Recovery in Children

Hi there!

by Lavender - 2023-03-20 12:29:03

I'm older but I'm thinking recovery when you are so young is even easier! In any case, I had nearly no swelling at the site where the pacemaker went in. My neck and that side arm was sore, probably from the positioning during surgery. I had some time getting used to my faster beating heart. I had pauses beforehand and now my heart felt like a racehorse. I got used to it though!

My scar from the pacemaker is a very thin white line about an inch and a half long. Really not noticeable even in a v neck shirt. You can't see the shape of my pacemaker. 

You will be fixed and better than ever!

Recovery

by Penguin - 2023-03-20 18:55:30

Hi, 

Your post is titled 'Recovery in Children' and => I had a quick google to see if there were any known differences between a child's recovery and that of an adult.  This children's hospital explains the recovery process and operation in this link: https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/treatments/pacemaker-procedure#:~:text=A%20pacemaker%20is%20most%20often,a%2024%2Dhour%20hospital%20stay.

I couldn't see any difference between the advice to children and adults. Although the general anaesthetic isn't standard in the UK where I live, it may be standard in the US and I couldn't see where you live from your bio. Perhaps it's also different for children? At 19  in the UK you would be dealt with via adult care rather than paediatric care.  You will receive sedation if you don't get a general anaesthetic. 

In terms of recovery in my experience children heal pretty fast  and I hope this will be the case for you. Scars certainly form fairly fast and the dressing can usually be taken off within 10 days to a couple of weeks. You will be a bit swollen and sore and as Lavender describes your heart beat may feel stronger and quicker, but other than that you should feel OK and very likely better than before. 

Emotional and psychological healing may take a little longer depending on how you feel about getting a pacemaker at such a young age. Some people feel grateful for their pacemaker and others feel short changed by a heart that has let them down so early on in life.  If the latter applies you may need some help to adjust and accept the device and your dependence on it.  

It would be good to hear how you get on. Please stick around! 

Best Wishes

Recovery

by AgentX86 - 2023-03-21 00:45:49

At 19, you're hardly a child.  The experiences of "adults" will also apply to you.  Some of us old-farts have other issues that make life more "interesting" but the pacemaker itself is pretty straight forward.  You'll have a lot of years with a pacemaker and many replacements to come. Maybe Tracey will speak up.  She's had a thousand replacements, or something.