Pacemaker Panic

• by Coach
• 2013-08-15 05:08:58
• Complications
• 1227 views
• 5 comments

I've only had my pacemaker "installed" for a little over three months. My instillation was a rush job due to a car wreck, emergency room panic, four heart stoppages, etc. The accident was on a Friday around 7:00pm and the first pacemaker was put in Sat.am on my left side. However, during the procedure a lung collapsed, my heart stopped again and they had to cut a new hole and put a tube into my chest to get the lung inflated. Fearing contamination the surgeon removed the pacemaker, closed me up and then put a new pacemaker in on my right side around 12 hours later. Fortunately I remember almost none of the events after I blacked out just bofore I t-boned the utility post.
As you can see, if you've made it this far in my story, I didn't have the advantage of pre-pacemaker counseling. In fact my son was the one that had to give approval for the procedure to take place. I guess I'm just starting to experience some of the anxieties associated with having a pacemaker. I would love feedback on two things: (1). Golf- Is it still possible to play golf after a pacemaker is in place ? Do any of you play and have you experienced any problems associated with your pacemaker ? (2). Pacemaker movement- When I'm in bed at night and I turn to my left side my pacemaker seems to flop over on its side and then I have to push it back into place. The first time this happened I was so panicked I couldn't get back to sleep. I called the cardiac unit and they told me not to worry that such movement was "normal". To be honest their response hasn't eliminated my concern, especially since it's still a nightly event. Any info. or advice would be appreciated.
sksk Coach J.