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To sleep or not to sleep
- by Tick-tock
- 2013-09-15 01:09:09
- Surgery & Recovery
- 1793 views
- 30 comments
Just wanted to take a brief survey- how many of you all were under general Anesthesia as opposed to those who were under local anesthesia for their PM implantation.? Thanks guys!!!
30 Comments
local
by jessie - 2013-09-15 01:09:51
remember it all ...i believe i had a bit of versed but was aware
Out
by jeanlancour - 2013-09-15 03:09:30
Don't remember anything. Wasn't asked, didn't know there was any other way.
slept through it.
by Reboot1212 - 2013-09-15 03:09:37
I had been awake 36 hrs when taken from ER to cath lab. Had local but don't remember a thing. Seemed like it took two seconds.
Alert and Awake
by Canadian Dave - 2013-09-15 04:09:49
Hi. I was awake and alert during the procedure. I had them tilt the fluoroscope a bit so I could watch them thread the leads in and I had a technical discussion on the pacemaker lead connectors. I was on the table for twenty minutes and eating lunch in my room an hour later.
Local
by IAN MC - 2013-09-15 05:09:38
Didn't feel a thing , chatted to the Dr throughout the procedure. It was no worse than going to the dentist
Ian
local
by cropduster - 2013-09-15 05:09:40
Local here in the UK, I think they only put young children to sleep for this
conscious sedation
by SaraTB - 2013-09-15 06:09:30
Original implant - had allergic reaction to the Versed, so was pumped full of Benedryl to counteract it. I forget what they used for the replacement, but I was awake but sedated again. Could talk, groggily.
Next time, I'm planning on asking just for a local, without the sedation if possible.
Slept out of it
by Pcwhit - 2013-09-15 06:09:33
I was out the entire time. Was told it would be local but I guess they felt I needed to be out. I was okay with that. Anyway before they put me out there was draping in front so in case I woke up I suspect I wouldn't see anything
Conscious sedation
by Bostonstrong - 2013-09-15 07:09:10
I woke up before they were done and it hurt like heck but I couldn't see or talk at that point.
Both
by Tracey_E - 2013-09-15 07:09:19
I've had 4. Mine is submammary so the first was done with a general. Last time I was awake but don't remember anything.
Anaesthetic
by Wannabe - 2013-09-15 07:09:24
I had mine implanted in a private hospital here in England. I had a general anaesthetic. I don't think it's usual to have a general in an NHS hospital, though.
local
by Marie12 - 2013-09-15 08:09:13
Only found the pressure of EP inserting the ICD uncomfortable. I was put out for about 10 minutes while they put my heart in an irregular rythmn see if ICD would work.
Local
by ohiolaura - 2013-09-15 08:09:22
At the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio,I was given local,only felt uncomfortable when the surgeon was making the pocket,as I was told,I am "young" (49 then) and my muscle was good,so the surgeon,basically felt like she was kneeding bread when she was working.
I listened to it all,as the Dr was also teaching .
Remember being cold,and hungry!
Glad I was awake,it was something to hear and remember.
awake
by seeker84 - 2013-09-15 10:09:56
I had my pm,i.c.d. implanted Oct 26.06.I was awake during the procedure.I was back in my room later in the afternoon,and at home two days later.
Had PM # 3 in 2011
by janetinak - 2013-09-16 02:09:01
used conscious sedation so awake & could hear but really didn't care & nothing hurt
#3 was esp easy & nurse told me I'd had very light sedation
so it gets better with everyone having experience esp me :-)
Janet
Local
by clockman1 - 2013-09-16 04:09:44
Local for me .
I got very upset with my surgeon for using a four letter word while installing the PM. He just said OOPS!
Clockman1
To sleep or not to sleep
by iheartemh - 2013-09-16 08:09:26
Wasn't given a choice. Had a local and was alert the entire time. Since my procedure took them a bit longer than they expected, I got a bit sick and wretched and threw up. Shortly after that, I told them they were hurting me and to stop pressing so hard on my chest. Then, I asked if they were still using a scapel. This is when they realized I was "feeling" them stitching me and ordered more "juice" in my IV. This worked quickly, and they could finish up the implant. However, I think they added too much "juice" as I had a bad headache and constant nausea for the next several hours.
Why ?
by IAN MC - 2013-09-16 10:09:31
I' m curious,why are you doing a survey ?
You will find every kind of combination ..... Local / general / sedation / no sedation etc It seems to depend on the preference of the surgeon and on the hospital and on the country
Regardless of how it is done we all come out the other end with an implant !
Cheers
Ian
Second time around
by donr - 2013-09-17 08:09:26
Same sedation - HOWEVER - I did not wake up like the first tiem about 15 min after the procedure. I slept for some 7 hours, awoke suddenly & said "I want a sandwich!" Good Wife was sitting there waiting for me to wake up - w/ a sandwich in the ward fridge.
Don
Consciouis Sedation +
by donr - 2013-09-17 08:09:32
...Fentynal to kill the pain. I was not awake, but could respond to questions & instructions.
I recall about halfway through the procedure that a nurse lifted the sheet covering my head & peered in & asked If I was still in there. I told her yes & she dropped the sheet & said she was just checking to make sure I hadn't run away.
Thought nothing of it till about 6 weeks later when I met her at a formal banquet - turned out that she was the wife of a friend & we had never met before that incident.
Don
Local
by Galadriel - 2013-09-18 01:09:29
Routine local, not the most pleasant of experiences but fine.
out
by 06kj - 2013-09-19 04:09:44
I was out. I didn't even realize there was an option. Maybe there was not in my case as I was in the ICU following my SCA event.
I thought everyone was put out for this. Seems weird to think you could be awake!
Recovery
by Tick-tock - 2013-10-03 02:10:03
Thank you all for your responses! I apologize for not getting back sooner; however I was having difficulty getting onto the site. To answer some questions, I was taking this survey mainly because I'm nosey:) I did have some fears of being awake during the procedure as well. I have had failed twilight sedation in the past that was pure torture and was anxious of reliving that. I had my surgery on Monday, and am grateful to have had general anesthesia . My surgeon had stated previously that I would be unconscious; however, the medical team attempted to talk me into moderate sedation with no success :) the pain after was a bit more than I had anticipated. I have a lot of discomfort in my chest, armpit and part of my left arm. Ice has been my best friend. I am thin build, and not sure if the stretching of my skin has something to do with this. I was sent home 5 hours after my surgery and told to take Tylenol and use ice. The following day I called my surgeon requesting something for pain, and have been much more comfortable since . I'm only 3 days post op, but am feeling very optimistic about the future. I had a single chamber st Jude wireless pacemaker placed. I received 11 staples and have been blessed with a beautiful bruise of every color.
Nightmare
by meisterd78 - 2013-10-06 09:10:58
I was not given a chance. My PM died way sooner than anyone anticipated. Had a PM check on Tuesday and everything was fine and dandy... On Friday it was dead and working off back-up power. WTH?
They got me in for a replacement in 2 days, with no option for general or local. So local it was... I was awake for everything... And it was so unnerving to watch them prep and drape me. And then I felt everything! Not just pressure, but pain. I was crying because I could feel. They said they pumped enough Morphine, Fentanyl, and Toradol in me to put down an elephant... and there I was... Totally awake.
4 days post placement I am having range of motion problems, which I had with my first implant and they had to do 2 revisions to correct. I am dreading this!
General
by Ashtinicole - 2013-11-11 12:11:34
I was given the choice between local and general. They explained that for the general, they would insert a breathing tube to take control of my breathing however there would be an extremely higher risk of nausea after I awoke. I personally do not remember anything, not did I experience the nausea I was warned about.
You know you're wired when...
The mortgage on your device is more than your house.
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Local
by Toby - 2013-09-15 01:09:00
A bit nervous but cool to watch. Hurt a bit when squeezing pm in, tore some skin but not unbearable.