Thank you for being honest and for the information. I'm almost 70 years old, and about 4 weeks ago, I had a pacemaker installed. I had the same fear about my life expectancy. I still have a lot of concerns, but what can you do? You just have to bite the bullet and go on. At least, that's the only thing I know to do. Again, thank you for the information.
Thanks for sharing. I hope your recovery is going smoothly. I had concerns and fear right after surgery, but over time those have faded away. As you get use to the idea of having the pacemaker, and you get into your normal routine, they should fade for you too. I feel fortunate to live in a time where medical science can fix electrical issues with the heart. Getting a pacemaker is scary, but the alternative is worse. I hope you are feeling better now. Best wishes.
I had my pacemaker put in around the end of 2022. Mine was done as outpatient which I could not believe. Now I have good insurance Medicare and Tri-Care . We did ok until I arrived home, as soon as I walked into the house I fell. The next day I felt my heart pounding and you could see my chest pounding up & down. I went back to the Dr they had to redo the surgery because a lead and come loose they had to replace it . From then on I haven't had any problems. I am 79 so hopefully this will give me a few more years to be here with my family.
Same thing happened to me only to come 3 days to figure out what the problem was and of course right after surgery you know I didn't know that there was a problem for 3 days so took 6 days for him to put a new one in and replace the leads
I don't really know how to start this comment and I know the video is a little older and I'm not sure you're still checking comments on it, but I just wanna say that hearing you voicing a lot of my own fears has helped reconcile some things for me. I got my pacemaker five years ago at the age of 26. It was due to a more or less botched heart surgery beforehand that I needed one. And at the time I didn't really process all my fears and concerns properly, I just needed it to be done and over with, so I could move on with my life. It was only after that things started to hit me and I've had some severe mental health issues ever since. It took me a long while to look up videos like this where other people share their experiences and I'm glad I have found yours. Most of my fears at this point concern future surgeries. I will need to get a new pacemaker in one to two years because the battery on this one is running out and I'm just afraid I will fall back into old fears and be taken out of this life again that I am trying to build. I'm very sorry for the word vomit, it's probably a little uncomfortable getting this from a total stranger. So just thank you for the video. I hope you're doing well!
Thanks for reaching out and letting me know that the video was helpful. It is natural to have all different kinds of emotions, and some come up after the implant. I remember laying awake at night and worrying about dying young, and there were things I wanted to do, and I didn’t want to leave my family. I found that getting lost in my daily routine helped get my mind off the, I’m going to die worry cycle. Now I’ve come to look at the pacemaker as the way to allow me to live my life, it is helping keep me alive. Most days I don’t worry too much about it anymore, but every once in a while the fears come back. I am also worried about the future replacement surgery and recovery. It makes me feel a little better knowing that the leads going in the heart usually don’t need to be replaced, just the unit with the battery. So it is a little less intrusive. I’m glad you reached out and shared your experience. I do post videos still every few months, but now they are more about what I like to do but never made the time to do, but now I feel some urgency. I still talk about my pacemaker checks but only that gets kind of repetitive. I hope it helps knowing others feel like you, and I wish you the best. Let me know how you are doing in the future.
@@CyborgVlog Thank you for your kind words, sharing this stuff with someone who can understand really does make it a bit easier. And the brush with death is definitely something that still follows me around but as you said, it has also given me the opportunity to be more brave and make choices I wouldn't have made before out of fear. As much as I still sometimes resent the pacemaker, I do know it is what is keeping me alive and the reason why I can still have all these experiences that I would have missed out on otherwise. There is just a lot of trauma, but therapy helps me through it. I hope you will continue to do well and I will check out a few more of your videos! Thank you again for making them
I’m glad therapy is helping you. I wonder if it would have helped me around the time I got my implant. Everything just moved so fast it was hard to process. Seeking out others in the same situation does help, and it’s hard to find a younger person in our situation. I didn’t really find too many young people talking about their experience, that’s why I decided to make some videos. I’m glad I got to chat with you, and if you want, let me know how you are doing in the future.
@@CyborgVlog I will definitely seek out a therapist again to help me process the next surgery. It makes it all a bit easier if there's someone who understands what's going on in your brain as well. That's been my problem, too. At the same time I was afraid to go out and seek others with the same problem. I don't even know why, I guess a part of me still kind of wishes it was all a dream and talking to others makes it more real? Thanks again for your patience, this is a weight off my shoulders, finally being able to talk about it more
I feel you brother. I have had mine for 8 years, just got my replacement cause the battery ran out. I am a mechanic by trade and I bump that thing a lot. I'm around alternators and ignition systems day in and day out. You can relax! Once the wound heals and you get used to it being in there it will get better. I know I only have so much time on this earth so I try to make the best of it, even with the pacemaker. I do all the things I want to do, ride motorcycles and shoot large caliber guns etc. I just try to keep from bumping the ICD to much. But I know exactly what you are talking about. Peace brother
@@CyborgVlogThank you for being there you are a source of comfort for me. I'm in phoenix age 70. I need second opinion and looking for help where to go. I'm afraid and don't know what to do. Low hart rate , I wake up with chest pain and pass out about 3-6 sec. During day ok sometimes feel need for air. I am praying to get info and good dr to really look at all the options. Im afraid I don't know what I'm getting myself into. I read some people still get the same symptoms after pace maker. Trying to do research on experienced Dr and at this time the best hospital to go to, considering what is going on with overcrowded hospitals. I would love to hear from you. Best wishes to you and your family.
Marlene Silva, I understand your nervousness, especially about going to the hospital with so many covid cases. But if you are passing out, something has to be done to prevent injury. I suggest using the internet or phone book to find cardiologists near you. Since you are in a big city, there should be many good options. Talk to them and find one who makes you feel confident about the procedure. Also, hospitals take precautions to keep covid patients isolated from the rest of the hospital. Others can still get care. Best of luck to you, and remember the pacemaker is there to help you live better.
I am a bit stressed about as well my doctor told me I have 2 options first medication if they don’t work I will need a pacemaker and I really don’t want to end up with a pacemaker I just hope I will be ok with medication
Just a week into having my Pacemaker put in (and it was a surprise that I needed one), I have found your videos very helpful. Really like the T shirt idea to keep you from raising your arm. Thanks.
I'm getting a pacemaker implant on May 6th & am pretty nervous needless to say BUT after watching a few of your videos I'm getting a little less nervous. So thank you for all the great info u have shared. It has really been quite helpful to me & I'm sure many others😊
Hi, thanks for letting me know the videos helped, that’s why I made them. Learning you need a pacemaker is a crazy time filled with many emotions. But it ultimately is there to help you. I hope you have a quick recovery and feel better. Let me know how you’re doing after. Best wishes 🙂
Thanks for making these videos. I'm working my way through them gradually. My pacemaker was implanted 3.5 weeks ago, and I'm being careful not to blow a lead. One of my concerns is the possible need for us to use our standby portable generators here in Texas during the next significant freeze or storm loss of electrical power. They involve hauling the generators from the storage shed to the house and hooking them up for our power. I'll try to use my right arm for most of the tow/push strain, and stay at least 2 feet away from the generators when we start them. As a ham radio operator, I've needed to move my handheld radio away from my body by 12 inches, but I think I've solved that issue by getting an earpod for it. Thanks again for your hard work in passing along useful and important information.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with us. Getting the pacemaker does make you rethink the activities you have to do in your life. It does take some time to heal, but after that you should be able to get back to your normal activities. Looks like you already know what you need to do as far as keeping a certain distance from electronics that produce magnetic fields. Hopefully you are feeling better now that you have your device. Keep resting and let those leads implant. Let me know how you are doing after your recovery. Best wishes!
Hi, thanks for sharing. It is a stressful time when you hear you might need a pacemaker. I felt all kinds of emotions, and went looking for information too. It’s been over six years since I got mine, and now I see it as a good thing to have a small computer monitoring my heart and is there to help. If you do need one I hope you have a speedy recovery and feel better. Best wishes.
When I had mitral valve surgery I had assumed they put the heart-lung machine on you thru a catheter maybe in a leg artery, but it turns out they put a tub in an incision in your neck artery and then after opening your chest they make a small incision in the beating heart and quickly sew in a tube for in, and another for out and then stop the heart and your blood goes thru the machine! It was all a lot different than I thought! I never had any issues with my Medtronic, I went in once for tuning that was it, it's been 2 years.
I've watched your videos and they put me at ease for getting my pacemaker installed. Like you, it was my first major surgery. But listening to you and the knowledge that you have made surgery day much easier. I stayed overnight and was home by noon the next day. I'm almost two weeks in and some days I don't really feel the unit that much and some days it feels like a weight in there. I assume that's normal?
I'm glad you found the videos comforting. I see you had a short hospital stay which is good. I did notice the pacemaker a lot when I first got it implanted. It was on my mind all the time. The first time I rode in a car on a bumpy road it was really sensitive with that weight feeling you described. Also, when I started walking for exercise I noticed some sensitivity in the chest muscle. All that is normal as you heal. Each week you will start to notice it less and less. After enough time it will become a normal part of you that you won't notice. Sometimes I forget I have it. Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope you have a speedy recovery!
@@CyborgVlog thank you! I have my first followup appointment on Thursday so I'll be interested to see if they make any adjustments outside of what they did before I was discharged.
They continued to do small adjustments over the first few months for me. Not every checkup, but it took several months to get it perfect. I was having some episodes of pacemaker induced tachycardia, but once it was dialed in to what I needed, it has been working well with no issues.
I don't know if you mentioned this one, but I fear what will happen if I can't get batteries or if they can't service my pacemaker for some reason like the collapse of society.
I have had that thought too. If for some reason the battery couldn’t be replaced, I know the last estimate of battery life and what would happen as that time approached. I’m not sure what it means if we both had the same thought. Do we have a question about the direction the world is going? I hope society will last long enough for our replacement surgery. Thanks for sharing, and know you are not alone in those thoughts.
Well they dont replace the batteries, they just replace the whole unit since it's sealed and electronics have a lifespan, I'm more worried about how much it's going to COST me in 8 years as I won't be working at my employer by then and h aving their great insurance that covered everything beyond the $2500 deductable, I'd be on Medicaid I guess and I don't know what the patient has to pay. The pacemaker itself must cost something on the order of $25,000 or more, and just to replace it involves a lot of hospital related services- tests, xrays, room, medication etc etc. I remember seeing the bills from my heart surgery the insurance paid, wow, just the time in the surgery and recovery room was billed by the MINUTE! The recovery room base charge was $625, plus 87 minutes were $880, observation 4 hours was another $620 Surgery base rate was over $4,000, 131 minutes of surgery was almost $10,000, this was just hospitabl billed charges in a non profit hospital!
It is unfortunate that we have to bring in those considerations about cost, but to stay alive and healthy, what choice do we really have? Hopefully there is an out of pocket maximum, and it will be manageable.
VictorianSculptures You've got to make sure that you have good insurance before that happens. Sometimes there is a gap between work and Medicare, but there are some things you can do to minimize the cost.
My fear is moving or twisting the wrong way and disturbing / pulling on the leads in the heart. Example I like to sleep on my left arm sometimes and use it like a pillow. I also like boxing. I fear these could be dangerous but I don't know. Particularly as I move into that position while I am asleep and not conciously controlling my body. Good channel by the way. Thank you
I used a sling as a reminder not to do things that would disturb the leads during the first few months. I wore it while I slept as well, during that time I mostly propped up on my back to prevent things like that from happening. After you’re fully healed you should have very few restrictions on what you do for exercise, but just check with the doctor just in case. I hope you have a speedy recovery and feel better.
@@CyborgVlog I don't have one yet thankfully. I have an AV block that is getting slower So I am just trying to understand what may happen in the future. Thanks for the insights
@kuntrasha if you do need one it isn’t that bad. After the recovery period you should be able to do things you want. I hope you are well, and best of luck in the future.
I went in for a mitral valve repair and a Maze procedure to correct tachycardia, but the Maze procedure didnt work and I woke up in recovery with the nurse telling me I had to go back in for surgery in the morning for a pacemaker. I figured they put the leads on the surface of the heart or something like that, I didn't know they actually run those wires thru a vein into the heart where it tends to impinge on the valves closing perfectly. I thought also that they buried the pacemaker deeper, it's like just under the skin like a large lump and it's right exactly where your seat belt goes which is a really bad place to put it. If you drive I would try and see if it can be put on the right side not the left, because if you ever get into a collision and that seat belt comes at you hard, the first thing it's going to hit is the pacemaker, even with padding it won't be good having that seat belt slam that area!
I’m sorry to hear you’re going through a lot right now. The area around the pacemaker will be sensitive for a while after the surgery, but eventually you’ll get used to it, and won’t even notice it is there anymore. I hope you have a smooth procedure, and it helps you feel better.
Had mine 3 weeks ago. I am so afraid of pulling the leads out of my heart. I am obsessed with thinking about it. Also I used to swim laps. I am afraid to now because of all the forward stroke movements
I was like that too at first. You just have to be careful through the recovery period. After it is completely healed you should be able to get back to your normal activities. It will be on your mind quite a bit at first but slowly overtime it will just be normal part of you and you don’t even think about it anymore. I wish you the best and the speedy recovery.
Got mine put in new years eve. Only 38 years old. Still not healed all the way. Small hole.... my dad had 1 to get one in his mid 40's. Died mid 50's. Dropped dead at work... I was released 2hrs after install..... my heart rate drops to mid 30's. That's why I needed one.
Martin, hopefully you are feeling better now that your pacemaker is keeping your heart rate up. Wow, released two hours later, I had to say overnight. It will take a while for the wound to completely heal, but should feel a little better each day. I have worried about how long I'm going to live with the pacemaker, it put a sense of urgency on some things in my life. Live a little more in the now and not put so many things off to the future. I wish you the best, thanks for sharing your experience.
@@CyborgVlog i had no side effects before pacemaker. Not until day I fell. And even after that. I still went to the gym a few times before pacemaker was put in, 5 days later. Yup. 2 hrs. Yeah, I noticed it takes awhile. I just want to heal and get back to the gym. Gained 20lbs in 1 month. Smh. I wonder the samething. Why I just been putting all kinds of money into my truck project. Cause never know. Thanks. No problem..
@@martinvargas4523, when I wanted to get back to exercising, I started by just walking, and even that kind of hurt my incision site when I picked up the pace (no pun intended). Any movement of the chest muscle was uncomfortable for a few months, but it does get better over time. You’ll eventually be able to get back to your workout routine.
@@debrashafer599 im still alive. So I'd say its worth it. Havent had 1 issue. All has been good. I have to get checkups every 6 months. All have been good.
One over Mine is being able to use a welding machine again like a stick welder. Or a mig welder. I also run heavy equipment and the balancing. And shoving around In the machine concerns me.
That is one restriction of mine as well. The magnetic field intensity drops quickly with distance so try not to stand right next to it. Some pacemaker manufacturers have recommended distance to stay from equipment. I hope you are doing well.
It is a very scary time when you’re told you need a pacemaker. You’re right the second opinion really did help convince me that I need to get the pacemaker.
thanks for sharing these .. they are very helpful..6 weeks ago i had a pacemaker implanted and all of the fears you mention, i too experienced ..since i am re evaluating my life and how i want to live it.. it would be good if you could do a video on post surgery rehab .. in particular how did you exercise your left arm to get it to the point of fully stretching it..
Thanks for sharing your experience, it is a scary thing. I do have a video about recovery, but as far as rehab, all I did was take it easy for a few months. Then I just did normal things around the house, and gradually started lifting things again. After enough time, I was back to normal. Does your doctor think you need to go to a rehab facility to exercise your arm?
@@CyborgVlog Thanks for the reply..No my Doctor did not say I needed to go to rehab and said to take it easy for the next few months .. i am just worried about frozen shoulder...i get twinges in the left arm..... Pre the surgery I was doing a lot of yoga and was looking forward to returning to doing this...right now all i am doing is walking every day for roughly 3 miles minimum...
Walking is a good start, that’s what I did. Try using your arm for small things, just not too heavy. I was told I could move it, just not reach over my head for a little while.
I'm 17 and I've got junctional Bradycardia, its genetic probably, I was recommended a pacemaker but currently I don't have amy syncopy that's why I've postponed it till I get any symptoms I'm not afraid of it but a little afraid pf the stinging pain during the injection of local anesthesia, and just a little afraid of the anesthesia not working , because I've gone through a procedure called electrophysiology when a catheter was inserted in my groin and I was under local anesthesia but it didn't work quickly and it worked like 2-3 minutes after it was injected and I was in great pain while the catheter was being placed I hope you're doing well man
Hi, I went back to work after about 2 weeks, but made sure not to lift anything I wasn’t supposed to. I checked with my doctor and he said no restrictions for roller coasters. I’ve been to Disneyland and Disney World and rode everything. I was nervous the first time, but everything was fine. Thanks for watching and commenting. Hope you have a great holiday!
I have to say so far My biggest concern or worst experience since I've had this thing installed is welding I had no clue it was going to affect my pagemaker when I welded and when I finally got back to actually doing stuff I had to put a muffler on my truck and I found out real quick let mig welding in close quarters is bad idea
I'm having a pacemaker fitted next month (I'm 55). Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings, it's helped me relax more. I'm concerned about things like MRI machines (I also suffer with chronic back pain). My diagnosis was sinus Bradycardia (perfectly rhytmic but slow pulse). I woke up one morning and felt light-headed, my pulse was 31 bpm, went to the docs, by which time it was 37, it's now around 47. My concern is that it will be permanently pacing while I'm asleep or at rest. I also wonder how it will respond when I go for a walk, at the moment, my heart doesn't speed up very much and I get very light-headed. Does yours speed up when you exercise or does your heart work properly for that and it's just the low-end of the range? If mine will pace a lot, how long will it be before it needs switching out for a new one etc?
Hi Simon, they do make pacemakers that are “MRI safe”, like the one I have. It has to be put into a special MRI mode by the cardiologist so it doesn’t get damaged in the MRI. After it needs to be set back to normal operation. I only have my issue at night for now, but the pacemaker has programming to figure out when you are exercising and increases your heart rate. It might be pacing more when you are at rest, but that means you need it. The more it paces the shorter the battery life, but your doctor will choose the best device for you. Talk to your doctor about your MRI and battery usage concerns to make sure you are comfortable with your device. Even if you have to get the pacemaker changed more often because of usage, the subsequent procedures are less invasive because the leads going into your heart stay, and the pacemaker is attached to the existing leads. With all that said, just remember the pacemaker is helping you feel and live better. I wish you the best on surgery day, and please let us know how it goes.
help me please, l have to decide if l will have one or not. can someone tell me if you can feel that you have a pacemaker like if you feel it in your body. please tell me ( do you feel it a little, or not at all) can you feel where the batterie is. can you feel something. this is my biggest fear. l can’t event stand a needle in my arm for a minute so please help me , l need to know
Looking back, I probably should have tried to get to the doctor sooner. But they can't do it over the phone, you have to be in the office with special equipment.
@@valman008, infection was a worry for the first few days that is true. I agree getting hit in the area where my device is would be bad. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Am 58 and waiting to get a difliburator fitted due to having heart diagnosed in 2004 i had a double heart bypass in 2001 just recently had an MRI heart scan revealed more scarring waiting time i have severe arthritis in my hips so not much i can do in exercise going up n down the 2 flights of stairs in my home is like mountain climbing lol i live in 3 story house one toilet ground floor second toilet top floor
Hi Paul, I didn't have night sweats regularly before the pacemaker. I would once in a while, but I don't think they were related. Do you have night sweats? Does your doctor think it is related to an electrical problem with your heart that a pacemaker will fix?
After you’ve recovered, I don’t see why not. I would wouldn’t give it a second thought if someone asked me to play basketball. Just check with your doctor.
I got my pacemaker implanted last week. Good thing about living in socialist Norway is that it was free of charge and that I could get as many paid days off as needed to recover. The US health system is appalling and the majority don't care or don't even know how better it is other places...
I'm concerned about my life expectancy with a pace maker. I'm 31 and just found out this last month that I would need one. Ps. I love the next generation lol.
I hope you are doing well. I’m sure we will both live a long time, even if we have doubts about that right now. The next gen is my favorite trek, but I like strange new worlds on paramount + if you want to check it out. Thanks for watching and sharing!
As a wife, I was terrified. I was So scared that life would never be the same. I watched my husband until I was a nervous wreck. He is doing great, needed a few adjustments, but still ok. This has been a huge awakening for us. Nothing is worth spending time angry. Love and love more. Thanks
It is a very scary thing to go through for the whole family. I’m glad to hear your husband is doing good. Having a scare like that does really make you evaluate how you spend your time, and appreciate the time together with loved ones. Thanks for watching and sharing!
Hi, Anger is one of the things you feel when you find out you need a pacemaker. I went through most of the grief emotions when I found out. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for being honest and for the information. I'm almost 70 years old, and about 4 weeks ago, I had a pacemaker installed. I had the same fear about my life expectancy. I still have a lot of concerns, but what can you do?
You just have to bite the bullet and go on. At least, that's the only thing I know to do. Again, thank you for the information.
Thanks for sharing. I hope your recovery is going smoothly. I had concerns and fear right after surgery, but over time those have faded away. As you get use to the idea of having the pacemaker, and you get into your normal routine, they should fade for you too. I feel fortunate to live in a time where medical science can fix electrical issues with the heart. Getting a pacemaker is scary, but the alternative is worse. I hope you are feeling better now. Best wishes.
Thanks, you as well!
I had my pacemaker put in around the end of 2022. Mine was done as outpatient which I could not believe. Now I have good insurance Medicare and Tri-Care . We did ok until I arrived home, as soon as I walked into the house I fell. The next day I felt my heart pounding and you could see my chest pounding up & down. I went back to the Dr they had to redo the surgery because a lead and come loose they had to replace it . From then on I haven't had any problems. I am 79 so hopefully this will give me a few more years to be here with my family.
How are you doing now ??
U alive?
Same thing happened to me only to come 3 days to figure out what the problem was and of course right after surgery you know I didn't know that there was a problem for 3 days so took 6 days for him to put a new one in and replace the leads
I don't really know how to start this comment and I know the video is a little older and I'm not sure you're still checking comments on it, but I just wanna say that hearing you voicing a lot of my own fears has helped reconcile some things for me.
I got my pacemaker five years ago at the age of 26. It was due to a more or less botched heart surgery beforehand that I needed one. And at the time I didn't really process all my fears and concerns properly, I just needed it to be done and over with, so I could move on with my life. It was only after that things started to hit me and I've had some severe mental health issues ever since. It took me a long while to look up videos like this where other people share their experiences and I'm glad I have found yours.
Most of my fears at this point concern future surgeries. I will need to get a new pacemaker in one to two years because the battery on this one is running out and I'm just afraid I will fall back into old fears and be taken out of this life again that I am trying to build.
I'm very sorry for the word vomit, it's probably a little uncomfortable getting this from a total stranger. So just thank you for the video. I hope you're doing well!
Thanks for reaching out and letting me know that the video was helpful. It is natural to have all different kinds of emotions, and some come up after the implant. I remember laying awake at night and worrying about dying young, and there were things I wanted to do, and I didn’t want to leave my family. I found that getting lost in my daily routine helped get my mind off the, I’m going to die worry cycle. Now I’ve come to look at the pacemaker as the way to allow me to live my life, it is helping keep me alive. Most days I don’t worry too much about it anymore, but every once in a while the fears come back. I am also worried about the future replacement surgery and recovery. It makes me feel a little better knowing that the leads going in the heart usually don’t need to be replaced, just the unit with the battery. So it is a little less intrusive. I’m glad you reached out and shared your experience. I do post videos still every few months, but now they are more about what I like to do but never made the time to do, but now I feel some urgency. I still talk about my pacemaker checks but only that gets kind of repetitive. I hope it helps knowing others feel like you, and I wish you the best. Let me know how you are doing in the future.
@@CyborgVlog Thank you for your kind words, sharing this stuff with someone who can understand really does make it a bit easier. And the brush with death is definitely something that still follows me around but as you said, it has also given me the opportunity to be more brave and make choices I wouldn't have made before out of fear.
As much as I still sometimes resent the pacemaker, I do know it is what is keeping me alive and the reason why I can still have all these experiences that I would have missed out on otherwise. There is just a lot of trauma, but therapy helps me through it.
I hope you will continue to do well and I will check out a few more of your videos! Thank you again for making them
I’m glad therapy is helping you. I wonder if it would have helped me around the time I got my implant. Everything just moved so fast it was hard to process. Seeking out others in the same situation does help, and it’s hard to find a younger person in our situation. I didn’t really find too many young people talking about their experience, that’s why I decided to make some videos. I’m glad I got to chat with you, and if you want, let me know how you are doing in the future.
@@CyborgVlog I will definitely seek out a therapist again to help me process the next surgery. It makes it all a bit easier if there's someone who understands what's going on in your brain as well.
That's been my problem, too. At the same time I was afraid to go out and seek others with the same problem. I don't even know why, I guess a part of me still kind of wishes it was all a dream and talking to others makes it more real?
Thanks again for your patience, this is a weight off my shoulders, finally being able to talk about it more
I’m glad talking about it was helpful.
I feel you brother. I have had mine for 8 years, just got my replacement cause the battery ran out. I am a mechanic by trade and I bump that thing a lot. I'm around alternators and ignition systems day in and day out. You can relax! Once the wound heals and you get used to it being in there it will get better. I know I only have so much time on this earth so I try to make the best of it, even with the pacemaker. I do all the things I want to do, ride motorcycles and shoot large caliber guns etc. I just try to keep from bumping the ICD to much. But I know exactly what you are talking about. Peace brother
Thanks for the words of support. I'm glad you still do the things you like to do. We do have to make the best out of it. Thanks for watching!
@@CyborgVlogThank you for being there you are a source of comfort for me. I'm in phoenix age 70. I need second opinion and looking for help where to go. I'm afraid and don't know what to do.
Low hart rate , I wake up with chest pain and pass out about 3-6 sec. During day ok sometimes feel need for air.
I am praying to get info and good dr to really look at all the options. Im afraid I don't know what I'm getting myself into. I read some people still get the same symptoms after pace maker. Trying to do research on experienced Dr and at this time the best hospital to go to, considering what is going on with overcrowded hospitals.
I would love to hear from you.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Marlene Silva, I understand your nervousness, especially about going to the hospital with so many covid cases. But if you are passing out, something has to be done to prevent injury. I suggest using the internet or phone book to find cardiologists near you. Since you are in a big city, there should be many good options. Talk to them and find one who makes you feel confident about the procedure. Also, hospitals take precautions to keep covid patients isolated from the rest of the hospital. Others can still get care. Best of luck to you, and remember the pacemaker is there to help you live better.
I am a bit stressed about as well my doctor told me I have 2 options first medication if they don’t work I will need a pacemaker and I really don’t want to end up with a pacemaker I just hope I will be ok with medication
@@laral8668 tell me how r u now, hope it works with medication
Just a week into having my Pacemaker put in (and it was a surprise that I needed one), I have found your videos very helpful. Really like the T shirt idea to keep you from raising your arm. Thanks.
I hope you’re doing well. Best wishes!
I'm getting a pacemaker implant on May 6th & am pretty nervous needless to say BUT after watching a few of your videos I'm getting a little less nervous. So thank you for all the great info u have shared. It has really been quite helpful to me & I'm sure many others😊
Hi, thanks for letting me know the videos helped, that’s why I made them. Learning you need a pacemaker is a crazy time filled with many emotions. But it ultimately is there to help you. I hope you have a quick recovery and feel better. Let me know how you’re doing after. Best wishes 🙂
Thanks for making these videos. I'm working my way through them gradually. My pacemaker was implanted 3.5 weeks ago, and I'm being careful not to blow a lead. One of my concerns is the possible need for us to use our standby portable generators here in Texas during the next significant freeze or storm loss of electrical power. They involve hauling the generators from the storage shed to the house and hooking them up for our power. I'll try to use my right arm for most of the tow/push strain, and stay at least 2 feet away from the generators when we start them. As a ham radio operator, I've needed to move my handheld radio away from my body by 12 inches, but I think I've solved that issue by getting an earpod for it. Thanks again for your hard work in passing along useful and important information.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with us. Getting the pacemaker does make you rethink the activities you have to do in your life. It does take some time to heal, but after that you should be able to get back to your normal activities. Looks like you already know what you need to do as far as keeping a certain distance from electronics that produce magnetic fields. Hopefully you are feeling better now that you have your device. Keep resting and let those leads implant. Let me know how you are doing after your recovery. Best wishes!
Wish I would have seen this video before I got mine year and a half ago now almost 2 years would have been helpful for sure
Thanks for the feedback. I hope you are doing well now.
Thanks for this video...I might be getting pacemaker in August. Trying to learn as much as I can.
Hi, thanks for sharing. It is a stressful time when you hear you might need a pacemaker. I felt all kinds of emotions, and went looking for information too. It’s been over six years since I got mine, and now I see it as a good thing to have a small computer monitoring my heart and is there to help. If you do need one I hope you have a speedy recovery and feel better. Best wishes.
When I had mitral valve surgery I had assumed they put the heart-lung machine on you thru a catheter maybe in a leg artery, but it turns out they put a tub in an incision in your neck artery and then after opening your chest they make a small incision in the beating heart and quickly sew in a tube for in, and another for out and then stop the heart and your blood goes thru the machine!
It was all a lot different than I thought!
I never had any issues with my Medtronic, I went in once for tuning that was it, it's been 2 years.
Wow, that is amazing, I didn’t realize that either. Sounds scary, glad you made it through.
I've watched your videos and they put me at ease for getting my pacemaker installed. Like you, it was my first major surgery. But listening to you and the knowledge that you have made surgery day much easier. I stayed overnight and was home by noon the next day. I'm almost two weeks in and some days I don't really feel the unit that much and some days it feels like a weight in there. I assume that's normal?
I'm glad you found the videos comforting. I see you had a short hospital stay which is good. I did notice the pacemaker a lot when I first got it implanted. It was on my mind all the time. The first time I rode in a car on a bumpy road it was really sensitive with that weight feeling you described. Also, when I started walking for exercise I noticed some sensitivity in the chest muscle. All that is normal as you heal. Each week you will start to notice it less and less. After enough time it will become a normal part of you that you won't notice. Sometimes I forget I have it. Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope you have a speedy recovery!
@@CyborgVlog thank you! I have my first followup appointment on Thursday so I'll be interested to see if they make any adjustments outside of what they did before I was discharged.
They continued to do small adjustments over the first few months for me. Not every checkup, but it took several months to get it perfect. I was having some episodes of pacemaker induced tachycardia, but once it was dialed in to what I needed, it has been working well with no issues.
I don't know if you mentioned this one, but I fear what will happen if I can't get batteries or if they can't service my pacemaker for some reason like the collapse of society.
I have had that thought too. If for some reason the battery couldn’t be replaced, I know the last estimate of battery life and what would happen as that time approached. I’m not sure what it means if we both had the same thought. Do we have a question about the direction the world is going? I hope society will last long enough for our replacement surgery. Thanks for sharing, and know you are not alone in those thoughts.
Well they dont replace the batteries, they just replace the whole unit since it's sealed and electronics have a lifespan, I'm more worried about how much it's going to COST me in 8 years as I won't be working at my employer by then and h aving their great insurance that covered everything beyond the $2500 deductable, I'd be on Medicaid I guess and I don't know what the patient has to pay.
The pacemaker itself must cost something on the order of $25,000 or more, and just to replace it involves a lot of hospital related services- tests, xrays, room, medication etc etc.
I remember seeing the bills from my heart surgery the insurance paid, wow, just the time in the surgery and recovery room was billed by the MINUTE!
The recovery room base charge was $625, plus 87 minutes were $880, observation 4 hours was another $620
Surgery base rate was over $4,000, 131 minutes of surgery was almost $10,000, this was just hospitabl billed charges in a non profit hospital!
It is unfortunate that we have to bring in those considerations about cost, but to stay alive and healthy, what choice do we really have? Hopefully there is an out of pocket maximum, and it will be manageable.
VictorianSculptures You've got to make sure that you have good insurance before that happens. Sometimes there is a gap between work and Medicare, but there are some things you can do to minimize the cost.
My fear is moving or twisting the wrong way and disturbing / pulling on the leads in the heart. Example I like to sleep on my left arm sometimes and use it like a pillow. I also like boxing. I fear these could be dangerous but I don't know. Particularly as I move into that position while I am asleep and not conciously controlling my body. Good channel by the way. Thank you
I used a sling as a reminder not to do things that would disturb the leads during the first few months. I wore it while I slept as well, during that time I mostly propped up on my back to prevent things like that from happening. After you’re fully healed you should have very few restrictions on what you do for exercise, but just check with the doctor just in case. I hope you have a speedy recovery and feel better.
@@CyborgVlog I don't have one yet thankfully. I have an AV block that is getting slower So I am just trying to understand what may happen in the future. Thanks for the insights
@kuntrasha if you do need one it isn’t that bad. After the recovery period you should be able to do things you want. I hope you are well, and best of luck in the future.
I went in for a mitral valve repair and a Maze procedure to correct tachycardia, but the Maze procedure didnt work and I woke up in recovery with the nurse telling me I had to go back in for surgery in the morning for a pacemaker.
I figured they put the leads on the surface of the heart or something like that, I didn't know they actually run those wires thru a vein into the heart where it tends to impinge on the valves closing perfectly.
I thought also that they buried the pacemaker deeper, it's like just under the skin like a large lump and it's right exactly where your seat belt goes which is a really bad place to put it. If you drive I would try and see if it can be put on the right side not the left, because if you ever get into a collision and that seat belt comes at you hard, the first thing it's going to hit is the pacemaker, even with padding it won't be good having that seat belt slam that area!
I’m sorry to hear you’re going through a lot right now. The area around the pacemaker will be sensitive for a while after the surgery, but eventually you’ll get used to it, and won’t even notice it is there anymore. I hope you have a smooth procedure, and it helps you feel better.
Yes driving sucks for the seat belt I find myself holding it just off to the side a lot
Had mine 3 weeks ago. I am so afraid of pulling the leads out of my heart. I am obsessed with thinking about it. Also I used to swim laps. I am afraid to now because of all the forward stroke movements
I was like that too at first. You just have to be careful through the recovery period. After it is completely healed you should be able to get back to your normal activities. It will be on your mind quite a bit at first but slowly overtime it will just be normal part of you and you don’t even think about it anymore. I wish you the best and the speedy recovery.
Got mine put in new years eve. Only 38 years old. Still not healed all the way. Small hole.... my dad had 1 to get one in his mid 40's. Died mid 50's. Dropped dead at work... I was released 2hrs after install..... my heart rate drops to mid 30's. That's why I needed one.
Martin, hopefully you are feeling better now that your pacemaker is keeping your heart rate up. Wow, released two hours later, I had to say overnight. It will take a while for the wound to completely heal, but should feel a little better each day. I have worried about how long I'm going to live with the pacemaker, it put a sense of urgency on some things in my life. Live a little more in the now and not put so many things off to the future. I wish you the best, thanks for sharing your experience.
@@CyborgVlog i had no side effects before pacemaker. Not until day I fell. And even after that. I still went to the gym a few times before pacemaker was put in, 5 days later. Yup. 2 hrs. Yeah, I noticed it takes awhile. I just want to heal and get back to the gym. Gained 20lbs in 1 month. Smh. I wonder the samething. Why I just been putting all kinds of money into my truck project. Cause never know. Thanks. No problem..
@@martinvargas4523, when I wanted to get back to exercising, I started by just walking, and even that kind of hurt my incision site when I picked up the pace (no pun intended). Any movement of the chest muscle was uncomfortable for a few months, but it does get better over time. You’ll eventually be able to get back to your workout routine.
Good Lord is it really worth it I need one but don’t want it which is worse before or after ugh
@@debrashafer599 im still alive. So I'd say its worth it. Havent had 1 issue. All has been good. I have to get checkups every 6 months. All have been good.
One over Mine is being able to use a welding machine again like a stick welder. Or a mig welder. I also run heavy equipment and the balancing.
And shoving around In the machine concerns me.
That is one restriction of mine as well. The magnetic field intensity drops quickly with distance so try not to stand right next to it. Some pacemaker manufacturers have recommended distance to stay from equipment. I hope you are doing well.
Like you ..getting a second opinion really helped with increasing my confidence
It is a very scary time when you’re told you need a pacemaker. You’re right the second opinion really did help convince me that I need to get the pacemaker.
thanks for sharing these .. they are very helpful..6 weeks ago i had a pacemaker implanted and all of the fears you mention, i too experienced ..since i am re evaluating my life and how i want to live it.. it would be good if you could do a video on post surgery rehab .. in particular how did you exercise your left arm to get it to the point of fully stretching it..
Thanks for sharing your experience, it is a scary thing. I do have a video about recovery, but as far as rehab, all I did was take it easy for a few months. Then I just did normal things around the house, and gradually started lifting things again. After enough time, I was back to normal. Does your doctor think you need to go to a rehab facility to exercise your arm?
@@CyborgVlog Thanks for the reply..No my Doctor did not say I needed to go to rehab and said to take it easy for the next few months .. i am just worried about frozen shoulder...i get twinges in the left arm..... Pre the surgery I was doing a lot of yoga and was looking forward to returning to doing this...right now all i am doing is walking every day for roughly 3 miles minimum...
Walking is a good start, that’s what I did. Try using your arm for small things, just not too heavy. I was told I could move it, just not reach over my head for a little while.
I'm 17 and I've got junctional Bradycardia, its genetic probably, I was recommended a pacemaker but currently I don't have amy syncopy that's why I've postponed it till I get any symptoms
I'm not afraid of it but a little afraid pf the stinging pain during the injection of local anesthesia, and just a little afraid of the anesthesia not working , because I've gone through a procedure called electrophysiology when a catheter was inserted in my groin and I was under local anesthesia but it didn't work quickly and it worked like 2-3 minutes after it was injected and I was in great pain while the catheter was being placed
I hope you're doing well man
Where you able to go on roller coasters after getting the pacemaker? How long were you out of work?
Hi, I went back to work after about 2 weeks, but made sure not to lift anything I wasn’t supposed to. I checked with my doctor and he said no restrictions for roller coasters. I’ve been to Disneyland and Disney World and rode everything. I was nervous the first time, but everything was fine. Thanks for watching and commenting. Hope you have a great holiday!
I have to say so far My biggest concern or worst experience since I've had this thing installed is welding I had no clue it was going to affect my pagemaker when I welded and when I finally got back to actually doing stuff I had to put a muffler on my truck and I found out real quick let mig welding in close quarters is bad idea
I hope it wasn’t too bad.
im 25 and probably will have one of them at next month 🤔 thx for videos
Thanks for watching. I hope your surgery goes well!
Does it cause any damage to my Medtronic Defibrillator if I sleep on my left side?
I don’t think so, if you are all recovered from implant surgery. Ask your doctor to double check.
I just had the surgery a month ago and had and have the same fears as u.... It's been a mental struggle
It will be at first, over time that should start to lessen. I hope you are feeling better and your recovery is going well. Take care.
I'm having a pacemaker fitted next month (I'm 55). Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings, it's helped me relax more. I'm concerned about things like MRI machines (I also suffer with chronic back pain). My diagnosis was sinus Bradycardia (perfectly rhytmic but slow pulse). I woke up one morning and felt light-headed, my pulse was 31 bpm, went to the docs, by which time it was 37, it's now around 47. My concern is that it will be permanently pacing while I'm asleep or at rest. I also wonder how it will respond when I go for a walk, at the moment, my heart doesn't speed up very much and I get very light-headed. Does yours speed up when you exercise or does your heart work properly for that and it's just the low-end of the range? If mine will pace a lot, how long will it be before it needs switching out for a new one etc?
Hi Simon, they do make pacemakers that are “MRI safe”, like the one I have. It has to be put into a special MRI mode by the cardiologist so it doesn’t get damaged in the MRI. After it needs to be set back to normal operation. I only have my issue at night for now, but the pacemaker has programming to figure out when you are exercising and increases your heart rate. It might be pacing more when you are at rest, but that means you need it. The more it paces the shorter the battery life, but your doctor will choose the best device for you. Talk to your doctor about your MRI and battery usage concerns to make sure you are comfortable with your device. Even if you have to get the pacemaker changed more often because of usage, the subsequent procedures are less invasive because the leads going into your heart stay, and the pacemaker is attached to the existing leads. With all that said, just remember the pacemaker is helping you feel and live better. I wish you the best on surgery day, and please let us know how it goes.
Going back to work and lifting 50 lbs bags of fertilizer and and general technological problems are my concern
How are you doing now
help me please, l have to decide if l will have one or not. can someone tell me if you can feel that you have a pacemaker like if you feel it in your body. please tell me ( do you feel it a little, or not at all) can you feel where the batterie is. can you feel something. this is my biggest fear. l can’t event stand a needle in my arm for a minute so please help me , l need to know
Why did you have to wait weeks just to get your pacemaker tuned? Couldn’t they tune it using remote over the telephone?
Infection would be a fear. Blunt trauma would be another and restrictive mobility.
Looking back, I probably should have tried to get to the doctor sooner. But they can't do it over the phone, you have to be in the office with special equipment.
@@valman008, infection was a worry for the first few days that is true. I agree getting hit in the area where my device is would be bad. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Am 58 and waiting to get a difliburator fitted due to having heart diagnosed in 2004 i had a double heart bypass in 2001 just recently had an MRI heart scan revealed more scarring waiting time i have severe arthritis in my hips so not much i can do in exercise going up n down the 2 flights of stairs in my home is like mountain climbing lol i live in 3 story house one toilet ground floor second toilet top floor
I bet that’s rough with the stairs, I hope after your surgery your device helps you.
Hi. Did you suffer with night sweats prior to the pacemaker and do you possibly still have them?
Hi Paul, I didn't have night sweats regularly before the pacemaker. I would once in a while, but I don't think they were related. Do you have night sweats? Does your doctor think it is related to an electrical problem with your heart that a pacemaker will fix?
It’s been 2 week and still have some pain at the intersection area of my pacemaker is that normal
Yes, it will be sensitive for a while, but will get better each week, eventually it won’t bother you anymore.I hope you are doing well.
How often does one need to go for a pacemaker routine check up
It depends on how you are doing, but after a while it can go to about every 6 months.
@@CyborgVlog thank you
Your welcome
I just had pacemaker put on. Will I be able to play basketball
After you’ve recovered, I don’t see why not. I would wouldn’t give it a second thought if someone asked me to play basketball. Just check with your doctor.
I got my pacemaker implanted last week. Good thing about living in socialist Norway is that it was free of charge and that I could get as many paid days off as needed to recover. The US health system is appalling and the majority don't care or don't even know how better it is other places...
I agree, things need to change here. Some people have their priorities wrong, and vote against their best interests.
Do you take alcohol and tobacco after your implant ?
No tobacco for me, but alcohol occasionally. Just have to follow doctor recommendations.
I'm concerned about my life expectancy with a pace maker. I'm 31 and just found out this last month that I would need one. Ps. I love the next generation lol.
I hope you are doing well. I’m sure we will both live a long time, even if we have doubts about that right now. The next gen is my favorite trek, but I like strange new worlds on paramount + if you want to check it out. Thanks for watching and sharing!
💕💕💕💕
Thanks
As a wife, I was terrified. I was So scared that life would never be the same. I watched my husband until I was a nervous wreck. He is doing great, needed a few adjustments, but still ok. This has been a huge awakening for us. Nothing is worth spending time angry. Love and love more. Thanks
It is a very scary thing to go through for the whole family. I’m glad to hear your husband is doing good. Having a scare like that does really make you evaluate how you spend your time, and appreciate the time together with loved ones. Thanks for watching and sharing!
anger
Hi, Anger is one of the things you feel when you find out you need a pacemaker. I went through most of the grief emotions when I found out. Thanks for sharing.