Laser Lead Extractions

• by Goldens
• 2010-08-01 10:08:00
• Batteries & Leads
• 1740 views
• 0 comments

I appreciate everyones responses regarding my upcoming laser lead surgery. My first dual chamber pacemaker was in 1983. That pacemaker only lasted 2-1/2 years before replacement. I have had so many surgeries for my pacemaker and lead wires, I start to get dates confused. I try not to dwell on things and just live for the moment. I look at this whole thing regarding our hearts and the rest of our body as a machine. Some of us try to take good care of our bodys and do what we are suppose to do, but sometimes we are dealt lemons and there really isn't much we can do but deal with the problems as they arise. Actually, after I was first dx with my condition when I was 28 (actually, I complained all my life, but doctors all told me it was in my head or female issues) - and being the type A personality that I am - I went back to school to get my masters in Exercise Physiology with the emphasis in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation just to learn more about the heart. I actually started a rehabilitation program in Missouri. I felt I was able to really relate to my patients and felt I was really helping and a good role model. Dealing with your heart is such a psychological issue. I left that job in 1999 because I was always getting sick and always having other health issues besides my heart. I now just live for the moment and appreciate all the time I can do things - which I can do quite a bit, if I just need to listen to my body.

My surgery will be at Boone Hospital in Columbia MO. My EP has been doing the procedure for quite awhile and they are also bring some other specialists in from St. Louis for the procedure. This will be a coordinated team approach. Again, we are all hoping all goes well and hopefully the scare tissue won't be too bad - and everything will go smoothly. When I have had other surgeries not related to my heart - they have found a tremendous amount of scar tissue - so I really hope that this will be different - and I'm trying to be positive. I will deal with whatever the outcome is - no matter what. That's what life is all about. It's the unknowns that are harder to deal with.

As far as the chest and arm twitching, they did re-program it a little and it is much better than it was - but still have some of the twitching - but I can deal with that for the next couple of weeks - since I know the surgery is soon. They would not take the pacemaker out of unipolar mode. My surgery is schedule for Aug 16 and hopefully just be in over night if all goes well and recovery should not be any different than any of the other pacemaker surgeries or lead wire surgeries . I have only heard from one other member of the club who has had the laser surgery and it sounded like she really had complications and a bad outcome. I really feel confident with my EP and the whole facility - so once I recover, I will report back so others can know that this can be a very safe and successful surgery for those of us who had pacers & wires put in at an early age.

Thanks again for all your thoughts,
Nancy (goldens)