Hello

Oh Gosh...life in the blender is hectic right now. I just got back to work from another cardiologist appointment this morning. It's official......Pacemaker will be implanted on Thursday August the 19th. I'm thankful that the problem has been identified and can be dealt with. I'm terrified that a problem even exists let alone has to be dealt with.

My Moma has always been my rock and she's taking this very hard - my brother died at 3 1/2 months old from a heart defect and then there's the facts that Her Mother & her father, plus my Dad and my husband all died from heart problems of some form or fashion. I can honestly say I'm more worried about her than I am about myself. Then there's David------the poor man is a train wreck in progress. He has to be able to "fix things" and "set things right" and well - this isn't something that he can do. He just has to trust the doctors and the science & technology behind the device. This is proving to be quite difficult for him. I love, love, love this man.

I have to add a small side note on how all of this relates to Weight Loss surgery. the heart problem is more than likely genetic in my case. BUT having lost 100 lbs prior to the symptoms arising has allowed me to experience life and pick up the subtle signals that my body sends me. Prior to RNY I was tired all the time. Diabetes, Obesity and Fatigue were just.........well....accepted as normal for me THEN. Life after bypass has been about energy and enthusiasm and adventure and just go, go, go, go all the time. A month or so ago I realized I was tired all the time. The little light in my head didn't go off until I actually told Moma that I felt the same as I did prior to RNY.  Not only did I realize that I wasn't quite up to par I didn't put off doing something about it. Prior to Bypass I would put off going to the doc simply because I didn't want to get on the scales or hear about "if you lost weight some of this might just go away on it's own".

I guess you might say that this pacemaker is my latest WOW moment.

Have a great day - make it that way. I saw a sign today that said..."If you can dream it - You can do it!!" I think I might just have to do that.

- Iris

Iris, 

I think that  you are so right about our listening even more closely to our bodies now than we did before. I think that we now know that it isn't normal to feel tired and run-down. We and our Dr's are more likely to 'pay attention' to what's going on and not chalk it up to our excess weight. 

I hope that your mom realizes that the fact that your cardiac issue has been detected and is being managed gives you the chance that they didn't have. You will be able to live long and well into your old age with the combination of your WLS and having the pacemaker implanted. 

I wish you and yours all the best,