Just had pacemaker replaced.

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted let everyone know who helped me with my earlier post about having it replaced that I finally have the new one, and I finally feel great again!!

The only issue was that during the surgery I felt EVERYTHING!! It hurt so much, the twilight sleep didn't do anything but make me more awake, and she didn't use enough lidacaine on me. I started hyperventalating and crying on the table, because I could feel each cut she was making, I told her it hurt so she gave me another shot of lidacaine, For one hour and 20 minutes I laid on that table in so much pain, and my pacer is under my muscle, so instead of numbing the muscle, she just pulls it up and the hurt extremely bad, and of course more lidacane, then she couldn't get it out.

I'm so glad that the surgery is over and that I have a functioning pacer in now, but if twilight sleep doesn't work for you, make sure you have them knock you out, I would hate to have anyone go though with what I just went through.

Take care, Karri

7 Comments

How awful

by TalkinCardio - 2012-06-15 01:06:18

Sorry you had to go through that! Glad to hear you are doing good with you new pm.
Cathy

Question

by Caguy - 2012-06-15 01:06:44

Do they give you the option of putting you to sleep? I don't know but will ask my Dr when he does mine. Sorry you had so much pain but I hope you will fill better from know on. Take care AL

I thought mine was bad!

by Grateful Heart - 2012-06-15 01:06:49

So sorry you had to experience that.

I had a lead revision 1 year ago and I woke up and felt the last 3 stitches. I called out that I could feel it and then the doctor called out that I could feel it; no response from anyone and then he just kept sewing. My knee went up with each stitch and someone just kept pushing it down.

I asked the doctor about it at the follow up visit. He claimed he didn't remember which I know wasn't true. I never went back to him.

what a nightmare

by Hope - 2012-06-15 04:06:34

Hi! You have been through what no patient should have to endure. The fact that the situation continued after your misery became apparent is inexcusable to me. Your story reads like a barbaric surgery from a movie script set in the distant past. You deserve much more compassionate and professional medical care. Please do that for yourself. Take care and I wish you happiness. Hopeful Heart

why replacement

by ronilee - 2012-06-15 08:06:08

Hi Karri, why did you have your PM replaced. I am fairly new to the board & may not have read a previous post.

I'm so sorry that you had such a horrible time. I agree with Hope, that is unexcusable that it should have been such a horrific ordeal.

Glad you are feeling better now.
Ronilee

Lidocaine Resistance

by jenny97 - 2012-06-15 09:06:50

I'm glad the surgery was successful, but am sorry it was so painful for you. Make sure to alert the anesthetist for any future surgeries that you have had this problem. It is not a really common problem, but resistance to pain medication is more common with redheads and also some individuals have resistance specifically to lidocaine.

I had a similar problem once when I was given versed as part of my sedative/pain management combo for an invasive procedure - it's supposed to keep you from remembering any pain you felt - but I was aware of everything. Since then, I've added it to my list of allergies to ensure I never get it again.

replacement

by Karri - 2012-06-15 11:06:57

Hi,
Thanks for the support, it is really appreciated more than you could ever know.

Ronilee, the reason I had to have me pm changed is that it was at the end of it's battery life, I was told that your pm would work fine until it dropped down to 65 to conserve energy do you had a little while to get into get a new one. But for the last month before it dropped down I was feeling a lot of dizziness, palpatations and my pacer was not able to maintain my heart rate at 80. So if you experience any symptoms like before you had your pm, or anything questionable, and it's near replacement, try to get your doctor to change your pm, because the last month before it officially went was really miserable.

Jenny, that's a really good idea to put versed as an allergy, then I won't have to worry about that anymore.

One last question for anyone who had there pm replaced, were you really, really sore after your surgery? My site hurts extremely bad, and can barely lift my right arm.

Thanks so much for all your support, Karri

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

I'm 44, active and have had my device for two years. I love it as I can run again and enjoy working out without feeling like I'm an old man.