The need for info from the pacemaker

I installed a Medtronic dual chamber rate responsive pacemaker on Monday 15th December just after lunch, and attended a board meeting the next day, exactly 24 hours after I was streched out on the operation table.

The first week was really bad. I had more fibrillation than before the operation, and my pulse jumped to 160 at the slightest movement. But I have been working for a few hours each day after the operation, taking it a bit easy. I removed the bandage today, and I'm getting better day by day! Today, I even shuffled away some of the snow in front om my garage. I will have to take it easy for 3 more months, according to my physician. That's a nightmare. I'm 63, but active in sports, with 2 very active grandchildren. To move slowly around, is not my lifestyle. I'll give it a try, though!

I had an appointment with a Chinese physician one week after the operation. Her diagnosis was "low energy". She gave me 30 minutes of acupuncture and some advice on what to eat (and what NOT to eat). Sensible advice. I regret I didn't see her before I installed the pacemaker, but I might have installed it anyway. Will continue to see her on a weekly basis.

I check my pulse with a sports watch and a waistband. Gives me some info on how my hearth works. A pity the industry didn't come up with a reader for the pacemaker. It would certainly learn me more about my hearth condition and the way it cooperates with the pacemaker. I would also love to learn more of the fibrillation, and how it might be avoided.

I had a dialogue with a Medtronic representative about the need for simultaneous info from the pacemaker, and the didn't have any. They have the technology though, but it's not intended for the patient, only for the physician. They sent me on to this website. Nice to share experience.

2 Comments

Welcome

by Pookie - 2009-12-27 08:12:35

Is it Afib you have? If so, there are many members on here that will probably share their stories. There is also a SEARCH feature up in the right hand corner...just type in any word and you should find oodles of past posts with helpful information.

December 15 and you already shoveled snow???? Tisk Tisk....:) please take it easy. You could easily dislodge a lead and you don't want to be back on that operating table..believe me.

And remember, that when you first get your pacemaker, it may take a few trips back to the pacemaker clinic to get the settings adjusted correctly for you.

It is hard "taking it easy", but those are your doctors orders.

Again, welcome to this club and I wish you all the best.

Pookie


Simultanous info of fibrillation

by otbergo - 2009-12-31 11:12:43

I'll check what the physician calls my kind of fibrillation. Occuring infrequently in my right atrium before I had a pacemaker installed, with much higher frequency when I had my first checkup, 4 days after the operation.

The reason for my pacemaker, was not fibrillation, but low pulse. I always had a resting pulse of 45-50. But in combination with youth and lots of training, it wasn't a problem. Till now. When I had my pulse checked on a 24 hour basis, my hearth took a pause for up to 7 seconds during my sleep. During the day, they registered quite frequent pauses of 3-4 seconds.

The hospital hearth physicians hoped the fibrillation would disappear, with a pacemaker forcing my pulse to be minimum 60 bpm. But, it seems my fibrillation is more of a problem after the operation, than it was before.

I hope to make the fibrillation disappear, with rest and diet, exercise and training in 2-3 months from now. But to be effective, I need simultaneous feedback on how my hearth performs. Medtronic has the technology to read data continually from the pacemaker, but it isn't adapted for the patient's, only for the physician's needs. I assume it will be a growing market for such a device. In the meantime, I apply a sports watch. It's better than nothing. But a readout from the pacemaker, with info on the occurance of fibrillation, would be much more helpful.

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