Next Appointment - ONE YEAR!

I'm so relieved my pacemaker check up went well today! The next time I have to go in to have my pacemaker checked is a whole YEAR from now! I have to phone in every three months using a special phone device to send results directly to Dr. Shannon's office. He tweaked some of the settings because I've been experiencing increased episodes of palpitations and whatever he did seemed to have worked, at least it's been better today. Because my particular rhythm problem is more rare than most reasons people get pacemakers, the doctor explained that it has required more fine tuning to make sure the device is tailored to my specific issue. In addition to other things, he increased my resting rate and adjusted a setting to allow my heart to gradually slow down after movement as opposed to what a pacemaker usually does, which is return to resting rate almost immediately. Also, he was able to tell from the readings approximately when I'll have to have the battery changed, which looks like sometime in 2018. He did have to test the pacemaker's range and see how my heart would respond, which meant he had to briefly turn the pacer down (nearly off but not completely) and that felt really strange - it was definitely evident that I need it; palpitations and arrhythmias all over the place! I wish I didn't need it but I am so thankful that the technology is available. Truly miraculous!

Overall, it was a very positive appointment and we are hopeful that the adjustments made are successful in further suppressing my episodes of palpitations and that I continue to feel better and better! He did remind me that I am still healing and that they cannot 100% guarantee that the palpitations will disappear altogether, but the goal is to suppress them so they occur less frequently and are less of a hindrance to my everyday life. I'll just keep on movin' on down the recovery road!