Pacemaker & ICDs: Introduce Yourself & Meet Others

Hi Everyone, I'm actually a former Pacemaker/ICD Patient. I had one for almost 10 years. Before going on I'll share why I needed one. I was having a rather bad Flu Bug that was causing breathing problems. I went to see a urgent care Doctor who put me on the 5 day Antibiotic pack. Well my breathing got so bad I didn't finish and I could not even lie down, so off to the emergency room..what had happened is the fluid around my lungs and heart had put so much pressure on both that heart enlarged..this is what necessitated an emergency Hospitalation to drain off the fluid. But unfortunately this started my journey with needing a pacemaker/ICD. My heart was now enlarged and that's one muscle you don't want large. For a while like 3 or 4 years I didn't even know why I had it. I was put on some meds including Amiodarone and life went back to normal. The other thing I was told was my Injection Factor was @ 5 % (that part I found out later). But things got better for a while.

With the new Pacemaker and leads to my Heart, required some light duty at work of 6 weeks no lifting over 10 lbs and no reaching over my head. But until 2011 (the pacemaker was installed in 2008) nothing seemed wrong. But then I got my first shock. Wow was that an experience..I was driving on a date as a matter of fact with my current wife taking a friend home when I lost my vision and luckily I was on a rural road and was able to pull over. Then I got shocked twice. I did find out later that my pacemaker/ICD was set to shock rather than pace me out at first. Well this definitely got my attention. I ended up in the Hospital totally confused as to why I was awake when it happened. I was under the misconceptions that typically the shock only happens when your Heart stops and basically have passed out. Well I found out differently. So long story short they did some adjustments and now I would be paces out and if it didn't work then the shock. But that at least gave me a chance to be ready for the shock. I could usually tell when my heart was having an arrythmia(went into a Vtach) and I could pull my car over to wait it out..this only happened 2.other times in the 10 years I was with one. Most of the time I was usually at home or mostly it happened at night in Bed. So I'm sure your wondering how I ended up having it removed. Well after let's see I think it was about 8 Ablation surgeries and being shocked about 8 different bad arrythmia with over 20 shocks over 10 years and 1 battery replaced they had me evaluated for a Heart Transplant. Which I now have a new Heart. I say that to say there are always new treatments that can solve your Heart issue..I take great comfort in knowing that there are always options. So lots of stories to tell and please ask away. I've seen a lot of ups and downs. But now mostly ups. 7 years with my new Heart and just a different set of rules.

I had passed out a couple times and they ran me through quite a few tests without finding the reason. I wore a holter monitor for awhile, first, then they decided implanting the loop recorder would be better for longer term monitoring. It is did its job as the next time I passed out, it showed the 15 seconds of “pause” dx 3rd degree heart block and the need for a PM! The loop recorder and PM both Medtronic and I use the app on my phone for monitoring.

I had passed out a couple times and they ran me through quite a few tests without finding the reason. I wore a holter monitor for awhile, first, then they decided implanting the loop recorder would be better for longer term monitoring. It is did its job as the next time I passed out, it showed the 15 seconds of “pause” dx 3rd degree heart block and the need for a PM! The loop recorder and PM both Medtronic and I use the app on my phone for monitoring.
The loop recorder is implanted under the chest skin, is about 1.5 inch, and is a continuous heart recorder. (It does not pace or shock.)

@brightwood
No problem. Glad it was a mistake. Reading you had only hours left on a ICD/Pacemaker really worried me.

Thanks,
So many new medical devices hard to keep up with them. Glad they found the cause for you.

Wow! So many similar experiences as you had.

When you mentioned ejection fraction as 5% that is extremely low. Mine has been at 25-30 for over a decade since 2006 when had ICD/Pacemaker implanted (on 3rd device).

Can I ask where you had your transplant done?

Sure, Mayo Clinic Phoenix, Az. January 5th 2018.

I've had my Pacemaker for about 2.5 years. Bradycardia. I'd started to have a bit of dizziness after lifting heavy weights and it seemed to be tiring me more. Had made a telephone appointment with the doctor for Monday. Saturday I went to Emergency, heart rate 31. Monday the pacemaker was in. Saved my life. Lots of "feels" at the beginning and fear returning to the gym. Took it very slow and easy. Great trainer support! Back 'lifting' and very happy!

🙂