48 hours since PM fitted.

Hi Folks. I have had my pacemaker fitted two days ago. So far so good. Left with minimal info from hospital other than a review appointment in August. I have been learning a lot from reading on this site, but also getting confused. I read about people knowing what settings their pacemaker is on and getting adjustments. I was not told anything about settings or knowing when they are correct for me.Should I know if my pacemaker has activated or this just happen in the packground.
One last very practical thing. I find the car seat belt is very uncomfortable. I know I cannot be the first with this problem.Has anyone got any suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Brend

13 Comments

Don...Right Hand Drive

by IAN MC - 2013-07-04 02:07:52

I, too , found the seatbelt on the passenger side to be uncomfortable in the first 7 days and used a sponge wedged between the belt and the PM wound which worked fine.

On day 8 , I drove about 700 miles to the S of France on holiday with absolutely no problems. Interestingly you brought back memories because I also mowed my lawn during the first week....it seemed a milestone at the time and I knew when I looked at the freshly mown lawn that life was going to be normal again !

Cheers

Ian

,

thanks

by Brend - 2013-07-04 04:07:04

Sorry I sent that thanks too early. I'm new to this site, so forgive me.
I had to have a pressure dressing removed today from the surgery on Tuesday. I thought this was normal, but now I know better. What the docs did not tell me on Tuesday was that I had a bleed from where the lead connects. The surgeon had to put on a pressure dressing to stop the bleeding. I now have the normal dressing which I am to remove after ten days. Maybe its better that I did not know about the bleed, or perhaps I should have been told. Anyway all is well now apart from bruising on the entire left side of the chest area and going under my left arm. Black-and-blue like I have never seen before.
When can I expect this surge of energy everyone has been telling me about. Although my head is clearer than it has been for a long time. No headache or fuzziness.
I'm so glad I found this site and the knowledge I am gaining from it. Again my thanks to all of you.

thanks

by Brend - 2013-07-04 04:07:23

Thank you all for your support.

New to this also

by fraz - 2013-07-04 08:07:01

Hi Brend,
August seems like a long time to wait for an adjustment.
In the hospital they usually give you card with the make and model number. I would call the doctor and address your concerns. My doctor had me scheduled for 4 appointment within 2 weeks of the procedure. I don't know all my setting yet, but I think that happens in time when you get your device checked. You kind of have to ask the tech what you different setting are. Good Luck.

John

It will come

by Betts1963 - 2013-07-04 08:07:18

My PM implant was done on June 7 and I was excited about the surge of energy. I'd say it came for me about a week and a half later. I probably needed time to heal from anesthesia and so do you. Now because of the bleeding and bruising it may take a little longer. I had bruising but not as much as you mentioned. My bruises didn't even show until a few days after the implant. But we are all different. I received some things in the mail from the company. I am still waiting for the permanent card with the PM information on it. I do still have the temporary one. You do need to get a medic alert bracelet or necklace. Also the cushioned cover for the seatbelt is a godsend. Like you I don't know my settings but I haven't had to have them changed yet, but have been to the doctor twice. One visit was for a follow up and the other was for me not feeling well. I feel my PM working and I feel interference as well. I'm sure I don't feel it every time it's working but I do feel it several times a day.

Sometimes just reading other people's questions here can be helpful as you probably already know. Also there is a search tab here that has been helpful. The most helpful are the people on the site.

Good luck, I'm a newbie too.

Betts

Welcome!

by ohiolaura - 2013-07-04 08:07:30

Welcome to the Club Brend!
First,the seatbelt is not comfy,for sure.I kept a small towel in the car,folded it over a couple of times,and put it between myself and the strap,and that worked,its a temporary thing,once the area isn't sore anymore,you shouldn't need it,atleast I haven't in a long time.
I think I was in the same spot as you after being sent home,not much info given to me,which I didn't even realize could be an issue.
I didn't know numbers either,much else either,maybe cause I didn't ask,I don't know.I didn't have time to get info before,this was a sudden thing for me,and I thought they(in the hospital) would tell me everything,duh,they didn't,but again,I should have asked I guess,but in my defense,I was in shock and denial maybe,it was a lot to deal with at the time.............
That was my complaint,not enough info,and I didn't find this place until I came home,and researched support for pacemaker patients,and thank God I found it,this has gotten me where I am today,for sure.
I just passed my 1 yr anniversary on my 1st PM,just keep posting and asking questions and reading,I swear it's what has made a huge difference for me this year.
Good luck,keep posting and reading!
Happy 4th!
Laura

Welcome!

by golden_snitch - 2013-07-04 09:07:37

Hi Brend!

August is fine for a first check-up. In Germany they usually do it 6 weeks after implant, then 3 months later, and then every 6 - 12 months. Thing is, just a week or two after the implant, they can't really change anything. I mean, yes, of course, they could, but all the threshold testing etc. makes only sense when the pacemaker leads had some time to heal in. However, you should always schedule an appointment earlier, if you feel that the the pacemaker pocket/incision are not looking good (red; if you spike a fever etc.).

About the settings: Most of us, who know their settings very well, do that because they didn't get along with the settings they had at first, and therefore needed optimization of settings - the more problems you experience, the more you learn about all those settings. No need to worry, if you don't know your settings at all. I think, I didn't know much about mine when I had my first pacemaker implanted. Over time, when I needed several optimizations, I learned more about them, and then also started reading more about what my pacer can and cannot do. If you visit this forum regularly, I'm sure you'll learn a lot.

Best wishes
Inga

Welcome :)

by pacergirl - 2013-07-04 09:07:45

Hello Brend,
Welcome aboard! The seat belt, yes it is uncomfortable until you heal up some. There are some padded covers that can be found in the automotive section of most dept. stores... Target, Walmart or Autozone any car place. You can also order one from this site. :)

When your dr. implanted your pacemaker and lead(s) it was activated at that time. If you didn't receive any information at the hospital, it will arrive via snail mail very soon. You will be instructed on how the PM (pacemaker) works and what it means to you. The office staff should be contacting you soon to "check" on you. If you have any swelling, feeling sick, or any complications don't hesitate to call for some help. MOST PEOPLE don't have any issues at all. Watch your stitches for any redness and keep them dry. Don't raise your arm above your head for a few weeks. You want the leads to heal up where they were implanted. DON'T BE SHY, ask for help and allow your body to heal. You should be feeling better already, I did, in fact I couldn't believe how clear headed I was after I got my pacemaker.

Again, welcome aboard, you are amongst friends.
Pacergirl

settings

by Tracey_E - 2013-07-04 10:07:02

To echo Inga, most of us learn about settings when the ones we started with didn't work. If you feel good, then your settings are probably fine. Just know that if you don't feel well, ask! Too many people live with symptoms they don't have to because they didn't think to ask.

Welcome to the board. Please don't be shy if you have questions.

Welcome Brenda

by katbell - 2013-07-04 10:07:12

5 months since my pacemaker, I received no info at all in the mail or from my doctor. Wished I had. Because of my shortness of breath though, I started calling the company myself, found their website, look at every page of their manual on my model pacemaker. My doctor and pacing people failed me completely! I've heard of people that have issue's with their PM that a rep from the company will come to your pacing clinic and help you with your settings. Oh and the seatbelt harness thing can be fixed with a padded sheepskin Velcro cover purchased from the family dollar store.Hope this helps.

Welcome Brend

by Grateful Heart - 2013-07-04 11:07:00

There's a lot to learn and we are always still learning here. It was stated above, if you see you are not feeling right then it's time to look into your settings for adjustment. It is common to need additional adjustments as time goes on and fitness level, etc. change. It's very easy for the Doctors or reps to do the adjustments.

Your pacemaker works quietly in the background. Every now and then for some of us, it gets loud (figuratively) and wants to be noticed. You will know when that happens....usually, that is the time for an adjustment.

Hope you continue to feel well,

Grateful Heart

Right Hand Drive

by DonF - 2013-07-04 11:07:17

I knew there had to be a good reason why we drive on the left in the UK - seatbelt does not bother most right-handed drivers!

I just had my PM inserted a week ago today and as a passenger found the seatbelt annoying. Was able to drive again today and cut the grass, thankfully trouble-free (I do have a very small lawn!)

Bruising

by donr - 2013-07-05 09:07:33

Brend: Let's talk bruising & GASP!!!!! Gravity.

Since you apparently had a significant amount of internal bleeding, all that blood has to go someplace. I promise you that it did not ALL get outside the body. It's still trapped inside. So where does it go? I flows where gravity makes it flow, following all sorts of little crooks & nannies between muscles to the lowest spot. Ever look at a chunk of meat from the butcher? Notice that there are spaces between the various muscles, each muscle being covered by a piece of tough membrane called fascia. There is all sorts of space in there for the blood to move about.
You said it seemed to be migrating into the armpit area - well, that's from whenever you are lying flat on your back. You stand up, it flows toward your feet.

Expect to see bruising all down that side of your body. Doesn't mean that part of the body was abused while you were unconscious, just that you bled where they were working & that's where it flowed.

I have had an injury to my buttocks & wound up w/ bruising all the way down to my toes. None of it hurt except the original injury site.

Don

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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My muscles are very sore but each day it gets better and my range of movement is improving.