I have had my pacemaker since June 2009. Mine has went off once. I ended getting shocked 6 times within 2 seconds apart.

I recieved my pacemaker two January's ago. I have seizure episode, sick sinus syndrome, and v-tach. I was having heart pauses and they thought that it was causing the seizure episodes. We all hoped that the pacemaker would make the episodes go away as well as stop the heart pauses, but the episodes still continue.

Hi everyone.
I am 18 years old. I was born with third degree congenital heartblock with a resting heart rate of about 30 bpm. I was implanted with my first pacemaker when I was 8 days old. At the time I was the youngest person ever to have a pacemaker device implanted. This was in 1992. I have had my pacemaker changed three times, once when I was 2 because of a broken lead, once in 3rd grade because of a drained battery, and again in 9th grade again from a drained battery. I don't really need support from this group, but after looking and seeing some of the people posting in it seeming down about having a pacemaker I was compelled to post. I live and have lived a completely normal, functional life despite having my pacemaker. All most all of the time I forget that it is even there, except when going through airport security and watching my friends play contact sports. I just want everyone out there in this forum to know that although having a pacemaker is a big deal, it is by no means the end to a normal life. Maybe my view is skewed because I have never known life without a pacemaker, but the life I have always known has made me happy, even proud, to own one. The quality of life, and the life itself, that the pacemaker has given me renders me thankful everday that the little bugger is inside me. I just want everyone out there who is scared or sad to never give up hope, and always look on the brightside, because no matter what you think, the brightside is always there.

JasonV, hang in there buddy, everything will be ok, and once you get used to it, you won't even know it is there.

Stay well.

Thanks for posting, Mcurtis. It's very interesting to hear from someone who has had a pacemaker all their life. It's wonderful when we can learn to accept our battery-operated friend and simply get on with life.
I was fortunate to have known two people during my lifetime (one was a favorite aunt) who accepted and enjoyed living with a pacemaker for many years. They both lived well into their nineties, so I wasn't too devistated when I had one implanted four years ago at the age of 62.

Anyway, I'm glad you are doing so well.

Take care,
Sue

1 week-- June 7, 2011!

got mine 1/13/11; just had my first anniversary. the heart was stopping while asleep. first in 2.5 second intervals and then after another monitor I was up to 8 seconds which was the trigger for the implant. in hospital overnight and returned to ER when I could not breathe. turns out I had fluid build up in the heart sac, had a catheter drain. then weeks later the fluid was back and in my lungs as well. had a thoracentesis for the lung and periodical(?) effusion for the heart fluid. stable now and the docs never fessed up to what the cause was. I guess stuff just happens... be well, Rich

I got mine Dec 13 2012.. It's been different the incision got infected because of a stitch sticking out . It drained for two week while I was on antibiotics . But all is good now . Just went back again today and they made some changes . They say eventually I won't feel it pacing we'll see . LOL

My heart block went from mobitz 1 to 3rd degree over a period of months. I believe 3rd degree was more during sleep and 2nd degree during the day. No symptoms except a heart rate down to 29 bpm. So far so good with my PM. Larry

I am the "newbie" of all the tyros ..
A PM implanted just a few days ago .. problems with blood pressure and pulse rate ..pulse dipping below 40 ! Its a "St. Jude" "brand" .. I know little of it ..its a dual chamber .. probably brand X
more to come
Adrian

Hi,

March of this year for me.

I have had mine for 7 days

Hello I just got a ICD Tuesday 12/2015. I'm here to learn more about these things.
I was told it was to help me not have more stokes? They found I have arrhythmias. I have dizzy spells for years before. I pass out a few months ago while driving luckily I was at a light and I don't remember only waking up.
So now where for years other doctors made excuses "I was just a Woman" and it took another woman Doctor go in my heart put a stent back in 2008. And still other doctors would still tell me they couldn't fix my heart!?
Never understood? But it was about my veins are too small to fix with any stents!
I kind of felt like there was no help for me and decided not to worry any more.
Now it still hurts the doctor took off the band aide yesterday. It's healing but is weird to touch the spot.
Well I don't know too much maybe it's good I don't .

Hi, I just joined the group. I've had my pacemaker since March. I had fainted twice within a month and they caught it the second time around and inserted the pacemaker . I'm not having any problems so far, but a lot of emotional stuff. I try to not think about it, but when I'm changing clothes it's always a reminder . Sometimes when I lift too much at the gym the muscles around the site gets sore. I have a monitor by my bed that downloads the information everyday at 2am. I just wish I funds worry about it all the time.

Adrian , my unit is also St Jude. Do you have a unit bedside ?

Mind is St Jude as well!
I had several dizziness this week still getting them. I guess I don't get enough oxygen doctor has me on oxygen for heart now too!
I also go below 30bpm but usually hang around 50
I'm 67 and they don't know when I had a heart attack it has always showed for years?