How long were you off work after your PM implant?

Hi everyone,
I am pretty sure that I will be receiving a PM but wondering how long were you off work?
I only work 3 hours a day in a preschool class at a school district and my job is not that stressful. I am wondering how long I need to take off work.
I just got this job and I don't want to take more than a week off.
I have 4 weeks off in Dec/Jan but long story short I can't wait that long because my husband broke his back in July and we will be running out of medical benefits soon. If I wait until I have the time off, I am out of luck if I have any issues or need to follow up.
Also how long did you stay in the hospital? And were you able to continue your daily routine when you got home? I have a 4 & 6 year old I need to take care of.

13 Comments

Hello

by PacedICD - 2010-10-11 11:10:00

Nice to make you acquaintance, my name is Alex. I don't know how helpful i can be but i will give it a shot. Since this is you first PM i know when i got out of the hospital i was out of commission for about 3 weeks but ultimately it will depend on how you feel. It's gotten much better since then and usually bed rest period isn't to long. Since it's a low stress job i would say maybe a week rest and then see how your doing. some people just bounce back faster than others. I know i'm pretty young but I hope this helps, even if it's just a tiny bit.
I wish you the best of Luck on your upcoming procedure.

Thanks

by mycutekitties - 2010-10-11 11:10:12

I'm pretty young and I think I would bounce back quick.
Thanks for your response.

Hello...

by pezzypooh - 2010-10-11 11:10:16

I was 30 when I got my pacemaker (I am 32 now...)...I was in the hospital just overnight, and my EP told me I would be off a minimum of two weeks. I was off exactly that then took a couple half days from work until I started to feel a bit more energetic. She said I absolutely could not work the first week due to having staples and had them removed exactly a week after surgery. It was also suggested that I not drive for those two weeks, so I did not, and I am glad I took the time. As someone above mentioned, you cannot lift your arm above shoulder for 6 weeks, and it was also suggested that I not lift much in the first couple weeks. So, lifting kids or laundry baskets, etc, may be out for you. I did hold my newborn niece a week and a half after surgery, but she was handed to me and was only 5 pounds! Good luck to you!!!

Time off

by NonaF - 2010-10-11 11:10:57

Hello I was off work only one day after I was discharged from the hospital. I felt good enough to go back to an office job. Just remember you cannot lift your arm or lift anything for 4-8 weeks. I have had some weird feelings in my chest but I suppose that is my pm pacing?.? My neck and chest felt tight from the surgery but that went away relatively soon. I had a reaction to the tape over the incision and was so uncomfortable. But that was a freak happening I'm am sure. I was in the hospital from Thur to Sat but only because I was put on a med that had to monitored thru 5 doses or else I would have been able to go home on Fri. and back to work on Mon.
I think you will do fine but let me know. God Bless you and let me know how you do. I'm very new to the club and am so impressed with the response of everyone lending a helping hand.

NonaF

Last two Pacemakers

by Beckes76 - 2010-10-12 02:10:16

I work with children on a daily basis. Both times I was back at work with in a week. I had to be careful for a month. Director wanted to see a note to see if I could go back to work that early. Doctor was fine with me going back. Good luck with everything.

Becky

Time off

by wenditt - 2010-10-12 06:10:16

I'm a school teacher. I had my surgery on Friday and went back to work the following Wednesday...so 5 days. I limited my use of that arm at home and at school. And I was also given the OK to drive after 5 days. But it really all depends on you and how you feel.

Believe me, after you have the surgery...the time off with decide it's own course. :-)

Take care,

PM Veteran

by donb - 2010-10-12 10:10:41

Hi, I want to support Frank's suggestions as he is right on which you'll realize soon after your surgery. I've been having a great turnaround in life for 18 PM years just like Frank. At age 78 doing real well. I'm sure you can continue with your job with children except maybe with undisciplined behavior. I found that with the tender PM location that it was a target for grand kids jumping on my lap and then banging their head right on target as they would eject off my lap. Fortunately your children are old enough to be mobile and also understanding. Also I would think that in your job some of your load could be delegated. AND, you will find soon, "Why did I fret so much and wait so long". Just like Tracey said in her posting. Enjoy your new lease on Life. donb

Ditto

by pacerpaul - 2010-10-12 11:10:58

Listen to Frank! I just had my PM 'installed" on Sept 30th and stayed overnight in the hospital. The surgery, for me, was relatively easy. I have a desk job and just took a week off from work. The hardest part is not lifting your arm! Even if you feel good, the leads need time to set and working in a preschool it's easy to forget and pick up a child. So as long as you remember what Frank says you'll be fine! Good luck!

Depends

by ElectricFrank - 2010-10-12 12:10:35

A lot depends on where you are having the pacer located. The most common placement is just below the clavicle and right under the skin on the left side. With this placement the main limitation is that you can't lift your left arm above shoulder level for several weeks to protect the leads from being detached from the heart wall. The main problem I would see is that you couldn't pick up a child at the school. Just plan on having help. Repeat after me every day "I won't pick up a child even if he/she falls".

Being female and young you may decide to have it implanted deeper in your body such as under a breast for cosmetic reasons. I would expect that would take longer to heal and be more sensitive to activity for a while.

I was 75 when I had my first implant. I stayed overnight at the hospital mainly to treat the surgeons anxiety LOL. I have my own home electronics business and I was working on equipment within an hour of coming home. Also, walked about a mile that day. It was a bit sore, but I just used my sense of myself to gauge what to do.

One very helpful suggestion for the first few nights after receiving the implant. Sleep on your side opposite the surgery and put a pillow in front of you to support the upper arm. This keeps you from squeezing the incision. Using this approach I slept like a baby the first night.

best wishes,

frank

Hi!

by dw5281 - 2010-10-13 03:10:48

I was actually off for 5weeks when I had mine implanted! But I am a PE teacher so not being able to move wouldve really put me in trouble at work!! Had to wait til I had my next check up to make sure everything was ok!

HELLO

by alisha225 - 2010-10-16 09:10:11

I got mine March 16th 2010. I was discahrged March 18th 2010. I was admitted March 9th 2010. After discharge I had dr follow ups. My doctors wanted me to go back to my norm routine and work asap. Talk to your pcp and cardiologist.

whoa! Take it easy

by Gig - 2010-11-10 05:11:27

I'm three weeks into my new beat (my first pacemaker). Most of you sound like eager beavers. Even though I felt immediately better with my new rhythm, please remember that your body has just experienced a type of trauma via tissue/muscle incision and inserted foreign objects.

Honor the healing process.

I personally had a great deal of pain in the shoulder and neck area for exactly 8 days. Then, soreness and sensitivity in and around the site. 19 days later the 'itch' of healing has set in and most of the time I don't want anything to touch the site. It's taken me 2 weeks to get used to not over extending my left arm.

I've been walking with ease and energy since the procedure but I can't imagine going back to work, especially around children. Give it at least 2 weeks. A good time to catch up on some reading, etc.

Work when to go

by PM MOMMA - 2012-09-07 09:09:36

I had a heart cath followed immediately by pacemaker. the pacemaker sight is very sore when i move at all. Hoping it will go away soon. the dr that did the heart cath said wait a week to return to work. Never saw the pacemaker dr after procedure so,,,not sure. May call his office. But I know I will be out a week for sure.

You know you're wired when...

A thirty-day guarantee is not good enough.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.