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

Misdiagnosed Years - Living in the Shadows of Uncertainty

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.

Part 1:

Misdiagnosed Years - Living in the Shadows of Uncertainty

Throughout my life, my journey with doctors has been complicated and often overwhelming. I have always carried a fear. I was only 24 when these episodes began. By the time I was 36, after having children, my symptoms had worsened dramatically. During one hospital stay, my heart of doctors and specialists, each with their own approach to patient care. Some were attentive and compassionate, showing genuine concern for my well-being, while others dismissed my worries, treating my symptoms as inconsequential or exaggerated. This disparity made the search for a reliable physician all the more daunting.

Everything changed when one particular cardiologist finally listened to me. For the first time, my concerns were taken seriously, and decisive action was taken. I will forever be grateful to the doctor who recognized the gravity of my symptoms and validated my fears.

Looking back, I often reflect on my mother's stories about my childhood health issues, which seemed minor at the time. But as I grew older and began experiencing more severe and frightening episodes, I started to reconsider their connection to my current condition.

Part 2:

The Day Everything Changed - My Car crash and Wake-Up Call

One fateful Tuesday morning, after a busy Memorial Day weekend at the lake, I was driving to court reporting school in Austin. I began to feel a strange uneasiness, which I brushed off as fatigue. Moments later, I woke up in my car, which had crashed through a fence and come to rest among a cluster of trees.

Confused and panicked, I called my boyfriend—now my husband—for help. At first, he thought I had been distracted, but it quickly became clear that something far more serious had happened. My last memory before losing consciousness was the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Thankfully, the only damage was to my car, the fence, and a few trees. At the time, we attributed the episode to dehydration. But as my symptoms persisted, my boyfriend's sister urged me to see a doctor. On the way, I fainted again, and she called 911. At the hospital, despite multiple tests, doctors concluded dehydration was the cause.

Part 3:

Thirteen Years of Questions - Living with Fainting Spells

That diagnosis stayed with me for an astonishing 13 plus years, during which I endured random fainting spells and countless ER visits. I was only 24 when these episodes began. By the time I was 36, after having children, my symptoms had worsened dramatically. During one hospital stay, my heart rate failed to rise, alarming both me and the medical staff. Yet I was reassured that my low heart rate was "like that of a professional athlete." Deep down, I knew something was wrong. Determined to find answers, I began meticulously documenting heart rate and blood pressure. Eventually, my home monitor revealed irregular heartbeats—finally prompting the deeper investigation I had been waiting for.

Part 4: The Doctor Who Finally Listened

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.

My Best Valentines and New Beginnings

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.