Pacemakers and Testing

bluerose
bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
in Long-Term Survivors #1
Was interested in how many of you have had to have pacemakers implanted due to cardiac issues after treatments? I had to have one implanted in 2005 because of severe atrial fibrulation that some cardiologists say is from heart damage from adriamycin (a chemo drug I had back in the early 90ties). Because of the pacemaker, and now years after treatments and many other health issues mostly due to the treatments themselves, I am unable to have tests like MRI's and some CT scan dyes because of the magnets in the MRI and too much CT scan dye from the past so now allergic to it. It seems that my options for testing are now limited because of the pacemaker.

Also too, and because of my many side effects of treatments long ago, doctors will not allow me to have general anaesthesia as it's too hard on my body so now that is limited as well. It's getting a little scarey to see options shrinking.

Just wondering if anyone else has a pacemaker and is running into this issue especially a long time after treatments are over????

Thanks for reading this post.

Blessings,

Bluerose

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi bluerose

    Sorry I thought I was the only person in the world with all the side effects of treatment. I don’t have a pacemaker yet but have a lot of problems with the heart and hi blood pressure. My heart doctor don’t know what to do about it yet because it is all damage to the artery’s in the neck that controls BP. The high BP is making the walls in the heart thick, just like when you work out the muscles in your arms get bigger so do the walls of the heart. But on the arms it is good on the heart it is bad.

    Hope you get the answer and help you need.
    Hondo
  • bluerose
    bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi bluerose

    Sorry I thought I was the only person in the world with all the side effects of treatment. I don’t have a pacemaker yet but have a lot of problems with the heart and hi blood pressure. My heart doctor don’t know what to do about it yet because it is all damage to the artery’s in the neck that controls BP. The high BP is making the walls in the heart thick, just like when you work out the muscles in your arms get bigger so do the walls of the heart. But on the arms it is good on the heart it is bad.

    Hope you get the answer and help you need.
    Hondo

    Pacemaker saved my life
    The doctors are still fighting over whether my atrial fib is due to adriamycin or not, duh. Anywho the afib got so bad I was basically dieing in 2005 so they put in an emergency pacemaker and it really helped. It was like a whole new lease on life. Then about 2 years ago all the afib just stopped and I haven't had any since. Again, a real game changer. Now I am scheduled for invasive surgeries and tests and in one they want to shut off my pacemaker and in another zing me with electric currents for the neuropathy testing and I am just worried it's going to set off the afib again. Oh man I can't go back to living like that, in ambulances all the time.

    I really am not sure what to do at this point. 6 of one and half a dozen of another. Grrrrrrrr. It's getting more complicated as to what tests I can have, restrictions of treatments too. I try not to think too far down the road about how much worse it can get. Have to give it all up to The Big Guy/Gal, too much for this little Ukrainian. lol.

    Take care Hondao. Hang in there.

    Hugs,

    Bluerose
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    bluerose said:

    Pacemaker saved my life
    The doctors are still fighting over whether my atrial fib is due to adriamycin or not, duh. Anywho the afib got so bad I was basically dieing in 2005 so they put in an emergency pacemaker and it really helped. It was like a whole new lease on life. Then about 2 years ago all the afib just stopped and I haven't had any since. Again, a real game changer. Now I am scheduled for invasive surgeries and tests and in one they want to shut off my pacemaker and in another zing me with electric currents for the neuropathy testing and I am just worried it's going to set off the afib again. Oh man I can't go back to living like that, in ambulances all the time.

    I really am not sure what to do at this point. 6 of one and half a dozen of another. Grrrrrrrr. It's getting more complicated as to what tests I can have, restrictions of treatments too. I try not to think too far down the road about how much worse it can get. Have to give it all up to The Big Guy/Gal, too much for this little Ukrainian. lol.

    Take care Hondao. Hang in there.

    Hugs,

    Bluerose

    One day at a time
    When I was so sick almost to the point of death lying on the doctors table, I looked over at my wife sitting there and she was saying something that I could not hear. I asked her are you praying dear, she said no then what are you doing I asked, she said singing, singing what I asked, singing asking God to help me to take it one day at a time. Now when I get depressed or sad I lift myself up by singing it too, One day at a time sweet Jesus that’s all I am asking of you, give me the strength to take one day at a time.

    God bless and be with you Bluerose, I am praying whatever choice you make will be the right one.
    Hondo
  • bluerose
    bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
    #5
    Hondo said:

    One day at a time
    When I was so sick almost to the point of death lying on the doctors table, I looked over at my wife sitting there and she was saying something that I could not hear. I asked her are you praying dear, she said no then what are you doing I asked, she said singing, singing what I asked, singing asking God to help me to take it one day at a time. Now when I get depressed or sad I lift myself up by singing it too, One day at a time sweet Jesus that’s all I am asking of you, give me the strength to take one day at a time.

    God bless and be with you Bluerose, I am praying whatever choice you make will be the right one.
    Hondo

    Thanks Hondo
    Today is particulary bad. Just overwhelmed - yet again - by all the possible surgeries etc coming down the pike and so close together too and all of the restrictions that come with being a long term survivor. You know how that all goes. I should be used to this by now but just has to take one letdown on top of all the medical stuff and there I go again, sliding into overwhelmed. Oh well with any luck this too shall pass.

    Take care Hondo.

    Hugs,

    Blueroses
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
    bluerose said:

    Thanks Hondo
    Today is particulary bad. Just overwhelmed - yet again - by all the possible surgeries etc coming down the pike and so close together too and all of the restrictions that come with being a long term survivor. You know how that all goes. I should be used to this by now but just has to take one letdown on top of all the medical stuff and there I go again, sliding into overwhelmed. Oh well with any luck this too shall pass.

    Take care Hondo.

    Hugs,

    Blueroses

    Heaven

    Focus on the aspect of Gods love for you and that someday all this will pass. I would sure love to meet you someday if not here in Heaven for sure.

    I will keep you in all my prayers
    Hondo
  • bluerose
    bluerose Member Posts: 1,104
    #7
    Hondo said:

    Heaven

    Focus on the aspect of Gods love for you and that someday all this will pass. I would sure love to meet you someday if not here in Heaven for sure.

    I will keep you in all my prayers
    Hondo

    Thanks Hondo
    Thank you for the good advice. I will try to do that. Today is another doctor's appt but with my family doctor so this will be the topic - overwhelmed. I am also going to ask her to talk to my cardiologist about all the tests and surgeries that will involve my pacemaker as I don't want my afib to come back and I am afraid toying with it won't help. It was like a new lease on life when the afib just disappeared over a year ago and to think I could be back to calling ambulances when my heart went nuts every few days is too much to take. One step at a time for sure.

    Have a good day and thanks for the prayers. Back at you.

    Blessings,

    Bluerose
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #8
    bluerose said:

    Thanks Hondo
    Thank you for the good advice. I will try to do that. Today is another doctor's appt but with my family doctor so this will be the topic - overwhelmed. I am also going to ask her to talk to my cardiologist about all the tests and surgeries that will involve my pacemaker as I don't want my afib to come back and I am afraid toying with it won't help. It was like a new lease on life when the afib just disappeared over a year ago and to think I could be back to calling ambulances when my heart went nuts every few days is too much to take. One step at a time for sure.

    Have a good day and thanks for the prayers. Back at you.

    Blessings,

    Bluerose

    Prayer
    Will continue to pray for you as you see your doctors and hope they give you a good report and get you the help you need. One day at a time sweet Jesus that’s all I am asking of you, give us the strength to do every day the things that we need to do.

    Hope your week-end will be a happy one.

    God bless
    Hondo
  • klas
    klas Member Posts: 3
    #9
    Hi bluerose,

    Had radiation in 1971 and finding all sorts of side effects. Now have 2 hearing aids because of radiation. Thyroid removed, and more if I think about it.

    I had a pacemaker in 2009. Result of triple bypass and aortic valve in 2006. I guess 15% of bypass patients need pacemakers and I was the "lucky" one.

    Helped so much.

    I also had reaction to CT can dye. Can't have MRI because of the pacemaker and valve, Now have Pet scans. I have not had problems with anaesthesia, tho

    Good luck

    klas
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
    klas said:

    Hi bluerose,

    Had radiation in 1971 and finding all sorts of side effects. Now have 2 hearing aids because of radiation. Thyroid removed, and more if I think about it.

    I had a pacemaker in 2009. Result of triple bypass and aortic valve in 2006. I guess 15% of bypass patients need pacemakers and I was the "lucky" one.

    Helped so much.

    I also had reaction to CT can dye. Can't have MRI because of the pacemaker and valve, Now have Pet scans. I have not had problems with anaesthesia, tho

    Good luck

    klas

    Hi Klas

    Wow sounds like you been through a lot in the passed years, just glad you are still here to share with us.

    Thanks for posting and hope you continue to be a part of us.

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo

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