Intro and having surgery soon

Hello everyone I'm Van and I just joined thi s group hoping for some support. I have had two open heart surgeries last year, one to repair my mitral vaulve and the other to replace it. I was told by my Cardiologist yesturday that I needed to get a Metronic Heart Failure Pacemaker/Defibrillator. I spoke to my wife and i called my doctor today to tell him that was going to get it. I'm not very happy about it , but i know that I need it to keep me alive. I haven't scheduled a day for the percedure yet, I will be doing that on Monday when I see him. I just want to do it as soon as possible. I would like to know if anyone can tell me what I should expect for the first few weeks after I have it?

Thank you.

6 Comments

easier

by Tracey_E - 2009-05-28 07:05:10

Getting a pm is much easier than what you've already been through! It's not open heart, they usually insert the pm just under the skin on your upper chest, under the clavicle, then they run the leads in the vein to the heart.

They usually keep us overnight so they can xray the leads at 24 hours to make sure they're still where they're supposed to be.

Many of us find the discomfort minimal and get by on over the counter meds after being released from the hospital. You'll need to keep the left arm under shoulder level and not lift with it for 6 weeks so the leads have time to grow into place. You'll be a bit sore but it should improve quickly after the first week, you should be feeling great again by 4-6 weeks.

If you have any more questions about the surgery, recovery or living with these things, please don't be shy!

This might help...

by Pookie - 2009-05-28 07:05:16

Hi Van & Welcome to this great support group.

I found this article on the Medtronic Website....hope it helps.

Living With Your Pacemaker


Now that you have a pacemaker (or soon may get one), you may be wondering why you need one and how a pacemaker works. Your artificial pacemaker is a modern marvel; it's medical science's solution to the electrical problems of a slow or irregular heartbeat. But before you can understand how your pacemaker works, you first need to know a little about your heart. Basically, your heart is a pump made of special muscle. It pumps blood to all your body's cells. This is vital, because the blood carries oxygen and nourishment to keep your cells alive and healthy.

Your heart beats (pumps blood) because special cells in your heart (the heart's natural pacemaker, called the sinus node) produce electrical impulses. These cause your heart to contract and pump blood. The impulses travel from the pacemaker cells down certain electrical paths in the muscle walls, causing a contraction. As long as the electrical impulses flow down your heart's walls at regular intervals, your heart pumps at a rhythmic pace. Sometimes, though, something happens to interfere with how the electrical impulses of your heart's natural pacemaker are made or flow down your heart. When this occurs, the natural pacemaker can't do its job as well as it needs to.

Problems that change the heart rhythm include:

A complete block of the heart's electrical pathway
A slow beat
An irregular rhythm

If you have a slow and often irregular heartbeat — or if your heartbeat is sometimes normal and sometimes too fast or too slow — blood isn't pumped around your body well. In that case your doctor may recommend an artificial pacemaker. A pacemaker will make your heart beat more regularly. That will help ensure that enough oxygen and nourishment gets to your body's cells. An artificial pacemaker system has two parts: a generator and wires (leads).

The pacemaker generator is a small battery-powered unit. It produces the electrical impulses that start your heartbeat. The generator is implanted under your skin through a small incision. The generator is connected to your heart through tiny wires that are implanted at the same time. The impulses flow through these leads to your heart and are timed to flow at regular intervals just as impulses from your heart's natural pacemaker would.

Modern pacemakers last much longer than earlier models. As with any electronic device, your artificial pacemaker will require some care. The batteries, for example, will wear down over time and the pacemaker will need to be replaced. This is a minor surgical procedure. Your healthcare provider can explain it to you. (I personally don't know if I agree with these 2 last statements!!)

Most pacemakers work only when they're needed. They're called demand pacemakers. Demand pacemakers have a sensing device that shuts them off if the heartbeat is above a certain rate. When the heart is beating slower than the pacemaker rate, the sensing device turns the pacemaker on again. In this way, a demand pacemaker works something like a thermostat. The difference is that instead of working according to temperature, it works according to your heart rate.

As the batteries wear down, your pacemaker will slow down, but it won't stop right away. Using a special analyzer, your doctor can detect the first warning that the batteries are running down. This can be done before you can detect any changes yourself. A sudden, major slowing down of your heart rate, which you may detect, probably indicates a more serious problem. If that occurs, call your doctor.

Pookie


And...........the 2nd part

by Pookie - 2009-05-28 07:05:32

Managing Your Pacemaker

Do your part in managing your pacemaker. You may have to have someone help you, but there are certain things you'll need to do to manage your pacemaker successfully. These include:
Understand your acceptable heart rate. Before you leave the hospital, discuss with your doctor the specific maximum heart rate above your pacemaker rate that's acceptable. Discuss the programmed lower and upper rate for your pacemaker, too. Talking about this with your doctor early in your treatment will keep you from worrying unnecessarily.

Take your pulse and keep a record for your doctor. Counting your pulse is a good way to check that your heart is pumping correctly. Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your blood vessels. By putting your fingertips on a point on the inside of your wrist or over an artery in your neck, you can feel this beat (pulse). The number of pulse beats per minute is the same as the number of heartbeats. Count your pulse for one full minute, note the number of beats and see if it's in the range that your doctor told you was acceptable for your pacemaker. If your pulse is very slow or very fast, call your doctor. Use these guidelines for pacemakers and pulse counts:

If your pacemaker is beating regularly and at or above its proper rate, it's OK.

If your heart is beating close to or within the accepted rate but has an occasional irregularity, don't worry. Every now and then your own heart's natural pacemaker competes with the man-made one. Some extra beats that the pacemaker can sense electrically won't result in a pulse that you can feel.

If your pulse rate suddenly drops below the accepted rate or increases dramatically, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor will tell you what to do. It may be possible to program your pacemaker so it resumes working normally, or there may be some other problem.

If your pacemaker is installed for a fast-slow type of heartbeat and your pulse is rapid and irregular (above 120 beats per minute), call your doctor for more instructions.

If your pulse is beating faster than you've noticed before — but below 100 beats per minute — don't be alarmed.

Take prescribed medications. It's important to follow instructions and take prescribed medicine by following directions precisely. The reason is that the medicine works with the pacemaker and helps your heart pump regularly. Your doctor may ask you to keep a record of when you take your medication by marking a calendar.

Follow all instructions regarding diet and physical activity. Allow about eight weeks for your pacemaker to settle firmly in place. During this time, avoid sudden, jerky or violent actions that will cause your arm to pull away from your body.

Other warnings and information

Avoid causing pressure over the area of your chest where your pacemaker was put in. Women may find it more comfortable to wear a small pad over the incision as protection from their bra strap.

Feel free to take baths and showers. Your pacemaker is completely protected against contact with water.

Follow the program of activity outlined by your doctor. Car, train or airplane trips pose no danger.

People with pacemakers can continue their usual sexual activity.

Perform some kind of physical activity every day, whatever kind you enjoy. You might try taking a short walk, or moving your arms and legs to help your circulation. If you're not sure about exercising, ask your doctor for advice. You may be able to perform all normal activities for a person of your age.
Don't overdo it — quit before you get tired. The proper amount of activity should make you feel better, not worse.

Report to your doctor if:

You have difficulty breathing.
You begin to gain weight and your legs and ankles swell.
You faint or have dizzy spells.

Tell physicians, dentists and other health professionals that you have a pacemaker. Physicians or dentists need to know that you have a pacemaker. Tell them about it before you have any work done. Notify the doctor or nurse where you work. Modern pacemakers have built-in features to protect them from most types of interference produced by other electrical devices you might encounter in your daily routine. Household appliances such as microwave ovens, televisions, radios, stereos, vacuum cleaners, electric brooms, electric blankets, electric knives, hair dryers, shavers, gardening machinery, toasters, food processors and can openers won't affect your pacemaker. Most office and light shop equipment such as computers, typewriters, copy machines, woodworking shop tools and metalworking tools also pose no risk to your pacemaker.

If you suspect interference with your pacemaker, simply move away or turn off the equipment. Your pacemaker won't be permanently damaged and will resume its normal activity. Consult your doctor about special situations (such as working with high-current industrial equipment and powerful magnets). Surgical procedures also count as special situations. Certain types of medical equipment, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, can also affect how a pacemaker works.

Always carry your identification card. In any kind of accident, your I.D. card will tell the people helping you that you have a pacemaker. Your card can be particularly handy if you travel by air. The metal-detection devices in airports may detect the metal in your pacemaker, although they won't damage it. Showing your card may save you some inconvenience.

Keep all medical appointments. To work properly, your pacemaker should be checked periodically to find out how the leads are working and how the battery is doing. Today many thousands of people have pacemakers and lead full, productive lives. Pacemakers are usually safe and reliable, but they do need to be checked regularly. The easiest way to check your pacemaker is to take your pulse. Taking medicine as prescribed and seeing your doctor regularly will also help. Your doctor can explain things you don't understand.

Pookie

Like tracey said

by walkerd - 2009-05-29 04:05:38

its a piece of cake Van, I went thru open heart in aug of 08 and pm/defib installed in sept of 08, the hardest part of it is after its all done waking up in the morning and worrying did I raise my arm up over my head, advice my cardioligist wanted me to wear the arm sling when I slept, for some reason I didnt wear it one night cause I know better lol, woke up in the middle of the nite to go to bathroom and my arm was a little higher than it should have been, scared the you know what out of me all i could think was did I move my leads did i pull it out, i put my sling on and wore it to bed for the six weeks, just keep your arm below your shoulder, dont pick to much wieght up, dont reach for stuff for the six weeks, I have read replies on this before and some havent done what the doctor said to do and say they where ok, I for one like you have been thru enough to chance it, I didnt. Youll do great van.
good luck
dave

New PM/ICD

by papaknight - 2009-05-29 05:05:49

You can expect to be lied to and put into life threatning situations every time your device is called upon to help. Thats the worst case. Best case is you never need the device and live a long happy life, which is what we all want for you and yours. Just to be safe you need to insist on copies of all interrogations and testing of your equipment. Something you dont understand, make them explain it to you. Check for recalls and advisories on your unit monthly, doctors and manufacturers are lax about gettting tis information to th patient.
Best of health to all'
Papa Knight

thanks for the support

by Van - 2009-05-29 11:05:12

I thank all of you for your responces it has helped alot. really answered some of my questions. Any additional information is welcomed.

Thanks

You know you're wired when...

You take technology to heart.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.