Pending Surgery!

Hi Everyone,

I am only 21 and I have been told I need a pacemaker. I am a little nervous because it has all happened so quickly. I have had lots of tests done including a halter monitor over christmas and was told my heart stops for around 12 seconds. I now have a date to have my pacemaker implanted and I don't know what to expect? Will it be along recovery and how will it effect my life? Am I the youngest person to have a pacemaker fitted?

Thank you in advance everyone!

10 Comments

New Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2014-01-28 01:01:12

Hello,
Hello Lauren,

Below is my experience of getting a new pacemaker. If you have nothing better to do read this and it may give you an idea of what you are facing. As others will tell you it is not a bad surgery. I have found that the results were certainly worth the discomfort I had for a few days.

On arrival at the hospital I was given 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.

Later that morning the doctor came in and examined the area for the implant again and we talked about what was involved. After another hour or so I was wheeled off to the surgery area where I spent about 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 implanting of the pacemaker. I was not put to sleep as is normally done for surgeries as this is not surgery in the terms we normally think of surgery.

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 stay overnight to be sure I had no adverse reactions to any of the meds I had received

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 the 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 yours is causing you a problem, or if you think something is amiss, you should let the Dr know, otherwise he will have no way of know everything is not perfect.

If you would like to see a picture of an implanted pacemaker go to Member Gallery, (see upper left part of this page). Click on that and then put in my name, Smitty, there is a sketch of an pacemaker, in it usual location. It also shows the routing of the leads from the PM to their location in the heart chambers.

Again it is not a bad surgery. I've had dental work that was much worse. After you get your PM there are many people here that can and will answer your questions.

Good luck,

Smitty


Not alone

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-28 01:01:39

You are not alone in having the pacemaker. If you look on this site you'll see a lot of people from age 0 (less than 1 year) all the way up to over 90. So it's not uncommon to see people in their 20's who need PM's. So, you are not alone. We had one posting recently where a teenager wanted to talk with other teenagers. If you can't find the post, contact the webmaster on this site. See if they can help.

In the USA it takes about 4 hours to get a PM in. That includes preparation and recovery time. Actual PM insertion takes 15 to 45 minutes. Depends upon the doctor and any problems they have / don't have. Also depends upon hospital, staff, etc.

You'll probably have a twilight drug. That's where you're still awake but the drug makes you don't care. ("Yeah, go ahead doc, cut my leg off, I've got two. I can get by with one." - See you don't care.) Just think, you can tell your friends you had legal drugs.

Recovery time after that depends upon you and your body. Some people are up and running around within two days, others take longer. There may be some pain in what we call the PM "pocket" - that's the area where the PM is inserted. There may be some pain with the PM pocket incision. It just depends upon you and your body. But don't start to imagine the pain will be bad. You'll see an occasional post about a person psyching themselves up. (I think I'm going to hurt. Therefore I hurt.) Because if you start thinking the pain will be bad, it will. Just think of it as a mild roller coaster ride and get ready to experience what comes along. If you have to psych yourself up, think positive thoughts - I'm going to get better!

You may experience some thumps and bumps, some pulsing. You may suddenly feel your heart beating. All normal as your body adjusts to the new reality. You can always come back to this site and ask if what you feel is OK. Someone will have experienced it and tell you. If you aren't running a fever or having major pain, you're probably OK but it's always good to ask.

For the first 4 to 6 weeks you won't want to lift your elbow on the PM side above your shoulder. Your body hasn't grown around the leads yet and you don't want to pull them. Rule is, if you feel the tug on the leads, the activity is too stressful. Stop doing it. You still will want to move the arm on the PM side around, but gently, otherwise it will get stiff. After 4 to 6 weeks you can go back to almost 100% "normal".

Affect your life? About the only thing you won't be able to do is contact sports. So any sport that would hit the PM or the lead insertion area is out. So tackle football is out. Check back on this site for other athletic sports that would be out. Otherwise the only limit is you. We have people with PM's doing: Sky diving (Although why they want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane is beyond me.), scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, marathon running, 5K running, bike riding, skiing, snowboarding, and a whole bunch of other stuff. So your life can be pretty much "normal" for anyone your age.

Anything around home won't bother your PM. So you DO NOT have to worry about WiFi, wireless internet, remote keys for cars, TV station antennas, laptops, heating pads, microwave ovens, battery tooth brushes, hair curlers, cell phones, blue tooth ear pieces, TV remotes, magnets on your refrigerator, name tag magnets, power drills, battery operated drills, transistor (or digital) radios, ear buds, arc welding, chain saws, and a whole bunch of other things. (You're probably not arc welding or running chain saws. You don't need to go out and do that just to prove you can. Get instruction first before you do.)

For me, massage therapy has helped. But then, I'm a beat up old guy and need all the help I can get. But you can have massage therapy (if needed). There's an urban legend out that you can't have a foot massage. No true! So if you go to one of those spas where they manicure the toes and do foot massages - go enjoy!

Start thinking about what you can do instead of what you can't. People of your age have a life expectancy now of at least 100 years. So you've got a lot of living to do and you'll be doing it with a piece of machinery that will make your life much better. So get your pace maker, then go out and enjoy life! It's a great world our there. Go see!

Theknotguy

Thank you

by youngheart - 2014-01-28 02:01:02

Thank you to both of your comments, that has made me feel a ease, from your experience did you go straight back to work? I work with offenders in custody and my office, I don't have to left anything but I'm always up and about, I don't usually sit behind my desk much.

Thank you again, it's nice to hear other people's experiences

the youngest

by Tracey_E - 2014-01-28 03:01:06

You are likely the youngest your doc has seen, but there are many younger than you. We have members your age who got their first pm as newborns. I've been the youngest in my dr's office since 1971, that's when I was diagnosed. Not that I'd wish it on anyone else, but it would be nice to not have everyone assume I'm there with a parent. At least they don't assume I'm with a grandparent now. ;) I'm 47 now, btw, on my 4th pm, and feel great.

What's the future like? Anything you want! Unless you had your heart set on tackle football or working one of those cool giant magnets in the junkyards, those aren't a good idea. You will find that once you get it and heal that you can move on with your life and forget it's there. I rarely even think about it much less find something I can't do because of it. I had two babies after I got my first one. They're both driving and shopping colleges now, which has been harder on my heart than giving birth ever was! I hike or ski most vacations, do Crossfit 5 mornings a week, regularly take a dozen teenagers camping. I'm healthy and active, probably more fit than most of my friends with normal heartbeats.

Ask your surgeon if he can put your pm a little lower and deeper than usual so it's out of your way. Some women, esp very thin ones, find seatbelts rub. I like to hike with a heavy pack so having mine out of the way means the straps are comfortable. It also means I can wear a lowcut dress and no one sees a lump or scar. Not that if it would be a big deal if they could, but it's easy enough to hide it a bit.

Returning to work. Do you have the option of going back part time to see how it goes? Everyone is different but most of us are somewhat back to normal by the end of the first week, moving a little slowly and probably still napping, but getting through the day and doing what we need to do. Do you ever have to physically restrain an offender? If yes, that should be avoided 6 weeks.

Rats, Tracey...

by donr - 2014-01-28 05:01:52

...you stole part of my thunder about early age for implant.

BTW: Youngatheart, go to the top left column & find the gallery. Open it up & search for photos of Abigail Winthrop. You will love the top center bathtub photo. There are a couple more in here of babies that age.

Oh, another BTW: Fast is going into the ER feeling bad & coming out several hours later the proud host of a PM.

You've had over a month to adjust to your new reality.

Good luck. You are authorized to be nervous.

Here's another reading assignment for you.

Go to top right corner of page. Open up the SEARCH function. Search for "Some Tough Love for Newbies." it should be the second title down when the search engine finishes. Open it up - it's long. I wrote it to help new hosts put into perspective what will happen.

Don

8 pacers and still going

by Val-8 - 2014-01-29 01:01:07

Hi

I've had a pacemaker since I was 3. (Just turned 40.. Yikes) I was the youngest in ca at the time. I've had 8. (Latest also contain a defibrillator) having a pacemaker hasn't really stopped me. I'm married and have had 3 kids!

Youngheart...

by MelodyMarch - 2014-01-29 02:01:16

Everyone here has pretty much said everything already. My implant while somewhat sudden (holter test over the weekend, expedited results on Monday, PM on Wednesday) was clearly needed, and in the three months since I have felt so much better!

One thing that weirded me out during my procedure was that my face was semi covered with a drape. When I told the drug lady that it was making me anxious, she gave me more drugs so I wasn't any more. Moral of the story don't be afraid to ask for more if you need it, they always try to get by with the least amount so they have reserve if you need it.

I remember three other things clearly from my procedure. 1. My EP joking with me (and making me feel at ease) that I would be able to teach rhythm much better now because I could now keep a steady one myself. 2. While under the influence I remember singing with one of the songs that was playing in the theater. My EP just shrugged it off as "things musicians do while under the influence". 3. My Mom seeing me just as I was sobering up and exclaiming "My God! She's Pink and actually has color I haven't seen on her for 10 years!" To which I replied "thanks for the vote of confidence Mom".

As for return to work/activity, I was back to a full teaching schedule one week after implant. I played viola on a concert that had Wagner's Sigfried idyll, a Prokofiev Piano concerto and Tchaikovsky's Symphony #4 2.5 weeks after implant while I still had a semi-active incision on my playing shoulder. (I'll admit I was pretty sore.) I would do activities as tolerated and cleared by your doctor. I would stick to the no overhead lifting hard and fast however.

All and all, while it can be scary, it will help you in the long run, and this site goes a long way to answering all sorts of questions.

Thank you

by Bryony - 2014-01-29 07:01:02

I just wanted to say I have been reading the comments for Youngheart and I wanted to say a big thank you to you all. I am having my pacemaker on Monday so it was good to read such positive comments. I have been feeling rather down this last week realising that the pacemaker really is going to happen and my working life is going to be changin. At least my relaxation time wont, yoga, aqua aerobics,country walking, gym programme are tame compared to what a lot of people do!
I am starting to feel more positive now thanks to all the people who are so encouraging.
Monday evening cannot come soon enough!
Bryony

Positive thinking

by youngheart - 2014-01-29 09:01:48

Thank you for everyone's support! I am actually feeling really positive, a bit of positive thinking can do the world of good I think :-) It is especially nice to hear everyone's story's of what happened in hospital so I know what to expect! I will continue to follow this forum and one day I will be able to pass my experiences on.

Ian

Ask for a natural ventricular contraction

by Terry - 2014-02-01 05:02:05

See PacemakerPatientAdvocacy.com

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Born to be Wired is your theme song.

Member Quotes

I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.