My son needs a pacemaker--he's only 29!
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31636)
United States
May 23, 2017 7:15pm CST
I'm not looking for sympathy but this involves something I was not aware of and it may help someone. 15% of people under 30 need pacemakers because they have a sinus rhythm with second degree AV block. The cardiologist said it's just bad luck and the natural pacemaker is failing so they need to put in a pacemaker. My son's pulse at its highest is only 42 beats per minute and the heart is failing to pump every other pump signal because the signal is not being given. The doc says this causes serious energy loss.
My son recently had a couple of episodes where he felt an intense feeling of impending doom, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. This was apparently because his heart was malfunctioning.
Did you know that could happen to people so young? I didn't. But if you know a young person with these symptoms--no energy or romantic drive, and incidents of panic and dizziness--you might suggest they go to a cardiologist.
He is getting a second opinion but I'm pretty sure the pacemaker is going in soon. Thank God it's not a life-threatening surgery like it was decades ago. And thank God he has decent insurance!
19 people like this
18 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 May 17
i'm glad that he went 'n sought the help he needed. my niece went through a long spell 'f dizziness 'n blackin' out. they ran e'ery test known to mankind, e'en 'd her wear a heart monitor fer several months combined. 9 specialists later, they put'n a pacemaker 'n she's 'd no troubles since. she's 17 years ol'.
i wish the best fer yer son 'n yer correct, thank the stars he's good insurance!
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 May 17
@dragon54u yer welcome, hon. the niece went through so much o'er a 2 years period 'n i'm so glad they finally went elsewhere fer advice/treatment. she's off to college now 'n aint 'd any troubles since the pacemaker. 'f course, she's gonna need a new battery here purty soon - but we'll cross that bridge when't comes.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
24 May 17
Wow I didn't know that but thanks for sharing. I hope all goes well with your son. I'm sure he will be feeling much better when that procedure is done with.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
He will not like the 2-4 week recovery period when he won't be able to move his left arm in order to let the leads settle into place! I think it will be fine. Thank you for your good wishes!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
27 May 17
@dragon54u Wow that is a long time
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
Thank you! I was really surprised to hear how common it is.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31961)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
24 May 17
im sorry to hear this. hope things get better
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
I'd be worried if it was 30 years ago but I'm sure it will be fine. I'm just very glad we found it in time!
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
24 May 17
Thats terrible. I am sorry to hear this. I didnt know it could happen so young either
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
It's scary, for sure! I'm very glad we have all the advances in medicine that we do. I'm confident that he'll be fine. Thanks!
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
24 May 17
@dragon54u will keep you guys in my thoughts.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
I think many people do have this condition and don't know it because it's not widely known. That's why I mentioned it here, in hopes that people would note the symptoms and perhaps recognize them in someone and save a life. I was shocked at how many young people this affects. 15% doesn't sound like many but that's 15 out of 100 and that's a lot of people!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
24 May 17
@dragon54u Yes that's a lot of young people. I hope your son will have a long healthy life.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
26 May 17
I will keep him and your family in my prayers. That is young to need a pace maker. =(
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
27 May 17
Thank you so much! I know it's a safe surgery but still I worry. It will happen around the 10th of June, I will post when it is in hopes that he will benefit from the prayers of my friends.
Hey, I lived in Jacksonville for a couple of years way back in the 70s. Loved the beaches there!
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
Yes, me, too! If this happened to me I would just die because I don't have insurance. I know a lot of people that lost their insurance when the new laws were passed and, like me, can't afford the new higher prices. I'm so glad my son is insured!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
24 May 17
I am 29 as well.. I have a history of heart problems in my family.. If I ever come across these symptoms in myself I'll be sure to not write them off and go see a doctor then! Thank You.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
I was hoping I could help someone. So many young people write off symptoms as stress when it could very well be serious. I hope you don't have any heart problems, that you are the exception in your family!
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
24 May 17
@dragon54u As do I but I have a lot of stress on me, and have had times when I've had an anxiety attack, it's not quite a far stretch from heart problems after that.
Just the other day I wrote off a funny feeling in my heart as anxiety. I'll know not to do that from now on.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
24 May 17
Thankfully he knows he needs this done and as you say, it is not the surgery it once was.
We know some younger people with pacemakers. At first we thought it was odd too, then realized such things can happen at any age!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
Yes, it's strange how the young people are getting diseases that used to be only in the elderly. 
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 May 17
@dragon54u Hope all of this helps him tremendously!
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
Yes, medicine is wonderful, thanks!
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
28 May 17
Thanks for sharing that information as it could save lives. I wish you and your son all the best and the strength to carry on.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
28 May 17
Thank you! I think it will go well but learning all the facts about this was pretty shocking.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 May 17
That is scary news @dragon54u . At least their is a resolution.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
Yes, I'm glad there is a relatively safe treatment for it. We truly live in miraculous times!
1 person likes this
@atoz1to10 (6781)
• Australia
24 May 17
I'm sorry to hear about your son. Yes, he is too young to need a pacemaker.
A few year ago my Mum needed one too. She kept complaining that she was tired, no energy and we kept sending her to bed saying that she needed to catch up with her sleep.
So you don't know when he is going to have one?
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
I'm sure that they'll want to do it soon as it can get much worse if left untreated. I hope your mum is okay now! Modern medicine is wonderful and miraculous!
1 person likes this
@atoz1to10 (6781)
• Australia
24 May 17
@dragon54u thank you. My mum now has to go for the check up every year. I hope you son will be OK as well... Pacemakers these days are getting smaller...
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 May 17
Yes, I'm glad we found out. I had never heard of it in one so young so wanted to pass on the knowledge to everyone I could. More people knowing might just save a young life. 
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
27 May 17
I am sorry to hear this hopefully it will help him
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
24 May 17
I have a cousin who has a pacemaker. It's been more than a decade since he had the surgery. He use to have fainting spells and the other symptoms you mention when he was young but I believe his hectic schedule as a business entrepreneur may have exacerbate his situation.
1 person likes this
