scared

hi im new today been reading up on here and looks great.. im having my pacemaker fitted on the 8th of may and im really scared excited to because ive been so ill lately i had fast heart beats and slow heart beats and mobitz type II , this has caused me to pass out alot get very breathless and ruined my life at only 40 would love some feed back on the op im scared about being awake and the after care when i get home .. thanks karen :) xxx

12 Comments

Hi Karen

by IAN MC - 2013-04-29 01:04:26

I see you are from the UK ( as am I ) so , helpful though it may be, mpilgrim's advice is very US orientated . Here is my UK experience and advice :-

i) I doubt that you will be given any prescriptions for post-operative pain . You should only experience minimal pain , if any. A paracetamol tablet is all you need, I doubt that you will need gel packs

ii ) I think cardiac rehab is an American thing .. you don't need it after a simple PM implant. We are obviously not involved with insurance companies here.

iii ) Most UK centres avoid the use of slings ... they can encourage the development of frozen shoulder and are best avoided

iv ) Medtronik DO have MRi- compatible models...I have one !

Best of luck on May 8th ... having a PM implant is a piece of cake ... don't worry about it

Ian

:)

by kjb - 2013-04-29 02:04:32

thanks for the advice Ian :)

yep uk diff to US

by kimbo - 2013-04-29 04:04:05

im from uk and Ian is right with what he says i was wrote up for codine if i needed it but paracetamol was enough for me although i did take it 4 hourly first few days then just as i needed it i managed to wear my bra just fastened it at the front and swivelled it round leaving my left strap loose i had a bath the second day just kept water away from the scar you will soon find ways to cope and do things for your personal care my partner and sons did the cleaning and a close friend helped too. iwas kept in over night had chest xray and sent home went back 2 days later for pm check then 6 weeks later for another check and given green light to go arm restriction lifted. your gunna be just fine please ask me anything and if i can help i will.

take care

kim

US info....and more.......

by ohiolaura - 2013-04-29 04:04:07

Yes, I am an American,proudly.I will agree with most,I wasn't given anything for pain,I was given,per my request something to help me sleep,as I don't sleep in hospitals,as well as something for anxiety,which was a new experience for me.
I didn't need either med prior to my PM ordeal.I needed those meds for a very short time,and I do mean short time,I refuse to be dependant on meds,especially ones that are due to my mental state being compromised.
I am closing on my 1 year anniversary of me PM being added to my life.
The beginning was tough for me,as it was not planned,happened suddenly,so therefore I wasn't able to get the info you are now.Youre lucky.Going in informed,embrace it.
I had virtually no pain during and after surgery,piece of cake.Didnt need to ice or anything,as I was told to keep it dry for a few days I think.
Listen to what they tell you,ask questions if you have them.Come here to ask others what they think.
I was 49 when I went thru this,was working out 7 days a week,and am happy to say that's still the case!
Every so often,I know my mind plays tricks on me,I can feel a bit of anxiety try to take hold of me,so I distract myself,and it goes away.I refuse to lay down for this change.fight it all the way in!
I bet you'll be happy after this is all done,feel better,and move forward in life.
It is all up to you,make it happen,have faith and fight!
Laura:)

new as well

by kimbo - 2013-04-29 07:04:33

Im new to all this 9weeks post op and can tell you i just know how you feel im 45 and have a duel lead i was poorly so much so many attack that my life was misrable i have second degree block and morbitz type ll and was so scared for implant, the surgery was better than expected felt no pain at all just pulling and tugging at times was umpleasent at times but no pain, after surgery was very sore and paniced about things put this site got me through and i can say how great i feel no episodes of passing out or feeling grotty heart wise. your gunna be just fine trust me. it can be rough first week or two but ya wont look back am so glad i went through with my surgery best thing i did feel great

take care
kimbo (uk)

Karen......................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-04-29 08:04:11


..........................not much to add to all the above.

NHS.......will never let you down....sure,,.its an all be a bit scarey,.but, hey, the NHS is just that.

Being ..Scared..Breathless..and Excited..will be all in the past.

So...get used to being not scared, breathless ..etc.

Get used to ,..actually , just getting on with your life..as in..

Just being you.....

Good , eh ?

Tattoo Man just up the road in Newark Notts..just a coffee away..

May 8th

by Bill T - 2013-04-29 08:04:59

Hi, you will be just fine because May 8th is my 76th birthday. Seriously, you should do okay, I'm on my second pacemaker, first in 2010 and 2nd the next year. Nothing wrong with the pacemakers or my doctor. I was upgraded because of chronic Afib and low EF. I had an AV Node Ablation and then the new CRT-D the next day. My EF went form the low 30 to normal (60s) and I feel good. I still have Afib but don't notice most of the time. So relax as best you can and best wishes for a fast heal and recovery.

Bill T

new pacemaker

by Caroline270965 - 2013-04-29 09:04:24

Hi
This is Caroline from the UK. I had my first pacemaker fitted when I was 21 after several years of fainting, tiredness and generally feeling unwell. I had complete heart block. The operation is easy and not too painful.

I am now 47 and since then I have had 3 pacemakers, two babies ( now aged 24 and 18), trained as a nurse, climbed UK's highest mountain, worked full time, founded my own business all without any problems. Embrace the pacemaker it truely will be your friend. I am fit and well and never looked back.
Good luck
Caroline

POST OP COMFORT TIPS

by mpilgrim - 2013-04-29 10:04:16

Prepare some jello and foods you think that you will
like or requests to friends and neighbors will make your
convalescence a whole lot easier.
Be sure to ask your MD or (if you are discharged by
the PA or NP ) before you go home for a prescription,
schedule II medication, i.e. percocet. Request at least
15 tablets of the controlled substance and you may find
that you only use 10 of them, but at least you will have
them especially if you live some distance from the
doctor's office as the MD office is not allowed to phone
in narcotic prescriptions. Also get a bottle of Ibuprofen
or Motrin. Motrin 200mg and the recommended dose is
is usually 2 capsules every 6-8 hours, but be sure to
take no sooner than 2 hours after the percocet. By day
4 or 5 post PM you can take half tablet of percocet and
by day 6-7 Motrin only will be all that you will probably
need. Remember, everyone's pain threshold is different
but this is what worked for me and I have only taken
narcotics two times in my life for post op pain.
Find some small gel paks and freeze them. Very
useful instead of ice packs. I found my gel paks
at a spa for post botox injections. The cold paks will
be comfortable under your arm and on the PM site to
help reduce swelling and bruising. I am now 3 weeks
post PM and only have a little bruising left. IF you can
not find the gel paks a small frozen bag of peas works.
When you get home have a small, soft pillow 11X11,
to place under your arm. This will help with the discomfort and support
the weight of your arm.
Take a small walk outside on day 3 and 4, the
fresh air will be good for you. You may even feel
like a small drive on day 4 or 5. Remember to use a
small towel over the PM so the seat belt will not interfere with your
driving.
If you are female, ditch the bra for at least 10 days.
Tank tops and going to the hospital in tank dress was
very helpful.
Also before you leave the hospital, be sure to get
an order for cardiac rehab. Some insurance companies
will not cover this unless the prescription comes at the
same time as PM. Do not expect your MD or PA to
suggest cardio rehab to you as they have their minds on other things.
You must be your own
patient advocate and ask!
Normally, the PM is an outpatient procedure. Look
forward to a longer life. The nurse will put your arm in a
sling on the first day which can usually be taken off by day 3. Take
one day at a time and know that in the long run each day will get a
little better.
Plan to have a two week check up after surgery with the PA to
test the PM. Plan on another echocardiogram and
visit 3 months after that. The company that my PM
is connected to will be sending me a home monitor
box so I can place the phone on the PM every 6 months. This is the
follow up for my Bi -Ventricular
PM, however, the follow up for the Bi-Ventricular -ICD
PM is every 3 months. Be sure to find out from your
physician which PM you will be getting. Medtronic is
the most popular brand. This brand is NOT MRI
compatible. So if you think you will be needing a lot
of MRI's you need to discuss with the MD the type
of PM that you can use.
Good Luck and Look Forward to getting the PM.
I recall 2 days before my PM, my heartbeat was so
erratic and I experienced a lot of fatigue and bradycardia
(slow heart beat), that I was willing and ready for this
procedure to take place. I am now mending exceptionally well and feel
full of energy at a young 62.
I was also quite surprised when the anesthesiologist
said he would be giving me the MJ drug. The propofal
works great and by no means do not be awake for
this procedure. Yeah, yeah so you are asked to sign
a paper to intubate you if needed, just do it. This is
considered minor surgery but always scary when it comes to the heart.
The professionals have this
down pat. Enjoy the ride and your new journey.

thank you

by kjb - 2013-04-29 11:04:23

so lovely to have people that have been through this to talk to thank you all for the advice the sooner may 8th gets here the better will keep u all informed of my progress and again thank you so much xxxx

Good luck, Karen

by ceciliepus - 2013-04-30 06:04:50


Hi. I am about to have my 4th pacemaker - turned 50 this year. Hardly ever think about it, and ski, scuba dive, sail, worked full time for years (now working as a consultant), became a mother (to a daughter who is now 24). Pacemakers are a miraculous invention!!! My first one in 1982 was about the size of a pocket camera, and it dramatically changed my life for the better. Before getting it I slept though large pieces of high school, fainted all the time, but I was used to it. The WONDERFUL Dr. Westheim (now retired) at Ullevål Sykehus in Oslo who realised that I had a heart block, I owe him my life. Your life is likely to become a lot better!

You'll Feel 150% Better After

by omarwolf1 - 2013-05-01 03:05:47

Hi,
just wanted to give you some words of encouragement, I had my PM replaced yesterday and am currently at home typing this message to you. When I first had it inserted 8.5 years ago, I was put under anesthesia, so I simply woke up after the procedure. I remember I wasn't allowed to lift anything heavy for a few weeks.

I hope you someday see that your life isn't ruined, just taken on a different path- as life can be. I had my PM implanted when I was 35, I felt the same as you, but later was grateful for a better quality of life the PM offered.

I job, walk, lift weights and enjoy a very active lifestyle. You'll be fine and hopefully adjust quickly.

Sincerely,
Dee

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