Upcoming pacemaker surgery

My 17 year old son will have his pacemaker implanted in 11 days. We've been preparing for this for years so there aren't too many questions we haven't already asked. However, I'd love to have some insight into helping him be comfortable post-op. Extra pillows? Sleeping positions? Any been there done that info you think we would benefit from would be much appreciated!

3 Comments

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-29 09:06:27

Kids bounce back so quickly! I doubt this is going to hold him back for long.

Know that the emotional healing can be harder than the physical, drs never mention that. It can take some time to mentally adjust to the thought of having a piece of titanium in our chest and a computer helping our hearts. He'll follow your lead. It sounds like you are pretty calm and optimistic, that's the best thing for him. I never was bothered/worried/scared that my heart was different from the other kids because I never knew any different and my parents were cool about it, but I sure hated it when I was treated like I was spun glass. My parents always focused on the positive, and it had a lifetime impact on me.

Wear a button up shirt to the hospital, he won't want to be pulling a t-shirt over his head at first.

I found it most comfortable to sleep on my back hugging a small pillow with my left arm to keep me from rolling onto my sore side in my sleep.

Does he have av block? That's what I have. My energy skyrocketed when I got the pm and finally had a normal heart rate for the first time in my life. That was almost 20 years ago, I never looked back other than to regret not doing it sooner (I procrastinated until my 20's).

Wishing your son an easy surgery and fast recovery, calming thoughts for you, and may his surgeons have their best day ever.

careful

by tha gator - 2013-06-30 12:06:21

mine is about 3 weeks old, when i came home the site itself was a little numb, this gave me the 'dont hurt at all syndrome' and i did a little too much, that caused some swelling and extra soreness, i went without the pillows in bed and ended up rolling over wrong and opening the incision, that cost me 3 additional staples.
so,, hind-site 20/20, i would use the sling they will probably give you at discharge, wear it to prevent accidentally reaching and pulling for the first few days home. also, like the other said,, stack pillows to prevent rolling to the affected side in your sleep.

Thanks

by suzq - 2013-07-06 08:07:21

Thanks for the advice and well wishes. I think we are as ready as we'll ever be.

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