Pacemaker recipients: Looking for support from others

Hello @markjones

Mayo Connect is a great place to connect with others who have had similar health experiences. I can certainly understand why you would like to get off the meds with their side-effects.

I am going to introduce you to some of our other Members who have mentioned Pacemakers. Perhaps they will respond with their experiences,
@lmclaugh @ronbee @jimana @martishka @billmichalski @sotiredofit @ricke62 @catygirl @bevtar98 @balubeje @marke92.

Teresa

I'm not sure the circumstance being faced...here's the but-if you are facing the possibility of a pacemaker and your diagnosis is bradycardia I would be glad to offer what I know for me. You will find a lot of positive and informative people on this location.

Hi balubeje,
No my diagnosis is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which doesn't typically require a pacemaker, but the surgery to correct my thickened septum will likely impact my left bundle branch, and I already have a right bundle branch block, so that means I'd likely need a pacemaker for life because I would be completely blocked.
Thank you!
Mark

Thanks, Lisa! I see my original post now on this forum (separate post). I'd greatly appreciate any comments to it! To any of you who can provide feedback, it's probably better to reply there than here since it provides the background and type of feedback I'm seeking. Thank you.

Thank you, Teresa! Hello to you all. I don't know a lot about how pacemakers work and how they respond to different conditions to manage the body's blood flow needs. It's not the procedure itself or questioning the need for it that is my dilemma, but simply understanding what a pacemaker for life means from a day to day standpoint as compared to a heart that doesn't require a pacemaker. If you have any thougths to share I'd greatly appreciate them! Perhaps better to reply to my original post just a little above so that the background is included for anyone else reading. Thanks!!

My pacemaker became my new normal in June 2015. Personally I have bradycardia which is a slow heart rate. My heart rate was in the 50's on a good day and low heart rates are usually found in runners and those "die-hards" who run marathons. I don't fit that category though I do work out several days a week and walk two dogs routinely. On my physical exam a PA (physician assistant) couldn't find my heart rate. Consequently I went through a whole slew of tests like echocardiogram, ekg, stress test and then a slew more when it was determined that a PM was to be inserted. One particular test found that my heart stops for as long as 6 seconds-this was found on a heart monitor I wore for a month. I have a two lead pacemaker-no defibrillator-I see one of the top EP's in the world on a yearly basis and have my PM checked via remote 4 times a year. There are days when a nap is required but not a consistent concern. It has been determined that I have mild sleep apnea-which might be the cause of Afib that has developed over the course of time-which I am never aware of thus far but that might explain why this newest of onset. So last fall I was placed on a blood thinner. Hope you find this helpful. BTW: I do have a very strong heart-I just have issues with rhythm. So my heart relies on the PM and I'm pretty much oblivious to the times the PM helps out.

I am shortshot80) I have a pacemaker that I have had for 10 years now and in April i will have a new
battery put in. I have not had any pain, trouble of any kind and will be 85 in march. Good luck to you!

Thank you both! I am a little freaked out at the thought that my heart won't beat at all without some little device directing it. I don't know if the experience is different for someone that is "totally blocked" vs. one that kicks in when needed. I don't understand how they respond to different conditions and what fine tuning is needed.

You have some very valid concerns. I'm totally clueless when it comes to the PM and a totally blocked heart. Then again I am aware of a "friend" who wears a defib vest that "kicks in" when the heart stops and that is beyond me. I have a "team" of folks who worry about that "stuff" for me and I am so grateful that each day when I wake up I'm here and have a purpose and if I wake up in a different location it was time for me to have my room in the mansion so for me all is well and I am in a win-WIN. PS I would be concerned if you weren't freaked out I have been in that situation during this ride.
Fine tuning for me was getting the pace maker inserted, then the six week check up and 3 month check up to follow my pm and then each quarter do the remote check...the remote check is definitely a fine tuning moment I know when I receive an envelope in the mail all is well and when I don't and get a phone call something is up. One phone call so far-brought on some tests-but end result no definitive answers. Personally, I think you will find a new normal for you and I am more than happy to put you on my prayer list.

I had surgery last week to replace the lead because I had problems from the day it was installed. I still have extreme burping, some nausea, a pinched feeling by the pacemaker, bad pain in my arm that comes and goes and pain in the heart area. I have an apt with heart doctor on the 5th. I told them last week I was having pain. They said I should contact my primary. What would happen if I told them to just take it out?