I was awakened by the nurses calling my name and yelling "wake-up, wake-up". They told me what had happened and then I REALLY wanted that PM implanted - like that minute! After that I was terrified to fall asleep again although I knew they were right there.& monitoring me closely. It was a tremendous relief the next morning when I finally got taken to the OR. By the time I got back to my room I was feeling pretty darn chipper. One thing I noticed right away was that my skin had "pinked" up a lot! I was allowed to use the BR, take a shower, and walk around AD-LIB from that point on. I was ready to go home but they kept me until the next morning. Went home the next day and got on with my life. The following day hubby and I went to a social gathering and the next day, Sunday, I drove myself to church. No problems whatsoever and I am so grateful to God every single day for this little pacer that keeps my heart beating. I hope you will learn to value yours as I do mine. My grown grandsons love to tease me about being "computer operated". A sense of humor does help!

What does it feel like?

by suejohn - 2008-07-03 06:07:55

Hi Holly,

I had my pacer put in 5 years ago. My pulse dropped to around 26 and during the night my pauses were 4 secs. So yeah, it is bad, but now you are going to get something that will totally transform you. The only advice I would give you is this. You may need to take it easy and believe me - you feel SO WELL after having it put in - it is HARD to. I have never felt better. I now go to the gym 3 times a week and have lost a stone. I have so much more energy. I can hold a conversation with someone without forgetting midstream what I was talking about and so much more energy. You'll see!!!

Best wishes for a very speedy recovery.

SUE

Thank you all sooo much!

by LIVE_STRONG - 2008-07-22 01:07:16

I just re-read the post...I feel better now..I go in for mine this Friday.

Holly

You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

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