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Hi, My name is Chris, and im 33 yrs old living in the UK. I have just been given a date today for my first pacemaker implantation op and to be honest im terrified, Perhaps I shouldn't be as i work in emergency medicine but when its you its a new ball game. Need some advice and support really. Im scared of the operation, im a latex allergy sufferer so is there more of a chance i could be allergic to the pacemaker or leads? if so whats the solution other than removing the thing .. Do you feel it when it sends a pacing beat? I know well what it looks like on an ECG as i have managed many patients with them but never thought to ask. I would be grateful for any help and anyone else that lives in Kent, England or knows of a support group in Kent, England that would be great too.

Thanks all..

9 Comments

welcome

by rnff2 - 2013-10-18 09:10:50

I can't help with the support group request but I am an emergency room nurse and had a PM put in about 6 months ago. Part of the problem with what we do is that we know too much but yet not enough...if that makes sense. I thought I knew a lot about pacemakers until I got mine, I have learned so much in the past 6 months. My best advise...Just try to relax and ask questions even if you think you know the answers because you may be surprised by what you learn. I have been told that some people do feel the pacing, I did/do. The good news is I feel it a lot less now than in the beginning. As far as the latex allergy, ask your doctor, and make sure they are very aware of you allergy. I personally have never heard of latex being problem with a pacemaker itself, but again make sure everyone is aware of your allergy. This is a great site and you will get some great information from these wonderful people. Good Luck!

Latex not an issue

by PacerRep - 2013-10-18 10:10:17

The can is nowhere near a latex material and the leads are either going to be silicon or polyurethane...or a blend of both depending on physician preference.

The only issue is with the gloves, make sure your allergy is known so that they use a non-latex glove during surgery (did a surgery today on a patient with a latex allergy btw).

As far as feeling the pacing..my answer....it depends, but you have a better chance of not feeling it. Only around 15% percent of patients feel it (not a real statistic, just me guessing).

You'll feel really good

by Bron - 2013-10-19 06:10:54

Honestly I did feel so much better after I got mine at first I was euphoric, it made me feel more alive and stronger, and those things make you feel so good when you wake up that it's pretty good.

Hug a pillow to protect it, you may be put on blood thinners, just don't go do crazy stunts until it has time to grow scar tissue and cement into own
it's place.

My cat used mine as a stepping stool and snapped the stitches..I am young an active and eventually they buried it way under my pecs. It depends on activity levels but please don't be scared, it's generally very simple.

Bron

are you me?????

by Commando42 - 2013-10-19 07:10:38

Hi Chris, How bizarre, i'm ian and also 33 and work as an a and e (ed) charge nurse also in Sunny Kent (medway). Just like you i'm scheduled for a pm in a few weeks (was supposed to be this past Thursday, but the op was delayed due to a "clerical error"). I know exactly how you feel mate, being a clinician, you have a little too much knowledge and are more acutely aware of the issues regarding pm placement. However the good news is that it is a day case surgery, so in and out job done, god bless the NHS.
I psyched myself up mentally just to be cancelled the night before, so mentally it can be tough, but focus on the positives, your young and once its in you've got the rest of your life to get used to it.
Where abouts do you work???, I do locum work in and around kent on top of my main role at medway, so its possible we have worked together at some point.
There is a support group at Medway, I'm not back in work til Tuesday, but will happily get you the details mate.

What are you getting the pm for mate, complete av block, lvf, bradyarrythmia (sss)??? I'm having mine for profound brady and bradyarrythmias. my hr drops to the very low 20's at night and 27-28 whilst resting in daylight hours, it's often 30 at work (impossible to work in an ed with that rate all with pauses; I also have periodic escape capture bigeminy, which is quite rare by all accounts (so I feel very special:)
I found myself doubting the ethicacy of having the PM as I was not yet at the stage where I felt it was life threatening, although my quality of life is shocking, and many of my colleagues have assured me that it's very life threatening lol (I think they are just scare mongers though) so the mental battle is not going to go until you finally have the pm inserted, but stay strong and you'll get through it, if you can survive working in ed, you can easily get through this. Best of luck mate, ian

Ian's response

by chrismoore1980 - 2013-10-19 08:10:24


I'm an emergency care assistant with ambulance service. . Great to get your reply.. im having single lead for Brady 29 bpm regular pve's and lots of pre syncope episodes.. love to chat properly.. im in Chatham a lot as my church is there.. where is your surgery going to be ?

driving / active work.

by chrismoore1980 - 2013-10-19 08:10:56

What about driving after the prodecure? week, 2 wks?? being that i work on ambulances should i be mentioning to them about putting it deeper in incase i get a drunk swing at me one day and hit the PM, dont want to risk damaging it .. what you think?????

Allergy to PM

by Many Blessings - 2013-10-19 10:10:09

Hi Chris,

I actually had the same concern when I got mine. I'm very sensitive to a lot of things, and being allergic or sensitive to something to do with the PM was something I thought about before and right after mine was put in. Especially, since I had an AV Node ablation and am 100% dependent.

I'm very happy to say, I haven't had any allergy or sensitivity problems at all! None! Not from the metal, not from the leads, not from anything PM related at all.

I know there have been posts out here in the past about this subject, a few from individuals that have had issues. Do a search at the top, right hand side of this site for "allergy" "allergic reaction", etc. until you get your answer or set your mind at ease. Ask your doctor a LOT of questions about it as well.

I know you're going to get some great answers here from other members, but I wanted to let you know, I had the same concern as you, and haven't had any problems whatsoever regarding allergy issues.

Hey! I bet you could ask your EP doc or cardio doc for a "sample" PM, leads, etc., to take home with you to make a test. Hold them, put them on your chest while lying on your back, just to see if you react at all. If you don't have a reaction, this will put your mind at ease. If you do react, maybe they can come up with suggestions.

Good luck!

Driving

by Commando42 - 2013-10-20 07:10:31

Chris, the DVLA require 6 weeks after implantation if you drive any passenger carrying vehicle ( including an ambulance), not ideal for you mate. Hope this helps mate
Ian

driving

by chrismoore1980 - 2013-10-20 07:10:49

Thank you for that .. so many questions..do you think it will annoy the doc if i send my questions by email.. i was in and out of the appointment so fast the other day i didnt get a chance to ask anything thats important..

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