Newbie and a little nervous, gotta admit ...

I am scheduled for a pm implant on 10/30/12 for sinus bradycardia, caused by an ablation for tachycardia. I am beginning to feel a bit nervous about it all. I know I will feel better (I know I can feel worse, but quality of life sure can't), but it's the unknown of recovery that I'm getting nervous about. Suggestions? thoughts? opinions? Btw - I'm 45, also have 2 stents in the LAD put in this year. Have a wonderful 13 year old son and husband who both dote on me. Will gladly take all suggestions, good and bad :)

8 Comments

Thx for responses ....

by CynSluys - 2012-10-26 01:10:39

It helps. Good to know it takes about 5 days or so before you start to feel human. It's like the first time I had an angio you know...I was told to take it easy and not move around for a week...so I didn't. Second time, I knew better and was up and around the next day. Will I feel like getting up the next day after an implant? or should I? Should I just lay low and if so how long? These are the things I think about...I checked out the website a lot prior to posting, so will check out some more. Thanks a lot everyone.

Hi again,

by janetinak - 2012-10-26 02:10:06

usually its an over night stay for the 1st PM as they will want to check the leads, etc with an EKG & a chest xray the next AM. On subsequent PM's replacement, if leads OK ) & mine is fine the last several yrs you go home withina few hrs of observation. But back to the 1st time, I had a little difficulty 'caus we fpound out I was allergic to Percocete. So once I got something to stop the vomiting (from Percocete) I went back to feeling fine, had a good night's sleep, good breakfast, stolled around the ward after xray, EKG & waited for my dr to discharge me. Went home for a nap & took it easy for that 1st day & drove down to bank drive thru window tat day. My Dr said nothing about not driving, but that issue has been discussed here. Took week end off & went back to my clerical job on Monday & in for recheck tat week. So that was it for me.. Read about the arm lifting thru the search button here but for me was the only change except how great I felt.

Please ask us more questions as you have them.

Janet

thanks Janet

by CynSluys - 2012-10-26 02:10:50

Glad you were up and about so quickly. I've had similar reactions to percocet and pain medications and have learned for myself to take benadryl with them to counter the vomiting. This is the type of healing I am hoping for. The doctor told me no driving for 1 week and the bit about the arm. That part has me a little confused as to how much will I be able to use it? When I am able to drive, will I be able to move it to grab the seat belt? or have to use the other arm? will I be able to reach up and use the turn signal...the basic type of stuff you know? kind of silly really, but as it gets closer the every day stuff I do I try to imagine doing without moving my left arm. It's amazing how much you do you use it.

Hi CS

by janetinak - 2012-10-26 03:10:22

I hope you get a lot of + feed back here. I had a PM put in after an AV node ablation for persistent Afib so I think we have a similiar PM situation. I felt really, really great when I had my 1st PM put in & that persists thru my 3rd PM (Aug.2011) & now. There is the "search:" button on top right of this page to look up old posts which should give you a lot of info. Like the comment above it is usually very easy for most of us.

Janet

It's Normal to be nervous

by Grateful Heart - 2012-10-26 12:10:29

That is a normal reaction. But like most of us, you will probably feel so much better. Like janetinak said, there is so much info on here. Also, just ask any questions you may have, the members on this site are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and humorous which always helps. Keep us posted on your progress too.

Grateful Heart

Hi CS

by janetinak - 2012-10-27 03:10:24

As I am in Alaska the time difference allows me to post different hrs than most, I think. We are one hr earlier than the West Coast (CA & WA, etc)

As to the use of the affected side 's arm, it is usually recommended that you not raise the arm above your shoulder. Some Dr's like to have you wear a sling for awhile, mine recommended a great sling that had velcro at the wrist & above the elbow which attached to a waist band. I esp liked to use it at night as I am a restless sleeper. Different doc's have various time frames tp be careful with your affected arm, Best to make sure you now what doc wants & follow it. I made sure i moved mty shoulder in the socket to avoid a frozen shoulder.So the hand signal & seat belt are usually not a problem.

Hope that helps,

Janet

Oct 30 is my day too !!

by Giora - 2012-10-29 02:10:47

Well, it seems that you wrote what I have in mind. I am also schedueled to get my PM on Oct. 30.
I am 58 and beside this F heart problem I am very healthy.
Yes, i am nervous and dont know what to expect, can I go to normal life soon, how noticable will be the scar and the device ?
My daily life are good and I am not suffering from any phenomena, it is all related to sport that I used to do a lot and I got some kind of dizziness few hours after sport activities. That leads to find my problem.. so I am not feeling that there is some kind of danger to my life (but the DR. said that I might just faint on the street).
I hope I can go back to intensive sport (Marathon+) soon.
More than this I am doing this process in HKG (I stay in this area as an Expat and I am Israeli citizen) so this also adds some worries.

1 week post implant

by CynSluys - 2012-11-07 05:11:16

By day 6 I felt so much better - almost human :) Went back to the doctor yesterday for the first return visit.
Since I can't drive yet I had to walk 2 blocks; discovered my systen isn't quite ready for that. Walked into their office very sweaty, short of breath - could only talk in one word sentences and had some pretty bad chest pain. So, the doc's said one more week off work. And Giora ~ I hope everything went well for you too. Let mek know. There were a few bumps during recovery, but I went home on time. You?
Cindy Sluys

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