Chest pain with pacemaker

@jc76 I hear you. I wasn't planning on getting another dog so soon. Then my granddaughter encouraged me to get another one. I started looking. I thought I'd found the right dog. It matched all my criteria. The owner was giving him up because his son was violent and he was afraid the son would hurt the dog. He changed his mind 3 times. Then I started looking at rescue organizations. They didn't say it, but I was being refused because of my age. Then "Sleeping Beauty" came up and the ad said she would be perfect for a senior. Little Molly is the funniest little dog I've ever had. She "graduated" from Beginner's Puppy Class last Sunday. She's very loving and a challenge. All the best with your operations and your future "best friend." BTW did you have pet insurance? I'm debating whether or not to get it.

@elizadolittle
Yes had pet insurance. If you buy when your pet is young the cost is much lower as as the dog ages will have pre conditions health issues and when you try to sign up with known ailments will be much higher.

The insurance we went with required us to go to our vet and determine if any preconditions.

Our insurance had a $500.00 deductible but as he aged his VET costs were much higher than that and the VET hospital was over $5,000 of which we paid 80% and insurance covered the rest.

Hopefully we will be finding a best friend again soon.

@elizadolittle Little Molly is a Pomeranian! I don't know if all Poms are like her. Yesterday, I took her to the Little Dog Park. I didn't close one of the outside gates properly. She took off down the street with me after, thinking I would never catch her. She arrived at my car.
When she realized she couldn't get in, she sat down and waited for me! Whew!

Little Molly is only six months old. We're working on potty training. It seems to be working.

I'm fascinated by the way she uses her front legs and paws. Molly uses her front legs to old onto things like my arm.

I discovered her claws are curved like a cat's and that's why she can climb so well. She keeps eyeing my kitchen counter. So far, she hasn't tried leaping from the arm of the sofa chair to the counter.
She climbed the retaining wall in my backyard yesterday. It's about 3 1/2 feet high.

Fortunately, I closed the ends several years ago to keep Miah from visiting the neighbours.

I'm beginning to understand why Pomeranian owners are so fascinated by them. They are the ultimate lap sitters. Molly reminds of a circus dog with her ability to walk on two feet.

Enjoy whatever pet you have. Research shows that seniors that have pets, live longer and spend less time in the hospital.

Support any move that promotes seniors having pets.
Out any rescue organization that has the unwritten policy of not adopting out to a senior--and there are some. I know from experience.

@jc76 I love dogs! Pets, in general, are members of our family. That said, let's try to stay on topic: Pacemaker (include ICDs here) and Chest Pain.

@elizadolittle I love dogs! Pets, in general, are members of our family. That said, let's try to stay on topic: Pacemaker (include ICDs here) and Chest Pain.

@walkinggirl
What? I am on topic. You share your experience with others what you did to lesson stress, anxiety, in your life. We are suppose to share our experiences. We participants have been discussing the role of pets in our PTSD and anxiety/panic that comes with having a foreign device in your body, and PTSD from shocks, etc.

AND the role of our pets can play with the anxiety and panic disorders that can come and the role of pets to help with that. And the breed of many dogs to consider when and if they would seek that as a help with ICDs, Pacemakers, chest pain or anything that causes stress and anxiety.

Participants should feel welcomed to express how they deal with having a ICD/Pacemaker and what they had and did to find a way to feal with stress, anxiety and for my PTSD.

If you feel we cannot share that experience of what worked for us please contact the Director of MCC and have her send me a private message. I have shared my dogs help for me not only for ICD/Pacemaker anxiety, but having prostate cancer, heart failure, and many other issues that my dog has helped me immensely.

I just spent 5 days in critical care cardiology at Mayo Jacksonville after I lost my PTSD dog of 13 years which caused so much stress and anxiety I received ICD shocks and tons of PVCs and PACs.

I did until his death have the comfort and anxiety of a PTSD dog. He was certified and registered (with Mayo Jacksonville Psychiatry) as a PTSD dog. Every single one of my Mayo doctors and psychiatry specials asked me about him all the time. They even welcomed me to bring him with me.

Do you have any experience with developing PTSD from multiple and ongoing ICD shocks? And then the worry and anxiety about having more? Do you recognize the importance and role of a PTSD or emotional service dog for those who have ICD/Pacemakers, heart issues, and dealing with the stress and anxiety and what you do to reduce it. I think discussions about participants breeds very helpful as a source of information.

We should encourage others to share what worked for us. I have often suggested others to consider exercise (with doctors opinion), and or hobbies and the role they can play with reducing stress, anxiety and panic disorders. Stress and anxiety can and will cause more PVCs, PACs, and heart issues, pain and discomfort. My doctors at Mayo Jacksonville encourage me to talk and the role my having a PTSD dog helped me and encourage me over and over to continue my exercise routine, and consider another PTSD dog.

@jc76 I don't recall saying anything negative about talking about our dogs or other pets. I thought my comments were positive. I wish I could figure out a way to have my little Miss Molly classified as either a therapy dog or "live" pain pill reducer!
I hope you do get another dog.

All the best.

I believe there is a misunderstanding. Of course you are welcome to discuss your pets and how they helped you in so many ways.. The topic of this particular discussion is Chest Pain with Pacemaker. We encourage discussions on whatever people wish to discuss. This welcome discussion related to stress reduction, PTSD and other very important issues would be better under a discussion thread about dogs/pets and stress relief. An ICD is a stress maker, yes, readers could be referred to a thread on stress by you. How would people know to read your helpful contributions about dealing with stress and how your deep relationship with your family member dogs was so calming and rewarding under the topic of ICD and chest pain? I hope this clarifies how your thoughtful and helpful post could better reach others. Looking forward to your future contributions!

@elizadolittle
I found your post helpful and informative. We all have to find our own personal ways to deal with ICD, pacemaker surgeries both physical and mental discomfort.

Having experienced ICD shocks at least 15 times over the 20 years quite familiar with device, surgeries (I am on my 3rd) the chest pain associated with surgeries, PVCs, PACs, tachycardia, the device and wires, arm movements that can cause pain. The surgeries themselves are painful and some experience more pain that I did. But it is going to take time for body to accept and encapsulate your device as well as mental health dealing with having a device.

Regarding how to have your dog classified aa emotional therapy dog and your perfect description of them being a pain pill reducer. Do you see a anyone in psychiatry? If so have them write a letter identifying your dog as emotional support. I did this at Mayo Jacksonville and carried a letter with me from psychiatry department stating my dog was a PTSD service dog under ADA. Your primary care doctor can also do a emotional therapy dog also.

For those not wanting a therapy dog to help with anxiety of having a ICD, Pacemaker (or dual device like mine) and the pain and discomfort your get form the surgeries and body dealing with a foreign device look at finding an exercise (after doctor approval) or a hobby you like to do. I found it will help reduce your mind on pain from surgery, arm movements, etc. and can really help you mentally as well as physically. I got feedback from others about water aerobics I recommended and how much it was enjoyable and stress reducer.

The recent chest pains I was getting is sometimes irritation around the device. I found I was also getting chest pains from tachycardia also. I know one poster reacted to what I posted about having your ICD or pace department look at arm movements as causing issues with device.

@walkinggirl Thank you, Linda, for clarifying this issue.