how will i feel immediately in recovery?

Just wondering how I will feel immediately upon waking from twilight sedation of new pacer implant? Relief? Energy? Pain?

Will I need pain meds while in the hospital and then just ibuprofen and/or tylenol at home????

Surgery is Tuesday a.m. - did you all do anything to relax prior to? Shall I take a motrin pm the night before?

10 Comments

no motrin

by kathykat11 - 2011-04-02 03:04:53

I would not take motrin because it can increase bleeding, no ibuprofen afterward for the same reason. I didn't need to relax, the first one I wanted to be out of pain but alert, I had to have mine relocated under the muscle in February initial implant was in September. I have other health issues and had alot of pain with the first placemant, my body issues not pacemaker troubles and felt fine after having it moved so that leads me to believe it wasn't the pacemaker rather my body that was the issue. I feel great now. I can't take either aspirin or tylenol so I was given heavy duty drugs, I really just barely needed them and felt like I was using an elephant gun to kill a mosquito. Everyone one is different so listen to your body. take a button down shirt with you you won't be able to lift your arm on the placement side until your doctor OKays it. Lot so pillows help with sleeping lay on the side opposite the placement and prop up your arm with pillows. I didn't chance lifying my arm while sleeping I put on my sling and pulled a t- shirt over with my arm down and only my unaffected side through the sleeve. I sleep alone and have lots of room to spread out and didn't want to dislodge my leads by accident. During the day I was aware so I just kept track of keeping it down. My second surgery I woke up feeling great. I had been in so much pain from my other issues and having the pacer moved just made me feel wonderful. I did have general anesthesia so they kept me over night but I felt good enough to get up and go right then.
You won't need it but good luck anyway.
Kathykat11

Are you sure you're getting general anesthesia?

by Edouard - 2011-04-02 04:04:12

I just got a local. They brought me into pre-op where I waited +/- 20 minutes. They wheeled me into the operating room, gave me a local & prepped me then started the operation. I was awake through the whole procedure. No pain, very little discomfort. Kinda cool! Took me back up to my room afterwards where my major discomfort was hunger - had not eaten all day. Released within 24 hours. Favoured my left arm for about a week but I don't recall needing any pain medication afterwards. Everybody is different, but my experience was a snap.
Edouard

It depends on why you are

by janetinak - 2011-04-02 04:04:19

getting the PM. I have Afib & after my AV node ablation & PM insertion when I came fully awake (light sedation) my SOB went away & I felt like my old self. I am sure you will get a lot of answers here to help.

I was on pain meds but found out I was allergic to both types I was given so just used Tylenol with in 24 hrs & all OK. As to taking someting before the procedure, I'd ask the doc or at least his nurse.Some meds (aspirin, etc) may increase bleeding & others may interfere with the sedation you use. Probably Ok but best to ask about all meds & should take them or not, as wll as regular ones taken also.

Let us know how well it went. :-)

Janet

thanks for reply...how soon to hook up iv?

by sandk - 2011-04-02 04:04:25

Thanks for the replies!!!!!

Also, I check in at 6:30 a.m. - will they hook me up pretty quickly and start giving an iv relaxant? My surgery isn't to begin until 8:30...can't imagine TWO HOURS sitting waiting for the surgery to begin?

Talk About Being a Bundle of Nerves!

by donr - 2011-04-02 04:04:36

You are it! I'd tell you to relax, but that's the last thing you want to hear!

This SHOULD be the mildest surgery you ever undertake. Stay away from all OTC meds prior to the surgery. You have no idea what they may do to you.

The best prescription drug you can take prior to the event is Tincture of Motormouth (TMM). I'm licensed to prescribe it. You may print this msg out & take it to your P-Harmacist to be filled.

Take it just before you walk in to the prep room. It starts you talking instantly & you will not shut up till they zonk you out w/ whatever they plan to use. Every sentence you utter will end w/ a question mark. The shortest question you will ask is "Why?" You will see lots of things happen to stimulate your mouth - there are so many unusual activities you have never seen before. TMM will make you ask about the thingy the nurse is about to use on you. There are so many neat-o devices in the OR you will be so curious about that you'll have no time to feel antsy. Then there's the prep room. Monitors, bottles, you name it, it's there. Chatty Cathy, the nurse will be glad to 'splain it all to you. TMM will stimulate you to ask about it. The first thing she will do after you put your gown on backward so you can moon the world is start an IV.

That's BEFORE the procedure. During it, you won't give a rat's nose what is happening. You will be drifting peacefully through La-La-Land while the surgeon & his cohorts in crime grub around in your chest, pretending that they are Capt Ahab going after the Great White Whale. They'll be muttering incoherent things about totally nothing - but most likely discussing the pool for how many harpoons it will take to finally subdue Moby Dick. You just better hope you don't get one that is a Yankee fan & another who is a Red Sox fan. Things could get brutal.

You will "Come to" w/i minutes after they turn off the water hose feeding you Feelgood juice. Later, you may remember them talking to you during this phase. Then you will slip into a happy hangover lasting an indeterminant time. Next thing you know, you'll be in recovery; you will go "BLINK!" sit up & say "I want a sandwich!" If you are like me, however, first you wake up threshing around like you were doing 15 rounds w/ Cassius Clay, yell for a barf pail, heave your guts into a 5 gallon stainless steel bucket, lie back, say "Whew! Did anyone get the license number off the concrete mixer that hit me?" THEN you ask for the sandwich.

Oh, You don't want to forget the most important question of all - to be asked as soon as you become coherent. "Did I do or say anything to embarrass myself?" Always ask that. They are expecting it & have a practiced pattern of lies ready to tell you about how nice & pleasant you were & what a joy it was working w/you when you were totally w/o inhibitions.

Good luck. May I have helped you some to prepare for your initiation ceremony for joining our club.

Oh - don't forget your prescription for TMM!

Don

too funny!

by sandk - 2011-04-02 05:04:36

Oh my goodness...funny! So, basically, what you are saying is if I ask a LOT of questions, they will start an iv immediately to shut me up? I can do that...

Night Before

by KIRWEN1004 - 2011-04-02 05:04:43

I wouldn't take anything the night before unless your doctor says it is okay to take your presciption medication.

I had the twilight sedation but I slept through almost the entire procedure. I was snoring in fact the nurses told me!

I felt great after I woke up after my pacemaker. Much better than I did the day before with my ablation. I was able to get off the table and into my hospital bed no problem.

Two days after the surgery I experienced the most discomfort but I got sick from the painkillers so I just took Tylenol and that helped enough.

BTW - the hour to two of preps goes quick! You see a gazillion people and answer a ton of questions.

Best of luck to you.

Kirs

surgery

by LS - 2011-04-02 06:04:50

I just got a local. Talked to them the entire time.
Got to my room, chatted with everyone, felt great. (Maybe relieved it was over LOL)
Didn't take any pain meds.
I would suggest wearing things that button in the front because it's easier to get in and out of with not lifting the arm.
They put a sling on me right after and said to wear it for 24 hours. I would suggest wearing it when you are around people for a while. It makes others aware and then their less apt to bump you, or it helps from the huggers. LOL I love hugs, but not right then!!
All in all, the surgery and recovery was a breeze. Just more of an inconvenience to me.
Liz

REF: Too Funny

by donr - 2011-04-03 01:04:50

Well, that's one way to look at it! I was thinking more along the line that TMM will keep your mouth & brain engaged & off what you THINK may happen.

They know you are apprehensive - about half of us are scared completely out of our minds. If you talk & ask questions, it will make you more of a participant than a block of beef on the cutting block. Also distract you.

While I was having my first implant, one of the nurses stuck her head under the drape several times too check on me to, as she put it, "...to see if I was still there..." I learned a couple of months later at a very formal dinner that it was the wife of a friend. We had never met before. She looked at me & commented (Honest) "I don't recognize you with clothes on." To which I replied "Well, I don't recognize you while I'm awake."

It'll be over before you know it!

Good luck, kiddo!

Don

Final Status Check

by donr - 2011-04-04 09:04:25

Hey, how's it going? Did you make it through the weekend OK? Have your nerves gotten wound up so tightly that someone suggested wrapping you up in a white robe & pretending you are a golf ball?

Dunno where you are, but here in Etlanner, Jawja, the Sun is shining brightly & it will be warm & pleasant today.

Your real prep starts this AM - find something active to do the distracts you from the large, gray rhinocerous in the room. Then tonight, it's nothing to eat or drink after Midnight. You'll make it, just fine. Not going to tell you to relax - you don't want to hear that. Just hang in there. The Force will be with you!

Don

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