Pacemaker fitted and feeling different - anyone else?

[KiwinLondon]

Hi,

I had a pacemaker fitted 3 weeks ago having been diagnosed with bradycardia and 1st/2nd-degree AV block. I feel like a new person. I'm feeling very different now. I used to suffer from blackouts, chronic dizziness, tiredness and fatigue but now have so much more energy. Time seems to pass much more slowly as I feel much more alert and awake. I'd not realised how the constant feeling of lethargy and social anxiety had impacted on my mental health. So my question to the community is has anyone else experienced similar and does do these feelings wear off as my body gets used to the having a heart working normally again?

[PinkKizzie]

Hi KiwinLondon, great to read such a positive post and that you are feeling so well. I have LBBB, LV Impairment and an EF of 25%. In Nov '22 a 3 lead pacemaker implant was unsuccessful when one of the leads pierced my heart and emergency OHS was performed to repair the hole. I have decided not to try again for a pacemaker so I only take lots of medication to help keep my heart failure stable. I feel well, still get the odd feelings you describe from time to time, but I just can't get myself into theatre to try again for an implant. Wishing you well going forward. Take care.

[KiwinLondon in reply to PinkKizzie]

Hi,

If you don't mind me asking how did the lead pierce your heart? I'm in the 3rd of 7 weeks of recovery and really, really, don't want to go through another implantation either.

[PinkKizzie in reply to KiwinLondon]

Thank you for your reply Kiwi, the first two leads were positioned OK. To be honest I'm not sure how it happened, I know the third lead has to travel further round and instead of that happening the lead went through my heart and created a small bleed. It had never happened in the hospital before and the consultant didn't want to just pull it out in case there was a further bleed, then it would be game over. The cardiac team were then called in to perform OHS and repair the hole, better being safe than sorry I guess. Please don't worry as there is only a 1% chance of this happening, I was unlucky.

[EMBoy]

I had my pacemaker fitted about 5 1/2 years ago for Type 2 AV block which has now progressed to Stage 3 and I am pacemaker dependant.

Just before I was discharged from the hospital, one of the nurses said to me that I would now have a new lease of life, and she was right. All of a sudden, I stopped feeling light-headed and breathless, and was raring to go. My wife, however, made me that I take it easy for a few weeks, and my boss insisted I take a few weeks off work.

I was aware of the pacemaker for the first 3 months or so, but after that, I just got on with leading a normal life, and being able to do what everyone else can.

5 years down the line, I have to admit that I now take it for granted, but am glad to have a little bit of electronics that not only keeps me alive, but improves my standard of living.

Good luck on your pacemaker journey.

[KiwinLondon]

Thanks so much, I'm three weeks into recovery, and can't wait to be more active with my new found lease on life