Nervous

by KelsieM
2012-08-21 05:08:13
Surgery & Recovery
1148 views
12 comments

Im coming up on my second battery change, and for some reason I am sooooo nervous. I was nervous for the first battery change and now I'm nervous for the second one!!! Uhg, I'm not new to it. I originally got my device the year 2000. Why am I so scared for these battery changes? I love this club though because it seems to be the only thing that eases my fears... Thanks guys :-)

12 Comments

Just read your previous post ...

by donr - 2012-08-21 06:08:06

...& the extensive exchange w/ Tracey.

Let me answer your question w/ another question.

Why Shouldn't you be nervous? You are going to face a procedure where you face LOSS OF CONTROL. Normal reaction for human beings.

I feel the same way about these little events, so you are not riding a great white stallion.

In this case, the only thing to do is to accept the fact you will be nervous & do your best to tolerate it.

One suggestion: Tell the surgeon all about your feelings of anxiety. Tell him/her flat out that you are scared - or whatever term you choose to use. Tell the anesthesiologist the same thing. .Exposing this kind of anxiety to the sunlight of knowledge will ameliorate it. It won't make it go away, but it should be liveable.

You have nothing to be ashamed of for being anxious.

When do you think you will have it done?

Don

After effects of Anesthesia

by donr - 2012-08-21 08:08:40

Kelsie: You can avoid some of that. There are several folks here who have had it done with ONLY a local - no sedation. It should not be uncomfortable for a battery replacement - they don't have to grub around deep in the area of the clavicle to find the vein. A simple cut to open the pocket & do the exchange. I chose that route for a lead replacement I had done about 5 yrs ago. Deal I made w/ the surgeon was that if I couldn't handle it, he would have something stronger than a local available.

Don

Hey thanks!!

by KelsieM - 2012-08-21 08:08:52

I will be getting my battery change within the next few months. Anywhere from 3 to 11 months depending...

Anyway, I guess you're right. It's the whole loss of control, going under the knife thing, lol. Not to mention I hate the after affects of anesthesia :-/

But acceptance is the key I know. Accept the nerves, accept the process, and communicate my feelings to the doc...

Thank you so much for the feedback and support.. I really appreciate it :-))

GLAD YOU ASKED, KELSIE ~ ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2012-08-21 11:08:37

I have wondered how it feels to have the replacement when the time comes for my 'energizer bunny' to get its batteries renewed ~

My magic date is about 2017 my heart doctor said last December. I had my 1st PM placed November, 2009.

I too, once in awhile, wonder/worry about going 'back in', especially w/new medicare cuts going on ~ I recently had a complete knee replacement, and I worried of the affect my PM would affect me during surgery/recovery ~ Nuttin' to worry about! The heart Dr. just had to tell the knee surgeon He released me to have knee surgery ~

The UNknown is the biggest fear we could have ~ AND mine is "WHAT IF" ~ I worry, 'what if' ~ ha-ha ~

Thanx for asking this question, Kelsie, YOU helped me tremendously ~
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ NEED RAIN IN TEXAS ~

Lovin the feedback!

by KelsieM - 2012-08-22 04:08:02

Don! I thought about that!!!! That's a great idea! Did it hurt?? Was it really bad?? I'm gonna ask about it for sure!

And Carolyn, I'm being mostly silly... If you had knee rePlacement surgery, that's much more invasive I think. Lol!! There of course is the 'what if' factor which is what plagues us but I'm sure everything will be fine :-)))))

I'm gonna ask!!!

by KelsieM - 2012-08-22 04:08:04

I'm gonna ask my doctor of we can just do a local. The last battery change I had, I woke up in the middle of it in some pain. (felt like when they were tearing the old pacemaker out of the tissues) they knocked me back out again very quickly, so I don't know if I'll be able to handle it, but it's worth a try, because the feeling I have from the anesthesia once I wake up is horrible :-/// maybe I'm allergic or something...anyway, all the feedback is excellent and I appreciate it so much. I have CHB. Got my first PM at age 18. I'm 31 now and love my device. Best thing ever!!!! Anyway thanks again friends!!!

I'm gonna ask!!!

by KelsieM - 2012-08-22 04:08:05

What kind of anesthesia?

by donr - 2012-08-22 05:08:02

Kelsie - what did they use on you that made you feel terrible post op?

Some of them do make you feel like something you stepped on in the back yard after the dog went out.

Two that do not in my experience are Versed & Propofol. I've had both. Propofol wears off fastest & leaves you w/ the least hangover in my experience. Versed is just a bit slower at wearing off. but not too bad.

I just had a big toe repaired w/ a spinal block as the main anesthesia & Propofol to keep me quiet while they chopped away on my little toesies. They turned off the propofol w/ about ten min in the surgery to go. The surgeon's PA was still suturing me up & doing some minor gathering of loose ends. Blink!!!! I was a wake & carrying on a conversation w/ the PA, who I could not see for the big drape they had in front of me. But It was nearly instantaneous & I was coherent.

Oh, BTW: What's CHB. I'd guess Congenital Heart Block. It's not in the abbreviation list.

Good luck.

Don

nervous

by manaman - 2012-08-22 08:08:37

To me the PM replacement was a piece of cake! Only had a local and talked to team the entire procedure. In fact doctor was going to dispose of OLD PM but when I told him it was mine he gladly gave it to me after clean up of course). We talked at length about college ravalry between UNC and N.C. State (made it clear that I would talk no trash while the doctor had a knife in hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I was so nosey that team got a huge mirror so I would stop straining to see what was going on. It's been a while (8 years) since replacement but it seems like it took just over an hour and I went home the next day!
The only thing worse than fear is fear itself. Don't talk yourself into something that you don't want/need> Your doctors SHOULD be your best friend!
Cecil

Not being silly

by donr - 2012-08-22 11:08:40

You are being pretty normal. Do not be self-deprecating about your attitude toward anesthesia!

I lasted till he got down to the real grubbing in the subclavian vein before I pulled the plug!

For a simple replacement, I probably would have made it. There are at least THREE here who have. ElectricFrank, Manaman & one other.

Give it a try as I did - you can always pul the plug on it & get zonked while in it.

Don

Nerves are NORMAL! :)

by dingbot - 2012-08-27 11:08:36

Yeah, you are SO normal to be nervous, and it makes me less nervous to know everyone ELSE is nervous! I'm recovering from CRT-D implant that went sub-pectoral because I didn't have enough cutaneous area to cover the device, so almost 3 wks now, waiting for quite a few sutures to fall out, I look strange (BIG giant lump an lft chest-forget bikinis for a while...) and exhaustion and pain, but I'm trying to BE a pacemaker, be patient, and know how great it is to read all of YOUR brave posts! This is better than FB because we are in the same club! I wish U luck! Embrace your nerves my friend!

All the best--
Patricia

Omg I can't believe how long it took me to find this club!!! So happy I did!!

by KelsieM - 2012-08-28 08:08:42

Not sure what the gave me that made me feel so bad waking up. But when I woke up I was like just in such a weird dreamy shitty state. Uncomfortable asleep and awake. Hard to explain. Anyway I'll ask if I feel that wak again... But anyway, after this replacement I wanna start trying for babies!!! Woot woot!!! Anyway thanks for all the great words and support and trust me I will be in touch before the surgery.. :-)))

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