Pacemaker at 33! 

In August this year I was urgently admitted to the Royal Sussex County hospital Brighton with second degree heart block, 2 days before my chartership exams. After a number of tests including an MRI, ultrasound and blood tests, I was told I have P-Wave Aystole, a condition of the sinus node in my heart. Electrical signals fail to communicate with all the chambers in my heart, causing my heart to miss beats. As a result, I underwent surgery to have a dual chamber pacemaker fitted. This little device contains a battery that sends signals through wires directly to my heart, reminding my heart to keep beating when it sometimes forgets. 

Of the pacemakers installed yearly, approximately 84% are for people older than age 65. Only 6% are for those younger than 49. I am 33 years old. 
 

I will now attend a specialist hospital to test my DNA to find out if the problem is genetic. But for now, I am happy to have an answer for years of symptoms including dizziness, fainting, chest pain and palpitations. Since having my PM fitted in September, I have already seen a huge difference in my health. 

I can't thank the support of the nursing, specialist and surgeons at the Royal Sussex enough. It has made me see how important their jobs are and how vital it is for charities like the BHF to have the funding they need to research and develop medicines and technology that saves lives. The pacemaker has come a long way since the 1950s, where the first devices were actually worn externally around your neck, my little device 'Prudence' (yes, I have named it) is about the size of a matchbox and fits in a cavity just under my collar bone. I have two wires that run through my main artery into the chambers of my heart. I will need my device changed every 7-10 years for the rest of my life. 

I would like to raise money to help with the research and development into pacemaker technology. There are already micra devices available that eliminate the wires, but these devices need to be tested a bit more. With the advancement of the pacemaker, eventually the battery could be eliminated entirely, reducing the need for repeat surgeries and risk of infection. 

£24 could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target.  
 

Thank you xxx