Anxiety after pacemaker implant

I think some level of anxiety is common after implantation of an ICD/Pacemaker. It's scary to
Understand your heart's need for assistance so anxiety is expected.
I've had my device since the use of pacemakers was experimental. My first device was implanted in 1974 and yes, it was stressful. I had some rocky situations during the first 5 years but everything eventually smoothed out. My ICD/pacemakers have been a blessing. I've had 9 devices implanted and several leads and it's been a real miracle! I've now had 52 years of life that I might not have had otherwise. The journey has had it's rough spots but I'm still here at age 74 and it's been an amazing life so far. I hope to make it to my 80's and beyond.
Accept the device as a part of who you are and please know its going to be good!

I read the comments about the ICD surgery. With any surgery comes anxiety and stress. However got to remember that the device is there to save your life. It will not activate unless it senses a episode of programmed duration before it will shock you.

It will (per my EP) take about a year for body to encapsulate it and you get used to it being there. For many of us we forget it is there until it activates and again saves our lives.

Try to think about it as having your own EMS team on standby to come to your assistants in seconds versus waiting for EMS 911 to arrive which can be a long time.

It will take some time to get used to it. But as one poster mentioned the service if provides far outweighs the anxiety of having one. And I know the stress and anxiety at first having one but that anxiety and stress will go away as you get used to having it AND try to see it is a plus and benefit to you to help save your life and not something to feel anxiety and stress over having one.

In other words try to see it as a plus of you having one as will be there to help you within seconds. It only takes 4 minutes when heart stop pumping blood to brain that damage will occur. Even in VTAC the hear is beating so erratic you faint as not blood getting to brain.

For me many times I felt faint and before I passed on the ICD shocked me and I did not faint. I like the poster who identifiers her ICD as buddy I too see it as my friend who provides a great service to me. I am sure the only reason I am here typing this is that I have had an ICD for over 20 years.

Given that a PM is connected to your I heart and something we haven’t experienced, anxiety is understandable. I received my Medtronic dual chamber PM in April 2025. I felt anxious when I truly understood that my PM was in charge of how my heart was going to work going forward. I was stressed out about whether I could continue my usual exercise. It took 3 tuneups during which time I was very anxious because I didn’t know if I was going to get back to normal. It was a sobering discovery when I realized that my heart function was based on PM settings! I experienced another level of anxiety when I learned that I am virtually 100% paced. In other words I am 100% paced and my quality of life is dependent on my PM and Mayo’s PM team. I am happy to report that today I can go about my pre-PM life exactly as before and that my anxiety about being PM dependent is replaced by gratitude for getting my life back. The journey has had ups and downs but resulted in a miracle! Stay positive!

@rickg75 Welcome to Connect! I see this is your first post and thank you for the kind words. Also, thank you for reassuring @aprilshowers that you believe she would move on from this difficult turn in due time. Yes, we are all anxious about this new device that makes us bionic people. It's something new, scary because we could get a shock (I have not in 3.5 years), and as you wrote, "my gratitude that such a device exists and is helping me and so many others far outweighs the anxiety." As you are recovering from the installation, what has the feedback been from your family and friends?

@maccamona0405 Welcome to Connect, I see that this is your first post! Your contribution to the discussion is so reassuring and positive. You were 22 when you received your ICD and you have seen the progression in technology as well as implantation techniques evolve over 50 years! Sharing experiences is one of the goals of Connect, please do share the circumstances that resulted in you becoming a subject for this wonderful new device in 1974. Where do you receive your care?

@ted3 Thank you for posting your words of reassurance and encouragement, I hope that @aprilshowers reads this. Yes, tuneups are sometimes needed after installation, my Medtronic ICD kept recording that I was retaining much fluid. After determining that I was not (lost nary an ounce after I was prescribed a diuretic for a couple of days), it was remotely reprogrammed and then all was fine. I too have returned to my normal active life. For those of us who need help with the electrical functions of our hearts, a PM (pacemaker) or ICD is a welcome new beginning.

I had a pacemaker put in on June 23rd. I was able to go home the next day. I'm glad I found this site, because I was beginning to worry and wonder if everything went as well as I was told. I was having some of the same sensations that I had before the implant, such as imbalance, dizziness, feeling 'off.' My whole system feels so 'weird' which I guess is not surprising, given the fact that I have this little alien in me. Any words of wisdom that any of you can give me will be very much appreciated. I will see my surgeon again this coming Wednesday...I am keeping notes o how I feel and will share them with him at that time.

@walkinggirl Thanks. My recovery is going well. Kinda funny, though: I have to discipline myself to be lazy! Seriously, though, some of my work now is to remember to take breaks and to rest to let my body heal. My walks are shorter and the chainsaw that I use to maintain "fire wise" property gathers dust. No doubt, that's a challenge that pretty much everyone faces in their early post-implant days. And as for feedback from family and friends...they're glad to have me around, compared to the alternative, and they're wonderfully understanding, encouraging me to ease back during this time.

@patsolstad Welcome to Connect and the discussion thread for anxiety with Pacemaker/ICDs. I see this is your first post. June 23rd, pacemaker day, was just last week. You are wise to keep notes on how you feel to share with your surgeon (electrophysiologist?). I personally do not remember imbalance, dizziness and feeling off, we are all different. I received my ICD after a septal myectomy and developed electrical problems resulting in dizziness, giddiness and a couple of syncope. The ICD ended all of those. Please be aware that sometimes adjustments need to be made in the device. Mine showed untrue water retention and an adjustment done remotely, I felt nothing, fixed that. Meanwhile, learn all you can about your device, here is a link to read. Knowledge may help you generate questions for your doctor. There are other good things to read, in your browser, type in pacemaker and look for articles from reputable institutions. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pacemaker/about/pac-20384689 Please let us know about your progress!