The Eagle has Landed

It's in! Surgery happened on Monday and went really well. They found the cephalic vein (thank goodness) and I was discharged the same day. It was under local, with no sedative - I made them pay by talking all the way through it. I'm already feeling the benefits in more ways than I could have imagined. No more giddiness, but also I feel more energized and almost like a mental 'fog' has lifted. I have an irreversible problem with the blood gas exchange in my lungs it's about 56% efficient, so having a low heart rate seems to have contributed to lack of oxygenation! I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone on this site. You guys helped enormously. I'm so glad it's done and so far it's been way better than I expected (touch wood).

7 Comments

Welcome to the Club!!

by 8thID - 2010-09-16 09:09:11

I'm so glad to hear all went well with your surgery. And glad you're already feeling better. I hope it just keeps getting better! Take Care!

Jeff

Can you explain?

by #1grandma - 2010-09-17 05:09:52

I haven't had my surgery yet. It's to be done October 12th. Can you explain the difference in the two vein insertion?

Thanks #1Grandma

To #1Grandma

by Edouard - 2010-09-17 07:09:19

It's my understanding that a cephalic vein entry make the leads less prone to fracture than the subclavina entry.
You may want to check out the article at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1996.tb03418.x/abstract

Edouard

Question

by Pookie - 2010-09-17 08:09:02

How did you ever find out that you had a blood gas exchange issue??? I'm asking because I am profoundly exhausted most of the time and my pacemaker (Nov 2 of 2004) hasn't helped that issue at all.

This past Monday I had a Sleep Apnea test, but not in hospital but rather I went to a sleep clinic and got this contraption to wear for the night - I won't have the results until next week.

I also had a Pulmonary Function Test about 3 weeks ago, again, still no results until next week.

I am SO happy that you are doing so well. I've always believed that there are answers out there for most medical issues, but sometimes it's just very hard finding the right doctor to help you find the answer.

Pookie

Hi again Morwenna

by Edouard - 2010-09-17 09:09:24

I'm glad it went well for you. I too had a cephalic vein insertion rather than the usual sub-clavian entry. In my case, it was the result of my insistence in continuing my competitive swimming activities. As I told you in your previous post, my surgeon seemed to be just out of kindergarden. She had told me my swimming days were over despite all the reassurance that I had received from the EP on duty. It's just when I got angry that she agreed to check with her supervisor. The cephalic approach was the result of her discussion with her boss. Now, almost 4 months after surgery, I've been back in the water for the last ten weeks, getting back to my original form. I trust that your recovery will be just as satisfactory.
Good luck to you
Edouard

Isn't it great!!!

by sugarleaf4 - 2010-09-18 04:09:34

I am glad that you share the elation of having a pacemaker as much as I did when I got my first one August 4th. Don't be surprised if you find yourself talking outloud about how great you feel and how you just can't believe how great you feel. I talked so much about how great I felt that my college-aged kids began to say, "Okay mom, we get that you really do feel great!". I just am still amazed at how much energy I have compared to how lousey I felt before the PM.

I hope you will continue to enjoy your new friend (as am I) ------ isn't it great to feel so good!!!

--- sugarleaf4

Reply to Pookie

by Morwenna - 2010-09-19 01:09:30

Hi Pookie, you posted a question to my message about how did I discover my blood gas exchange problem? Basically, I was experiencing severe shortness of breath & had a spirometry test at my doctor's surgery (I am in the United Kingdom). This showed that my breathing was restricted rather than obstructed (asthma is obstructed breathing). They then referred me to a consultant, who thought my breathing might be 'delinquent' and resolvable via physiotherapy, but he sent me for a CAT scan & lung function test to be sure. The LFT test (which I am thinking you might have had) involves breathing into a tube & taking deep breaths, expelling all the air as fast as you can and other such tasks. It has several readings, but one of them measures the Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen exchange. This should be between 80 - 120% of the predicted value to be normal - mine was 37% which is classified as disabling. They then asked me to have a lung biopsy to determine the cause as a previous CAT scan had been inconclusive. I opted to have one under general as this allows them to take a larger sample and gives better results. The outcome of this was that I had EAA: my lungs are allergic to something in my environment and react by inflaming and blocking the alveoli. Wierdly enough it was because of my heart rate behaving oddly after surgery that the heart block was diagnosed leading to the pacemaker!!! I hope this helps, it's very difficult for them to diagnose stuff like this and it can be heart, lungs or both. I wish you luck & hope they can find the cause & do something to help you.

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Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.