Pacemaker & ICDs: Introduce Yourself & Meet Others

At age 45 ( currently 83 ), I had an inferior wall MI, involving RCA. Bad family history. Cousins dying in 20’s and my dad passed at age 54.
Despite no other risk factors, became compulsive about diet and exercise, started lipid meds to ensure low numbers.
Did wonderful until 2014, age 71, when had an SCA and successfully given CPR and several AED shocks being clinically dead for 42 mins.
Within 72 hrs, awakened and the next thing I knew, I was having a Boston Scientific AICD implanted behind my left pectoral muscle.
No issues till 2025, had 6 bouts of Vtach and was shocked appropriately 6 times with reversal to NSR. Each shock was 41 joules and with 11 years of battery usage and drainage from multiple shocks, urges time for new generator (AICD).
It’s been 5 weeks since new implant, which went into new pocket in my left pec muscle. Healing well with no pains.
Quite blessed am I to have made this journey so far.

At age 45 ( currently 83 ), I had an inferior wall MI, involving RCA. Bad family history. Cousins dying in 20’s and my dad passed at age 54.
Despite no other risk factors, became compulsive about diet and exercise, started lipid meds to ensure low numbers.
Did wonderful until 2014, age 71, when had an SCA and successfully given CPR and several AED shocks being clinically dead for 42 mins.
Within 72 hrs, awakened and the next thing I knew, I was having a Boston Scientific AICD implanted behind my left pectoral muscle.
No issues till 2025, had 6 bouts of Vtach and was shocked appropriately 6 times with reversal to NSR. Each shock was 41 joules and with 11 years of battery usage and drainage from multiple shocks, urges time for new generator (AICD).
It’s been 5 weeks since new implant, which went into new pocket in my left pec muscle. Healing well with no pains.
Quite blessed am I to have made this journey so far.

@hatterasj10202
Welcome.
Gosh, what a journey you have had. I am happy you are here to share it with us.
All the best.

Hi to all - I've had a dual pacemaker fitted 9 weeks ago but am not totally comfortable in my head. I'm trying to be positive but mentally it's pretty difficult.
I experience many occasions when i get lightheaded and weak.
My pacemaker trigger rate is set at 55 and the hospital are happy it's at the correct level.
I'm 71 years old and very fit through regular swimming and golf.
Can anyone advise if they've had a similar experience please. How long does it take to get back to normal?
I'd be very grateful for advice from those who've experienced anything similar.
Thanks in anticipation.
Jimmy G.

Hi to all - I've had a dual pacemaker fitted 9 weeks ago but am not totally comfortable in my head. I'm trying to be positive but mentally it's pretty difficult.
I experience many occasions when i get lightheaded and weak.
My pacemaker trigger rate is set at 55 and the hospital are happy it's at the correct level.
I'm 71 years old and very fit through regular swimming and golf.
Can anyone advise if they've had a similar experience please. How long does it take to get back to normal?
I'd be very grateful for advice from those who've experienced anything similar.
Thanks in anticipation.
Jimmy G.

Hi to all - I've had a dual pacemaker fitted 9 weeks ago but am not totally comfortable in my head. I'm trying to be positive but mentally it's pretty difficult.
I experience many occasions when i get lightheaded and weak.
My pacemaker trigger rate is set at 55 and the hospital are happy it's at the correct level.
I'm 71 years old and very fit through regular swimming and golf.
Can anyone advise if they've had a similar experience please. How long does it take to get back to normal?
I'd be very grateful for advice from those who've experienced anything similar.
Thanks in anticipation.
Jimmy G.

@tigerjim1
Hello Jimmy. I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006. I am on my 3rd device.

What my Electrophysiologist (EP) told me about ICD/Pacemaker (do you mean by dual that you have a ICD/pacemaker?) is liking have your own EMS team waiting to help you.

Also he told me would take about a year for you and your body to become used to having a foreign device in your body. Also told me takes about a year for body to encapsulate it. Meaning the body will form a protective gel around it and that will reduce feeling of it and also reduce any friction caused by device.

My device pacing is set for 70 bpm. Over the 20 years I have had one the Pace Clinic at Mayo has fine tuned my pacing for what is best for me. I take medications that lowered my PR to down in 30s. They had my pacemaker set at 50 but found needed a higher pulse rate for being active and slowly we found that 70 bpm was optimal for me. Because of medications my pulse does not get above 70 unless really exercising hard and then only about 100.

Bring to the attention of your EP or cardilogist about being light heades and mentioned (to remind them) if pulse rate set at 55 might be causing this. It appears you are very active like me and possibly like me need a higher pulse rate because of activity.

I know when my pulse rate was in 30/40 I would get dizzy when standing up. So talk to your cardiologist about your lightheadedness. Also are you on any blood pressure medications?

I know if my pacemaker was set at 55 it would not be high enough for me to not get dizzy standing up quickly nor give me the rate to allow me to exercise. Talk to your EP about programming your device to react to exercise. Some devices have that options and the devices senses movement and other ways to have it raise pulsing.

I did not like the feel of that and had my exercise mode shut off.