Returning to work

Hello agian to you all, i had my PM fitted on the 5th Oct and am due to have my 10 day check up tomorrow. What would you say would be an ideal return to work date, i can get away with no lifting at work as the guys i work with are all understanding of my situation, but to be honest i still don't feel confident enough to do so, any help would be appreciated..

Regards

Stewart

4 Comments

work

by pdow - 2012-10-14 03:10:26

After a year and half, still no heavy lifting told to me. Worried that I moved a lead because I recently just stopped after being warned over and over again.

Work

by Shepheart - 2012-10-14 06:10:58

Hi Stewart, greetings from Canada, we share the same day for getting a pacemaker, Oct.05/12. The cardio doc who implanted my pm said I could go back to work in 2 weeks. I tried to explain to him that my job is very physical but he did not change his mind. However my family doctor thinks I may need more time, why take a chance on damaging the leads. I will see him when the two weeks are up.

Take more time, please

by Mimi and me - 2012-10-14 11:10:47

This is your heart we are talking about! If you are not comfortable, tell your doctor how you feel. I just got my pacemaker two days ago and I am doing nothing but relaxing. I won't even bend over without placing my hand over the device to hold in place so it can't move. I worked on the cardiac floor of the hospital and have seen what happens and know what can happen when things go wrong. Best to be vocal in this situation. Your gut feeling means everything right now. Your body knows what you need so listen to it!

Depends what you want to do

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-15 02:10:44

The only thing keeping you from being back at work now is your own fear. Just take the guys at work offer to handle the heavy lifting for a few weeks. The important thing is not raising your pacer side arm above shoulder height as this stretches the leads.

I gave myself a week before I started handling 25-30 lb items. I just limited that to items where my arms were down. Just tell the guys at work to yell at you if they see you lifting something on to a high shelf.

I talked this over with my cardiologist and he was OK with it.

I'm old enough (82) to remember them keeping patients confined to bed for a week to 10 days for surgery like appendix. Then someone discovered that getting the patient up the day of the surgery made for a much faster recovery and less complications.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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