Hi All. I'm new here.

[Extra-Pace]

Hi all I'm Steve.

I had a pacemaker fitted in June following a collapse on the football pitch whilst sprinting and although I feel ok in myself (after the notice that immortality is not an option) I can't seem to trust my body not to reset again. I have a fear of increasing my heart rate to optimum levels and catastrophise internally which affects how much effort I put in to my recovery. Is this unusual? Any ideas?

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum.

What you feel is perfectly normal, many of us have experienced the same. "it happened once and could again", this will dissipate over time and also as you discover what your body and heart are capable of.

Assuming you are on some medication as well which will slow your heart rate the normal is 220 minus your age. There is BHF factsheet here which may help, file:///C:/Users/ms16641/Downloads/your-heart-rate-is23%20(1).pdf.

Factor in the meds, if you can exercise and talk then you are doing just fine. Key is slow, gradual build up, if you were playing football I would guess you were at a reasonable fitness level, should be looking to get back to that level, probably quicker than a lot on here

Good luck

Mark

[Extra-Pace in reply to skid112]

Hi Mark, like everyone else, it seems, I left hospital with very little information and am searching to find myself a comfort zone! This forum is worth it's weight in gold. I'm not on any medication luckily, so that's one complication I don't have to deal with. I am learning the normality of the feeling abnormal thing and once you get your head round it it's easier. Thank you for your response, much appreciated .

[derekfirman36]

Hi Steve. I suffered an irregular heart beat too completely stopping

(up to 60 secs) After many test I was fitted with a pacemaker in June 2017.

I still get the same warnings but the pacemaker kicks in immediately.

At most I take a 1 minute rest to catch my breath. I then just carry on as normal. I must say it is the best thing I have ever received.

I now feel 10 years younger. I work my garden & play golf twice a week.

I would suggest that as time passes you will accept the pacemaker as normal.

Try to relax and let it all go.

Best of luck. Derek

[Extra-Pace in reply to derekfirman36]

Starting to I think Derek. I had no precursors just a single collapse and that was it!

[HeatherForanSmith]

Hi Steve, I had a pacemaker fitted in November and have had a lot of anxiety. I suppose it is normal that it will take time to accept something alien controlling your heart. I have just about stopped worrying that it will not work or stop working. When you hear from others on hear I think it is reassuring to know we will soon forget our "little lifesavers" are fitted and get back to normal lives and in your case playing football. Best of luck

Heather

[Extra-Pace in reply to HeatherForanSmith]

I get all that and feel virtually your concerns as well. It easy to think we are alone but there are many people going through the same concerns. Thank you Heather it is sometimes difficult to believe that this is normal!

[gal4God]

I’ve had a pacemaker since I was 13. I fainted watching tv sitting on the arm of the sofa. I had been dancing around just before the tv show came on. I’ve walked loads since and still danced around at home and danced at clubs at holiday parks as a older teen and did sport on a blue moon which is more dangerous to ur heart than regularly being involved in a sport.

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Hi and welcome. I'd say your reaction is totally understandable and very common. I've got a pacemaker and defibrillator fitted and was very anxious for the first year or so. Over time I accepted that I was safer WITH the device than I had been without it and my fears started to subside. Hopefully the very fact you now have the pacemaker means it's less likely you will experience another collapse.

As the others have said, you will regain confidence in your body over time. Are you doing supervised exercise/rehabilitation? I got a specialist at my local gym to work with me/my doctor to set up an appropriate exercise regime for me to follow, which I've found really helpful, it's nice to know I'm pushing myself to improve but not pushing too hard. And I know (from this forum) that the many people who have gone through more formal cardiac rehab in a hospital environment have found it hugely beneficial.

Good luck!

[Extra-Pace in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thank you! I have just started Cardiac Rehab, which sort of came out the blue and so I will have help to build my confidence!