Getting a Pacemaker next week....questions, experiences?

[aja8888]

After my health took a turn last month at almost 81 (stent in neck artery, heart issue), I have been wearing a heart monitor for the last two weeks. Yesterday, I met with the "electro cardio doc" and was told I have a Level 2 Heart Block causing heart rates (beats per minute) in the low 30's when I am at rest or asleep. My Apple watch wakes me up with a loud alarm after 10 minutes of heart rate under 40 BPM. Strangely enough, I have no dizzy spells or fainting incidents when the heart rate is that low. The doc said this condition is not reversible unless a pacemaker is used to correct the missed heart beat and keep a correct heart rhythm. I'll have to believe him on that! I'm scheduled for the implant on September 5th.

So much for years of staying healthy through lots of exercise and good habits! Age catches up with us all, eventually.

For people here with implanted pacemakers, what are your good/bad experiences with daily living (I live alone with a small dog)?

Can you still play golf if you were a golfer?

Have you had to lower your usual level of activity since getting the pacemaker?

Any physical restrictions (permanent)?

What's your biggest gripe about the pacemaker?

Thanks, Tony

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I have had one for 18 years, my 2nd in fact. No issues. I do not even know it is there half the time. I have level 3 heart block, 100% paced on my ventricle, AV node completely packed up one day, the goblins must have cut the wire overnight, next day I had a pacemaker.

 

[aja8888]

I have had one for 18 years, my 2nd in fact. No issues. I do not even know it is there half the time. I have level 3 heart block, 100% paced on my ventricle.

Great! Thanks!

 

[calmloki]

Mine is implanted maybe 2" below my left clavicle and very close to the armpit. I'm a skinny guy, so maybe this is a me problem, but I bang into the device with the soap bar when washing my left armpit. That's about my biggest gripe, so not so bad. On the fun side, ran my battery down after 8+ years and held off replacing the device long enough that one fine day it did an audible alarm, then daily till replacement. Sounded like a European emergency vehicle and it is very odd to be emitting noise from your upper chest. Fun when it happened in public and I just acted like I wasn't aware of it and could see others trying to figure out where the sound came from.

 

[aja8888]

Mine is implanted maybe 2" below my left clavicle and very close to the armpit. I'm a skinny guy, so maybe this is a me problem, but I bang into the device with the soap bar when washing my left armpit. That's about my biggest gripe, so not so bad. On the fun side, ran my battery down after 8+ years and held off replacing the device long enough that one fine day it did an audible alarm, then daily till replacement. Sounded like a European emergency vehicle and it is very odd to be emitting noise from your upper chest. Fun when it happened in public and I just acted like I wasn't aware of it and could see others trying to figure out where the sound came from.

LOL!

This new Apple watch I have had been blaring alarms during the night when my BPM goes under 40 and waking me. My dog hears them and can't figure out what the heck is going on!

 

[Winemaker]

In any event, good luck to you during your surgery, your recovery and continued wellness.

 

[aja8888]

In any event, good luck to you during your surgery, your recovery and continued wellness.

Thanks.

 

[MC Rider]

could see others trying to figure out where the sound came from.

It's a serious thing, but that's pretty funny.

Hope it goes well for you Aja8888.

 

[Gremlin]

Wishing you all the best!

 

[Souschef]

My DW had one implanted after a number of episodes with AFIB. Cardioversion did not work, so she had the pacemaker implanted. They had to ablate the right ventricle to stop interference with the pacemaker.
She is living normally, but aware of things that can mess it up.
For example, Princess cruises uses a thing called a medallion, which can emit an RF signal. Also, she cannot use a TENS.

 

[CM]

"So much for years of staying healthy through lots of exercise and good habits! Age catches up with us all, eventually."

This is age catching up with you, exactly! I used to work with a group of Electrophysiologists-the docs who implant and monitor pacemakers and also do ablation procedures for irregular heart rhythms. They said that if everyone lived to 120 we would all have pacemakers. The heart's natural pacemaker, the sinus node, wears out as we age. Like so many of our parts. Luckily, they have a fix for that

 

[Car-Guy]

Best of luck.

 

[aja8888]

Best of luck.

Thanks!

 

[aja8888]

"So much for years of staying healthy through lots of exercise and good habits! Age catches up with us all, eventually."

This is age catching up with you, exactly! I used to work with a group of Electrophysiologists-the docs who implant and monitor pacemakers and also do ablation procedures for irregular heart rhythms. They said that if everyone lived to 120 we would all have pacemakers. The heart's natural pacemaker, the sinus node, wears out as we age. Like so many of our parts. Luckily, they have a fix for that

Well, I guess I will be lucky once the device is working.

 

[Murf2]

I’ve got one to keep me from going below 60 bpm. Works good, no ill effects that I can tell. I do have some soreness around the area after strenuous upper body workouts.
My biggest down side is that they told me to quit welding. Oh well.

I wish you good luck!

 

[aja8888]

I’ve got one to keep me from going below 60 bpm. Works good, no ill effects that I can tell. I do have some soreness around the area after strenuous upper body workouts.
My biggest down side is that they told me to quit welding. Oh well.

I wish you good luck!

Thanks, it sounds like folks who get them seem to go back to fairly normal activities. I'm still wondering about being able to play golf after I get mine.

 

[audreyh1]

Best wishes for your good outcome and continued good health!

 

[Ronstar]

Good luck with your implant. MIL got one - caused a coughing spell so they kept her in the hospital for a few days until coughing subsided.

She doesnt even know she has one - she asks DW what that strange black box is under her bed. Some kind of monitoring device.

I'm not a doc, but I suspect you'll be able to do everything you do now - just without the Apple Watch warnings.

 

[KCGeezer]

I’ve had mine for over 10 years. Works great. As far as your golf game you’ll have to get used to the lump but you’ll have a built in excuse for any errant shots!

 

[aja8888]

I’ve had mine for over 10 years. Works great. As far as your golf game you’ll have to get used to the lump but you’ll have a built in excuse for any errant shots!

Good thought! I can now get more strokes from the group!

 

[Dawg52]

Thanks, it sounds like folks who get them seem to go back to fairly normal activities. I'm still wondering about being able to play golf after I get mine.

There is a guy in my group who is in late 60’s with one and he plays everyday. Of course every case is different.

 

[aja8888]

There is a guy in my group who is in late 60’s with one and he plays everyday. Of course every case is different.

Good to hear!

 

[Koolau]

No pacemaker but got an implanted neurostimulator for my chronic back pain. Doc told me not to play golf. No idea if this translates to a pacemaker. Fortunately, I no longer play golf.

Showering feels weird when I wash the area where the battery/unit is. Not a big deal, but it's always just weird. I didn't receive the relief I'd hoped for but I did get a noticeable improvement.

Best of luck with your procedure. I know lots of folks with them and they have few restrictions that they talk about. Blessings.

 

[Bigbass]

I don't know much about pacemakers, other than:

My 91 year old mother had one put in about 25 years ago, while she does not play golf, she does almost everything else around the house as well as in her yard herself.

My sister's MIL had one in her 70's. She was due to change her battery right before she was turning 100. She started to tell everyone how she's had a good life and she thinks she is done, so no new battery for her. She changed her mind and lived to 104 when she lost her life to Covid.

Good Luck!

 

[aja8888]

I don't know much about pacemakers, other than:

My 91 year old mother had one put in about 25 years ago, while she does not play golf, she does almost everything else around the house as well as in her yard herself.

My sister's MIL had one in her 70's. She was due to change her battery right before she was turning 100. She started to tell everyone how she's had a good life and she thinks she is done, so no new battery for her. She changed her mind and lived to 104 when she lost her life to Covid.

Good Luck!

Thanks!