Dr Today-what to expect

I am headed to the dr today for my one week post op. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Wondering if they will take the stiches out or at least uncover the bandage. I have yet to see the actual site....other than I can tell on my small frame that IT'S HUGE!

Wondering if I might get the ok to drive...wondering if I might get the ok to go back to work part time.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

5 Comments

check ups

by Tracey_E - 2009-09-17 08:09:47

You may not even have stitches! Many surgeons use that glue now. I'm sure they'll uncover it, possibly leave it uncovered or at least change the bandage. I'm impressed you left it alone! I yanked mine off so I could see by the second day :o)

If you see the EP or pm rep, they will probably interrogate it. Did they do that in the hospital? It's a thingy that looks like a mouse and they lay it over the device. It's hooked into their computer so they can see what the pm has been up to. Some people feel it when they test it, others do not. Best analogy I can come up with is the feeling when an elevator comes to a stop. It goes away as soon as they're done.

Make a lis of any question before you go. If you're anything like me, you'll get there and smile, tell them you feel great, and completely forget about the questions! You also might want to ask for a copy of the interrogation report. A few of the guys here can tell you what all the gibberish on it means.

Check Up

by wenditt - 2009-09-17 09:09:21

Thanks TraceyE. What's an EP? Too new to know! Sorry! Don't think it's been interrogated but now not afraid thanks to you!

Will let you know how it goes! BTW...I LOVE that you are always on here to answer all my questions! YOU ARE THE BEST!

Wenditt

Look Alive!

by GMan - 2009-09-17 09:09:46

Dress brightly, look alive. Mean business when you walk in and sit straight up. Don't hesitate and talk a lot...Start before the doc! I don't know your work...physical, mental, etc..? Driving....maybe.
Good luck!

Gary

Check Up

by Jake93 - 2009-09-17 12:09:37

Everyone is different just like the Doc's. I was not able to drive for 4 weeks or raise my left arm above my schoulder for 6 weeks. I also had to write down questions and took my wife with me as she had a lot of questions. Nothing like getting in the car, heading home and then you remember all the things you were going to ask.The pm site may always seem huge, but its been 9 weeks for me and the swelling has gone way down and the scare healed well.

Good Luck!

Tim

EP

by Tracey_E - 2009-09-17 12:09:49

electrophysiologist. A cardiologist will usually refer to a surgeon for implant and let the manufacturer's reps do the adjustments. An ep is a more specialized cardiologist and they generally do both surgery and adjustments themselves. Some of us have just cardios, some also have an ep.

Good luck getting the ok to go back to work and drive again! My doc is pretty liberal, he never told me I couldn't do anything. I'm not sure if he trusted me to use common sense or figured I'd do what I wanted anyway ;o)

I'm online all day for work so I can peek in when I take quick breaks. Thanks for not calling a spade a spade... I'm a motormouth LOL

I got my first pm before the internet and I was my doc's only young patient. Talk about alone! I wish I'd had a resource like this until I learned the ropes, so I'm always happy to answer questions for newbies. Before you know it, you'll be back to feeling great and answering questions for the newcomers.

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.