2 weeks Post Surgery & Recovery

• by mpilgrim
• 2013-04-26 05:04:24
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1409 views
• 4 comments

I had a very slow heart beat and idiopathic cardiomegaly which
gave me my first CHF experience. After being treated with
medication for five years, the medicine stopped working which
then gave my physician the criteria to intervene with the next step, a Bi-Ventricular Pacemaker. Mine is a Medtronic with
3 leads. Two leads are stationary and hooked into the right
atrium and right ventricle and the third lead is fed through the
coronary sinus vein on the posterior (back side) of the hear and
so to speak laid to rest there comfortably.

I was given the anesthesia medication propofal in which you
do not feel a thing and wake up without a headache. The sx
is Outpatient so you definitely need someone to drive you home the next day.

I used frozen gel packs for the swelling and incision pain,
a small soft pillow to place under my arm for support and comfort. Two Ibuprofen gel caps were alternated with percocet for the first 4-5 days. I took a short walk outside
on day 3 and day 4. I drove a short distance in the car
on day 4. By day 5, I was walking half a mile and by the
two week check up in the office able to drive the 60 miles to
the office and back.

I am now able to return to the carvedilol that I had to stop
prior to the pacemaker. I no longer have shortness of breath,
erratic heart beat, palpitations, or that cold feeling after eating a
meal and the fatigue is vanishing fast! I look forward to
doing my cardio rehab to strengthen my heart and endurance.
IN SHORT, I FEEL GREAT!!

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GET A PACEMAKER. I am glad
that the pacemaker is available to help so many people from
avoiding another bout with Congestion Heart Failure. Looking
forward to a longer LIFE AND SO CAN YOU!!!