How will I feel after surgery

Im Matt, and 18 years old. Im expecting a pacemaker for my complete heart block. I have recently felt fatigued moreso then usual and this is saying alot for myself as I am extremely athletic (playing rugby, hockey etc). I was wondering if after the surgery how different will i feel? I have never known what it was like to have a healthy heart so my tiredness is usual for me. Can someone enlighten me to how much it cuts the fatigue off?

Thanks!

7 Comments

How WillYou Feel

by SMITTY - 2010-05-02 11:05:12


Hey Matt,

I take it you are new to the Pacemaker Club, so let me say welcome.

I don't think anyone can give you a honest answer on how much a pacemaker will reduce your fatigue. A guess maybe, but accurate answer, no. We are all different and we seldom have a good handle on all the things involved in the doctor's decision that we should have a pacemaker.

However, if your tiredness is simply due to a low heart rate that will not shift into a higher gear when needed, then the pacemaker will may give a lot of relief. The pacemaker will definitely keep your heart rate from going below some level. So how much better you will feel will be that you get from the PM keeping your heart rate from going below some level which is determined by the doctor. While that may reduce your fatigue the pacemaker will be not be a magic elixir.

You are younger than most people getting a pacemaker and since a pacemaker is usually a life time proposition, I think you should pressure your doctor for answers on the details of all the benefits you can expect. Too many of us get these thing with very little information on the specifics of what the pacemaker will do for us. When you are 60, 70, 80 or more (I got mine 10 years ago at age 71), we don't care all that much about details as anything will probably be an improvement. But I think you youngsters are entitled to as much information as you can comprehend so you will know what to expect or what not to expect.

Good luck,

Smitty

Good Advice Smitty ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2010-05-03 01:05:31

I have been a PM Club member for almost a year now. I had an ablation/PM implant 10/09, and Smitty and all the other educated, experienced members all told me the same thing, "ask why", get more info, etc.

Now, I wish I had gotten that second opinion on why exactly did I need a PM and for what? What were my expectations compared to what the Dr. proposed the new PM would do for me? Ask lots of questions. Get really good, educated answers. This is your life.

There probably is no doubt you do need a PM, but please do a lot of "studying/research" on this life long investment. You have a lot of living years ahead of you.

For a lot of people, without their PM implant, they would not be with us today or on a very short fuse in the world.

As far as the implant? The small incision is the only thing which caused me discomfort and only for a few days. Just take all the advice your medical team gives you and most importantly, listen to your own body. It will tell you when you need rest or what is going on.

Matt, Welcome to your new PM Club and all your newest/bestest friends. Feel free to ask all the questions you have to your new PM Club. There are so many people on this site who have years of experiences, knowledge, input who can help you.

Let us hear from you,
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ My "lil" energizer just keeps going & going & going ~


Heart Block

by ElectricFrank - 2010-05-03 02:05:39

Matt,
I would expect that you will feel much better and likely very soon. I don't like to use the term Heart Block because it is too easy to confuse with blocked arteries. What you actually have is a problem with a nerve bundle that supplies pacing to the ventricles of your heart. Your natural pacemaker is pacing your atrium normally, but the ventricles don't get the message. In the case the ventricles have an intrinsic rate of their own which is usually pretty slow (typically 25-40bpm). This makes for poor pumping efficiency and your brain doesn't get the blood flow it needs.That's where the tiredness comes from.

The pacemaker has two leads into your heart. One goes to the upper (atrium) chamber and senses the normal HR there. The pacemaker uses this information to send a small electric spike down the second lead to the ventricles and causes them to contract. Bottom line is that your normal heart action is restored.

I have the same problem and chose to remain totally awake and alert during the implant. When they turned the pacer on during the surgery I felt like jumping up and running around the room. My alertness and energy was back.

The implant surgery is minor. It will be a bit sore for a week or so, and they will tell you not to raise your arm above shoulder level for some period of time. This is to keep from pulling a lead loose until it has time to scar into the wall of the vein. Docs seem to range from 3-8 weeks on this instruction. If they try to make it too long I would question them as to why.

Finally, I've had mine for a bit over 5 years. I'm 80yrs old, explore the desert in my Jeep, go hiking, and so just about anything that someone 20 yrs younger would do.

good luck and come back here with any questions,

frank

CCHB

by Tracey_E - 2010-05-03 06:05:33

I also have CCHB and had a lifetime of tiring easily. Unlike you, I was never able to play sports, didn't have the stamina. This was in the 70's, so they didn't give kids a pm unless it was life threatening so I got by with my low hr until I was an adult. By the time I got my pm in my 20's (1993), I was exhausted all the time, slept a lot, was always dizzy. I woke up in recovery feeling like I'd had several pots of coffee and my mind was suddenly clear, I didn't even realize it was foggy until it was better. I was pacing the halls by the time I was released, too much energy to sit in the bed. I was a bit sore, but nothing Tyelnol couldn't fix. Mostly, I wanted to MOVE! I haven't really slowed down since. I've used up four batteries now, had kids, run a business, hike, ski, rollerblade, work out. Most people have no idea I have it, they just see another busy mom.

Not everyone who gets a pacemaker comes home feeling like a million bucks, but odds are excellent that you'll be one of the ones raving about how great you feel. We have a big advantage that allows us to recover quickly and live a full, active life with our pm- our hearts are structurally normal and healthy, they just have a short circuit. We were born with that short circuit, we didn't get it from disease or whatever so our hearts have not been damaged. Add in we have the easiest problem to fix (see Frank's explanation) and this makes us the ideal pm patient.

Good luck! If you have questions about the surgery or recovery, please ask.

Hey Cloud!

by GMan - 2010-05-03 09:05:18

I feel pretty good, actually better than before. After recovery-about 12 weeks then slowly get in shape. There isn't anything I can't do that I did before! And thats at 55, your only 18!!!

Best wishes!

Gary

have a +tive attitude

by johnkeast - 2010-05-04 05:05:48

Hi Matt, I have had my device for 2 years, sounds like a different problem to you, I have SA node dysfunction. I am 49 years old & keen on sport. A keen runner & my times got slower quite rapidly before being diagnosed with my problem.
I don't run quite so fast, I reckon I have lost 10-15% of my performance on folk I used to beat, but hey I cam 247th in race with 2200 people and beat most my age.
I have also set myself new goals and participate in my first half-iron man next month. Last September I took a week to cycle 1000k around Corsica.
I have a great Doctor who encourages me with my activities, I know people advise to be guided by your Doctor - find a Doctor who is mad keen on sport and listen to their advice.
Go for it!

Stay Positive!

by Kevin Higgins - 2010-05-27 01:05:10

Hi Matt. My son Kyle is 10 years old and has CCHB. He got his St. Judes duel chamber pacemaker in October 2008 at Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. He was very active prior to the pacemaker and is still very active today. He will tell you that he never really thought he was tired prior to the surgery because, like you, he was born with CCHB and didnt know anything else, but now realizes how much better he feels. He is now one of the better 10 year old baseball pitchers here in Texas. He actually resumed playing baseball and pitching 8 weeks after his pacemaker was placed, and last July pitched in 3 different World Series events for 10 year olds, including one at Disneys Wide World Of Sports in Orlando in July, less that a year after getting his pacemaker! Anything is possible with a positive attitude and outlook. I am sure that you will feel the same positive improvement he has felt!

Take Care!

Kevin

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

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