Pacemaker recipients: Looking for support from others

Posted by balubeje @balubeje, May 25, 2016

I am coming on a year post op having a pacemaker placement for bradycardia. I would be interested in a support group with the same concerns. I think a support network would be so beneficial.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

@danab

Hi Ion, Im Dana and Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry that this issue of feeling your heartbeat is probably distracting. As for the Bump that will probably always be there as mine was also slightly protruding from my chest. As for the heartbeat I know at times I could feel mine also and it seemed to be a position issue. May I ask why you have a pacemaker? For me I had a virus that affected my Heart and it got enlarged so for me it seemed if I layed on my left side I could feel it beat. I always figured it was that my heart was enlarged and pushing against something that made me feel it. So maybe investigate different positions and even try lifting the head of your bed to an incline position. Let me know how you make out I'm sure others would love to hear about options also. Part of why I like connect is helping each other solve things maybe others who are in similar situations may be experiencing.
Have a blessed day

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Hello Dana,
I had a fission operation on spine C6-C7 and in the night after operation at 2 am my heart stopped for 15 seconds,while I’ve been in ICU.
Next morning the cardiologists decided for a pacemaker,initially I’ve been reluctant to have it ( I checked my heart with another cardiologist before operation and everything ok,go ahead ) and after more discussion I accepted.
For the moment is working well,checking every 6 months,but I feel my heart beating all the time( nu ups or downs), the worst is when I put my head on the pillow,tic,tic….tic,but I feel it most of the day,doesn’t hurt but is uncomfortable.
Thank you for your reply and I wish you all the best.

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I just had a pacemaker put in on Friday 11-13-21 It is very overwhelming.

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@lovelyday4

I just had a pacemaker put in on Friday 11-13-21 It is very overwhelming.

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I felt the same when I got mine. Do not even think about it anymore. Thankful it is doing its job and have had no problems! You will be fine!

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@lynjolo

I felt the same when I got mine. Do not even think about it anymore. Thankful it is doing its job and have had no problems! You will be fine!

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Thank you, lynjolo for the kind words. I feel fine....

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@lovelyday4

I just had a pacemaker put in on Friday 11-13-21 It is very overwhelming.

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I have had mine for 13 years. Like you, I was overwhelmed at first but I have had it replaced once in 2013 and have about three years war until I get a third one. I don’t even think of it and I am thankful that I made the decision to have it done. It was a choice between an ablation and the pacemaker. They said with the ablation that I might have to remain on the amiodarone and I did not want that. Terrible terrible side effects are possible with that medication. It might take a little while but you will soon feel much more comfortable and eventually almost forget that it’s there.

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I’ve had my pacemaker for 3 years. I had a couple of heart attacks and then a complete heart block before I got it. My last two echos at Mayo showed a tremendous improvement in ejection fraction and I don’t have to see the cardiologist again for a year. With remote device checks that happen while I sleep, I can just about ignore the whole thing. I do walk every day and watch diet and take my meds.

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@breathe43

I have had mine for 13 years. Like you, I was overwhelmed at first but I have had it replaced once in 2013 and have about three years war until I get a third one. I don’t even think of it and I am thankful that I made the decision to have it done. It was a choice between an ablation and the pacemaker. They said with the ablation that I might have to remain on the amiodarone and I did not want that. Terrible terrible side effects are possible with that medication. It might take a little while but you will soon feel much more comfortable and eventually almost forget that it’s there.

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Thank you for the encouragement. I have not had any problems with my meds.at all.

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What meds do you require with a pacemaker (or for that matter, other ways of avoiding blood thinners which are very contraidindicated for me because of a serious eye condition)?

Specifically wet macular degeneration (who needs anti anticoagulants with THAT whammy?)

But if other required meds might badly effect the bleeding or other eye problems, that wouldn't help. I only just found out about the macular degeneration, and am very anxious to implement an alternative to that oral med. Taking blood thinners greatly accelerates the path to blindness and movement to the other eye.

What meds would I require for other ways of managing my paroxysmal AFIB? I. want to look up side effects.

Thank you!

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Can a pacemaker be helpful and introduced into a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism causing AFEB?

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@peach414144

Can a pacemaker be helpful and introduced into a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism causing AFEB?

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Excuse ne I mean AFIB.

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