The Beat Goes On: Thriving with My Pacemaker/My heart Stopped

Introduction

For nearly 13 years, I struggled with heart issues, enduring countless misdiagnoses and frequent doctor visits without resolution. With the dedication of one particular doctor, I finally felt understood. His care led to the identification of my condition, and now, at 38, I am healed with a pacemaker. As a healthy young woman in my 20s when my symptoms began, I believe this contributed to being dismissed by doctors. By sharing my story, I aim to support others facing similar challenges, particularly women, as I believe we are being overlooked regarding heart issues.

The Journey with Doctors

Throughout my extensive and often challenging journey, I encountered a myriad of doctors and specialists, each with their own approach to patient care. Some were attentive and compassionate, demonstrating a genuine concern for my well-being, while others seemed dismissive of my worries, treating my symptoms as inconsequential or exaggerated. This disparity in experiences made the search for a reliable physician all the more daunting. A pivotal moment in this journey came when one particular doctor finally listened to my concerns with the seriousness they warranted and took decisive action. I will always be forever grateful to the cardiologist who recognized the gravity of my symptoms and validated my fears. I often found myself reflecting on my mother's stories about my childhood fainting spells, which had seemed less serious at the time. However, as I grew older and began to experience more severe and frequent episodes, I started to reconsider the implications of those early events and their potential connection to my current health issues.

One fateful Tuesday morning, following a busy Memorial Day weekend spent at the lake, I was en route to court reporting school in Austin. As I drove, I began to feel a sense of unease that I initially dismissed as mere fatigue from the weekend's activities. However, before I knew it, I found myself waking up in my car, which had crashed through a fence and come to rest among a cluster of trees. In a state of confusion and panic, I called my boyfriend, who is now my husband, to come and help me. At first, he thought I had been distracted, perhaps texting while driving, but he quickly realized that something far more serious had occurred. The last memory I had was of feeling that something was wrong before I slipped into a dream-like state of unconsciousness. Thankfully, the only damage from the incident was to my car, the fence, and a few overgrown trees. We initially attributed the episode to dehydration, but I continued to feel unwell. My boyfriend's sister, concerned for my health, took me to see a doctor, but during the ride, I fainted in her car. In an urgent response, she called 911, and I was transported to the hospital. Despite a series of tests that revealed no signs of dehydration, the doctors concluded that it was indeed the cause of my fainting spell.

This diagnosis of dehydration persisted for an astonishing 13 years, during which I endured random fainting spells and made frequent visits to the emergency room. Fortunately, I never experienced another accident like that first one. I was just 24 years old when these episodes began, and as I reached the age of 36, particularly after having children, my concern grew significantly, and I became increasingly eager for answers. This urgency was particularly pronounced after a fainting episode led to a hospital stay during which my heart rate failed to increase, raising alarms for both me and the medical staff. Despite being reassured that my low heart rate was akin to that of a professional athlete, I instinctively knew that something was amiss. Determined to uncover the truth, I began meticulously documenting my heart rate and blood pressure, convinced that this data would help me find the answers I so desperately sought. My blood pressure machine began indicating an irregular heartbeat, which prompted further investigation into my condition.

Navigating the Path of Medical Appointments and Diagnostics

Eventually, I succeeded in finding a doctor I could genuinely trust, someone who listened to me and took my concerns seriously. The process of undergoing tests and enduring long waiting periods was undoubtedly challenging, but I understood that it required a level of patience and trust in the medical process. After an echocardiogram showed no apparent issues, we proceeded to the next set of tests. Routine EKGs conducted during my ER visits consistently failed to reveal anything alarming. I was fitted with a heart monitor, a more modern and user-friendly version than the bulky one I had previously used. After a week of monitoring, the data collected from the device prompted a stress test. Despite my heart rate remaining unchanged throughout the test, the results indicated that something was indeed wrong, which was both alarming and puzzling.

During a follow-up appointment, my doctor carefully explained the test results and outlined the next steps, which included blood tests and a CT scan to rule out any potential issues such as clogged arteries or a blood clot. Although I felt a surge of anxiety at the prospect of these tests, I also found a glimmer of hope in the stories I read on blogs about women who were successfully living with stents. When the CT scan ultimately showed no signs of clogged arteries, I was referred to an electrophysiologist for further evaluation. This transition marked a significant turning point in my journey.

Understanding the heart's electrical system became crucial to grasping the nature of my diagnosis. Diagnosing issues within this intricate system requires continuous monitoring and careful analysis. Despite facing initial skepticism from the electrophysiologist regarding the severity of my symptoms, I agreed to undergo a procedure to have a loop recorder inserted into my body. The experience was undeniably uncomfortable, but I had faith in my cardiologist's judgment and expertise. Three weeks after the device was implanted, I experienced two alarming episodes—one while I was sleeping and another in front of my family. A call from the medical team confirmed my worst fears: my heart had stopped beating for a total of 30 seconds on two separate occasions. I was rushed to the hospital, where I learned that I would need to have a pacemaker implanted to regulate my heart rhythm.

Receiving a pacemaker on Valentine's Day marked a new and hopeful chapter in my life. This procedure not only alleviated my fears of fainting in potentially dangerous situations but also provided me with a profound sense of peace of mind. My cardiologist stood by my side throughout the entire process, offering support and reassurance, and I began to embrace my new life with my "new heart." This journey has been a testament to resilience and the importance of advocacy in healthcare.

Stay tuned to discover more about my ongoing journey, including the different types of support I've received, as well as the challenges that arose from the absence of support from family, friends, and the electrophysiologist during some of the toughest times. I will also delve deeper into the obstacles I faced and how I managed being a new mom while attempting to maintain a normal life amidst the uncertainties surrounding my health. Additionally, I'll share insights as I approach my two-year anniversary with my new heartbeat and the experiences that come with it.