Travel immediately after op

I am due to travel by train two days after the pacemaker implant. Is this wise or should I cancel? Any thoughts, please?


6 Comments

train travel...

by heartily - 2024-10-31 18:36:32

Hi Dobe,

I think that since you don't know how you will feel, or whether your PM will need tweaks, that 2 days is too early. Having said that, if it's a short journey and you are with someone and aren't carrying anything, maybe it would be possible.

I had no complications after my PM but was EXHAUSTED for a few days after and certainly couldn't have contemplated a train journey, with or without someone to accompany me.

We are all different and recover differently. It might be sensible to defer the trip if you can as  nothing is more important than ensuring you don't put unnecessary strain on your heart.

 

Heartily

I agree with Heartily

by Good Dog - 2024-10-31 20:34:05

Your Doc is the best person to answer your question. If you feel well and you are able to follow all of the post surgery/implant instructions from your Doc, then you might do just fine with travel, but that is just my opinion. As Heartily said in the previous post; we can get exhausted quickly within a few days of the surgery. Your body is in recovery mode. So, you need to be very careful not to over-do it and you need to keep your incision clean and dry. No long walks or running until you have gradulally regained your strength. No stretching (raising) your left arm above your head, etc, etc  Sounds like you are doing really well if considering travel this early-on. That is great, because I believe we need to get back into living our lives as soon as is possible after getting a PM. Once healed-up, your PM should not hold you back from doing what you did before you got it.

I wish you the very best!

Sincerely,

Dave

Train travel

by piglet22 - 2024-10-31 21:06:04

Hello 

I can't see any reason why you shouldn't travel by train.

But, your surgery is fresh and only starting to heal.

Were you warned of anything when discharged?

Knowing how crowded some UK train routes can be, it might be unwise to travel if a seat couldn't be guaranteed. You don't want to be jostled around standing in the corridor.

If you are travelling off peak and keeping clear of busy underground journeys you should be OK.

There's nothing about train travel in itself to avoid with a pacemaker.

You can always cancel, no?

by IrishToast - 2024-10-31 23:52:04

If you're not up to it you can always change your mind. You would have good reason.  Something else to consider is that your immune system could be more vulnerable. Overloading it in crowds during flu season might not help. 

travel

by Tracey_E - 2024-11-01 08:55:26

Travel in itself is safe two days later. Many travel to have their surgery and have to get back home again.

Safe, yes. Comfortable? Eh, maybe, maybe not. I did a 5 hour drive in my husband's sports car a few days after having mine replaced (easier surgery than first placement) and all the bumps made me pretty sore. Some trains are smoother than others.

You won't want to be lifting luggage and you will likely find you tire easily. Did you ask your doctor?

If it's vacation that can be postponed, I'd probably put it off a few weeks. 

Travel

by Dobe - 2024-11-01 16:34:09

Many thanks - Tracey_E, Irish Toast, heartily, piglet22 and Good Dog.
 

I asked the nurse who said I probably could but your advice is sensible and practical. 
 

I will try to arrange to give my talk online rather than travel to Edinburgh from Nottingham. 

Dobe

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

Good luck with your surgery. It will improve life amazingly.