ANYONE WHO CAN HELP !!

[ohiofill]

I'm 28 and live in northeast ohio. I was playing semi-pro football on June 19 2007 and collasped and later the docotor said I had sudden death. They said I had a virus that attacked my heart. When I went in to the hospital my heart function was at 25% now five months later its up to 40%. Everything has been going well but now my doctor took me off of one of my medicines pacerone. This medicine has bad side effects if left on for a long time. Its been two months now that i have been off and my heart is acting up. I have a defibulater and it has never went off but now my pacemaker part has been going off. Three days ago i started feeling little flicks in my chest and they said its the pacemaker. I need to know what to do if anyone has any ideas or remides. My heart is pausing every 5 to ten seconds and that causes the device to go off. Please help this is scary and I have two kids with one on the way. I'm a athlete so i no how to work hard but this i'm not sure i can win.

[ohiofill]

Yes you all have been right. My defibulater is the new fancy one and i can not call in, i have to drive 50min to the cleveland clinic everytime. I just want to be able to play football again and they said if my heart was able to get back to 55% heart function within a year they would talk about taking the device out. What percent is your sister heart from the begining to now? Also what do you all think about alochoel can you do it and how much. Not that i'm a drunk or nothing but i'm young and enjoy it from time to time. My doctor said on special days birthday/wedding etc. I feel no doctor will tell you to drink. Is wine good for you once a day? oh sorry for my spelling thats not my strong point lol

[tlessary]

I lived in Ohio fro two years Dayton area and moved back to Oklahoma. I have been living in Alaska for two years this December and love it. Great place for kids. So My sister has a pace maker and a defibulater. The stopping of your heart is what the defibulater is for to jump start it again. Have you ever had to do a thing where you telephone in and they record your pacemaker activity to make sure it is working fine? My sister has had to have hers tweaked a couple of times to make it work better. They do it in the office so no surgery. My sister had to get the pacemaker becasue of a virus also. She got hers when she was in her late thirtys. She is 55 wiht three grown kids and 7 grandkids. You can get through this just think of it as your life is the big game and you need to be as proactive in your treatment as possible. I always think as going to the doctor as ok I have to trust this person because my life is in that persons hand and if I can't talk to them about my problems and trust in them then I need to find someone else. It is my lfe after all and my kids need me for as long as possible.      

[Momto3]

Hi Ohiofill,

I'm a former NE Ohioian!!  Go Browns!!  

Sorry to read about your recent heart troubles.  If I understand correctly, you were taken off the pacerone because of the potential for long term problems.  Have they replaced the medication with another?  Do you have a home monitoring system, or do you visit the doctor for interrogation of your ICD/pacemaker?  My dad has a home system which transmits data (quarterly) to his doctor's office.  It has eliminated the need for so many visits, and gives the doctor a good idea of what's been going on with the unit.  

I think you should touch base with your cardio and let him/her know what you're feeling.  Maybe your pacemaker needs an adjustment.  Just curious, have you been advised to limit your participation in competitive sports?  What is your actual diagnosis?  I have cardios and an EP in Cleveland - You're in a great city for cardiac care!!

Congrats on the new baby!

[ohiofill]

Also where you guys/girls from and age i'm always curious.

[ohiofill]

Nothing was inplace for the med i got off also its not the pacemaker being bad my heart is pausing so the pacemaker goes off. Isn't that whats it for?

[FLBrat]

we are never sure we can win, but we give our best effort regardless.  when you were taken off the med was another one prescribed to attend to issues that med covered?

[maggiemag]

What does your electrophysiologist say?  They should be able to do something to help the pacemaker work correctly.  Maybe you need to see another EP?  Try implantable dot com and see if they have any ideas.