Able to Go All Day, with Energy Left for Evening

Keith Massey knew his excessive fatigue and rapid weight gain (80 pounds or 36.2 kilograms in four months) wasn't normal, but the United States Air Force Sergeant didn't know what was wrong. While under treatment for high blood pressure, in April of 2001, Keith had a transient ischemic attack or TIA (a transient stroke which lasts only a few moments and is caused when blood flow to the brain is temporarily interrupted). In the aftermath, his heart was tested using a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG).

"They found I was suffering from second-degree heart block," said Keith. "So, the next day, they implanted the device, and I've felt great since."

Keith explained that he was experiencing Wenckebach, a condition causing heartbeats traveling from the upper chambers to the lower chambers of the heart to be restricted. Wenckebach is caused by an electrical disconnect within the atrioventricular (AV) node (a mass of cells positioned between the atria and ventricles). Learn more about normal rhythm and arrhythmias.

Once his St. Jude Medical Integrity® pacemaker was implanted, Keith began feeling better immediately. He went back to work, but had to be retrained for a different job. Because of his pacemaker, Keith, a civil engineer for 13 years, could no longer work around electrical equipment prevalent in his job as a fire system design inspector. Now an Education and Training Manager for the United States Air Force, the 37 year old says he is able to play softball, do some cardiovascular work, and go to the mountains to hike.

"I'm able to go all day and have energy left for the evening," said Keith. "Not an easy task with a 10 year old. I'm non-syncopal, and there's no more lightheadedness."

Keith, who served the United States both in Operations Just Cause, in Panama, and Desert Storm, in Iraq, says he looks forward to continuing his military career and retiring in 2009. He doesn't know where he will be assigned next, but he knows he is up to the task, whatever it may be.

"I am truly grateful," said Keith. "Had my condition not been discovered and pacer not implanted, I would not be here today still serving this great country. I'm very grateful to everyone at St. Jude Medical for the work they've done in pacemaker technology." Learn more about pacemaker implantation.

Though Keith is grateful for his restored energy and health, he is far more grateful for being there for his wife of 13 years, Kelly, and their 10-year-old son, Eric.