A year on from the accident that started the path to the pacemaker.

When I first got my calendar for 2013 and marked off Saturday 8th June as a day I would be leaving the car on the drive. This was the anniversary of the accident last year where I crashed my car into a wall. An odd accident that I couldn't explain & that led to a series of tests that resulted in the doctors diagnosing my heart condition.

I know deep down that if my condition was the cause of the accident it couldn't happen again as my pacemaker would prevent any possible loss of consciousness, but I really didn't want to take any chances.

It's remarkable to think how much the whole incident shook me up; how difficult I found it to accept that I had this problem when I felt so well.

Now, one year on I feel incredibly fortunate that I had the accident. After all, no-one (including myself) was injured, all the damage has been put right both to my car and the office block where I work and the condition that will continue to get worse and would start to make me feel unwell, if not by now certainly in the future, will continue to worsen without affecting my health and lifestyle.

My biggest issue this summer is not exposing my scar to direct sunshine, with the recent British summers that's not such a massive problem. Fortunately I do not wear tops and dresses with very strappy straps and the majority of vest tops I do wear, when the sun is out, cover the scar quite nicely.

Several people told me how I would feel like a new woman after having my pacemaker implant, but in actual fact I don't feel any different. I have more energy this year than I did last, but I think that has more to do with the weight I have lost while getting my cholesterol under control rather than any effect from my pacemaker.

You may notice I now refer to it as 'my pacemaker' not 'the' pacemaker or 'a' pacemaker. This is a deliberate decision I have taken. It helps me accept it as part of me rather than an alien object.  One year on, I can look back on the whole experience and accept the highs and lows it brought with it. I realise it put our lives on hold for a good 6 months, that it put both physical and emotional stress on me, my family and friends and their support was crucial in dealing with the whole situation.

One year on I can look back and be grateful that the accident highlighted a problem before it became a problem, that the condition is controlled and I have regular medical checks. One year on there is relief that the outcome of the tests didn't result in anything worse. One year on I am probably healthier than I have been for several years.

It's a shock to anyone when they are diagnosed with a condition or illness that requires surgery, a life change or some major shift to the normal life style, but I am now able to take the positives from the last 12 months. 

A lot can happen in a year, now I'm looking forward to a year where not a lot happens. 

Does a mammogram hurt with a pacemaker?

Due to work colleagues being on holiday and work changes I deferred my hospital appointment until last week. It wasn't through any concerns, it just wasn't convenient. I have had a mammogram within the last 3 years which was clear so I didn't feel delaying this check for a few weeks would cause any issues.

As suggested, I told the technician that I'd had a pacemaker fitted last September and that while it had healed well, it was still tender when I pressed on the area and so it may be that the scanner machine may be uncomfortable. She said she would be guided by me and if it got too uncomfortable she would stop. We decided to start with the right breast as this would give me an indication of the pressure that would be felt and where the potential problems may be.

The process is not particularly painfully, more uncomfortable but as the plate presses down it pulls the skin from the shoulder downwards and the edge of the machine presses into the shoulder. The right hand side was done quite quickly and I explained where the discomfort had been relative to where the pacemaker is. We swapped sides and she was very careful as she fitted me into the machine, making sure I was in the correct place to get the best image. I managed to get comfortable and she said I was to tell her when it got too uncomfortable or if there was too much pain and that as soon as she took the image the machine would release the pressure.

I tried to keep as still as possible and let the pressure build but it did become too painful to continue and I asked her to stop, she took the image at that point and immediately released the pressure. The relief on the skin over the pacemaker was instantaneous and, I stood back while she checked the images.

She said she thought the image, while not as clear as the right side, was perfectly good for the check they needed to do, and so I got dressed.

It was uncomfortable at the time, but left no lasting pain or discomfort and has certainly not given me any concerns about having to go through it again.

All I have to do now is wait for the results and hope,as they were last time, they come back clear.