Im getting a pacemaker!!

Hey All

Im a little freaked out!!

I'm getting a pacemaker in 2 days!!

I have a loop recorder in at the moment and last week I went in for a normal routine scan and it picked up that my heart had paused for 2 seconds and then one minute later it paused for 5 seconds.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) I get the loop recorder removed and then Thursday Im having an MRI and a pacemaker put in.

I'm a little scared and have no idea what to expect!!

8 Comments

thanks

by Carin - 2013-02-26 01:02:27

Thanks frank.

I asked them about if I'd have a big lump and they said that it would go under the muscle and no one woudl notice it unlesss I told them about it.

It's being done as out patient with no overnight stay. When I got the loop put in they told me I'd be awake and even asked me what music I'd like to listen to. I remember only listening to half a song. Maybe I reacted differently to the anesthetic or something.

It's going to be weird not raising my arm above my shoulder. Simple things like washing my hair, getting dressed and getting stuff from the pantry.

I'll have to keep the sleeping in mind, especially as i'm a side sleeper who usually sleeps on her left

Getting A New PM

by SMITTY - 2013-02-26 01:02:41

The following may give you an idea and relieve some anexienty about PM surgeries. I got my first PM in 2000 and the 2nd one in 2009. Both were done in the same hospital but by different Drs. Both surgeries were almost identical. So to give you some idea of what you are facing:

On arrival at the hospital I was given a some of the hospitals latest fashions to put on and told to lie down and get comfortable as it would be a little while before the surgery. I read the paper and watched TV for a couple of hours while other PM patients were also being readied for their PM . After about an hour I got an IV and spent the next 3 or 4 hours being "prepped" which consisted mainly of getting about a quart (at least it looked like that amount) of antibiotic through the IV and the surgery area cleaned and cleaned real good.
About noon the doctor showed up and examined the area for the implant. After another hour or so I was wheeled off to the surgery area where I spent another 30 or 40 minutes being "dressed or draped" for the surgery. Sometime after I got in the surgery area I received some medication to make me relax so they said, but what it did was make take a nap in about a half-sleep mode. I vaguely remember being told they were injecting a local anesthetic into the area where the surgery would be performed so I would not feel the anything. About 45 minutes later I was told, "okay Mr. Smith, we are through and your pacemaker is working just fine." I was wheeled back into a room where I had to wait for awhile to be sure I had no adverse reactions to any of the meds I had received. About 5 PM I was told I could go home.

I was not unexpectedly sore and my healing was no problem. I did have restricted use of my arm for a few days, the main thing being not to raise my elbow above my shoulder, or lift more than a few lbs. Each of us is different, therefore get slightly different instructions) with the arm on the side of the PM. I was n lot allowed to drive for about 24 hours and then for short distances for a week or so. All in all the pain is less than most dental surgery I have had, and since I was retired even with the first one, it did not interfere with any activates.

One last word, you will go home with your Drs best guess on PM settings. Most of the time these are good, but occasionally some people need to have those settings tweaked. If you think your PM is causing you a problem, if it is just that you think something is amiss, let your Dr know, otherwise he will have no way of know everything is not perfect.

Good Luck,

Smitty

Carin..............

by Tattoo Man - 2013-02-26 04:02:43


.................................best wishes for the proceedure...I'm sure it will go just fine.

Tattoo Man from the UK

Make sure you get a Revo PM

by Rommom - 2013-02-26 08:02:02

Since you are having a MRI before your pacemaker is inserted, I would ask and make sure they implant a Revo Medtronic PM. You might need another MRI and with this pacemaker you will be able to have MRI! I am so grateful for my Revo!

I meant

by ohiolaura - 2013-02-26 08:02:40

Typo,I wasnt able to be discharged,before surgery.Tracey said good things,I second the bra thing,keep the girls comfy,youll be better for it.You'll be sore,but its a small area to have with minimal pain,if you go in a car,keep a towel with you to put under the seatbelt strap,as it can lay on or close to the area.
Even on your way home,all just common sense stuff.

Youll be fine

by ohiolaura - 2013-02-26 08:02:41

There will probably be a bit of a lump,and a scar,but not too bad.At first it will be more pronounced of course but over time will go down.Mine's almost 8 months,and not bad.I am a side/stomach sleeper,and at first couldnt do that,but after maybe 3 weeks or so,maybe a little longer,went to the side and then stomach.I dont have any pain in the area at all,but then again I dont try to push on the area,so it's all good.
I did the light sedation,and listened to it all.I think I drifted in and out a bit,but listened to the surgeon teaching a student throughout the procedure,which was weird.I stayed til the next afternoon,then went home.
It was a week after getting home about before I found this site,and alot of hope.
I was in the hospital 5 days before the surgery,as I wasnt stablt to discharge,and had to wait for an opening to get the PM.
I wish I had this site before surgery,cause I only knew the little bit they told me in the hospital,and boy there's so much more than what they told me.
Once I got home,I slept in the recliner for 2 days,with pillows for comfort,then went into the bed,with a pillow under my left arm to keep it raised a bit so it didnt put pressure on the Pm area.
Had my kids help wash my hair at first,didnt dry it much with dryer,and all was well.Listen to what they tell you.
I got really good using my right arm for everything,good thing Im right handed!
Good luck,you'll make it,I did!
Laura

healing

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-26 08:02:57

You'll get good at doing your hair one handed! I got my hairdresser to wash it for me the first time. You can still get things from the pantry, just use the other arm :)

As for getting dressed, I wore tanks with the built in bra and a blouse over it the first couple of weeks, contorting to get in a regular bra isn't a good idea at first. If they put it under the muscle you will likely be a bit more sore than average BUT! it's totally worth it!!! Mine is buried also, it's great. Also, take a button up top to the hospital to wear home, you won't want to be pulling anything over your head just yet.

And do use the pillow trick at night! I'm a side sleeper too, rolling onto your sore side in your sleep is not fun.

Good luck!!! If you have questions or just want to chat, we are here.

Getting a pacermaker

by ElectricFrank - 2013-02-26 12:02:49

It is a very easy procedure. The simplest is when the pacer is implanted just under the left clavicle. It can be a bit slower to heal if it is under a muscle or breast for cosmetic reasons.

The surgery is usually done as an outpatient. You may have a choice of anesthesia which ranges from a sedative and pain killer at the site, or being fully out. If you can handle it emotionally the sedative leaves you feeling a lot better afterwards. Several of us on the forum have chosen to stay completely awake with only the pain killer. It turns out to be an easy one also.

As for recovery the main limitation you will have is a restriction on raising your left arm above shoulder level for a few weeks. This is to give the leads to your heart time to become secure.

And finally a suggestion. For a few days after the surgery the incision site can be a bit sore especially when trying to sleep on your side. The trick is to lay on the side opposite the pacemaker and put a pillow in front of you to support the pacer side arm. This will keep the arm from falling down in front of you and squeezing the sensitive area. I slept like a rock the first night using this trick.

Give us a report when you have your new toy. And welcome to the forum.

frank

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