Got my pacemaker yesterday

They took me first thing in the morning, I had my PM inserted on the right side (because I'm left handed) with a local anesthetic and mild sedative. "Conscious sedation" they call it. There was a tent over my head so I couldn't see anything but was alert throughout, chatting with the two EP cardiologists and overhearing their comments ("That's fat, that's muscle, there it is [the vein]." . First the ventricle lead was attached, then the atrial lead. With each lead the technician counted off voltage "Now its at 5, now 4, now 3, capture, pacing , 3, 2, 1,0 .8,0 .6 intermittent, 0.8, call it 0.8". Then a magnetic want to calibrate. DDD, 50bpm to 150bpm. No complications, all went smoothly. I told the docs my wife was going to make osso buco and cherry pie for me. I hung out in the recovery room chatting with the nurses until 4pm when I got a final IV of antibiotics with my wife driving me back home to a wonderful dinner. Now it's the next morning. There's some pain of course, but quite bearable. My main risk now is to remember not to be too active with the right arm.
Erik


3 Comments

Great news

by KAG - 2013-11-23 11:11:44

Now just to heal and get back to normal activities as soon as your body is ready!

Kathy

Kill the suspense...

by donr - 2013-11-25 05:11:13

...which Pm did you get?

Don

standard

by erik - 2013-11-25 08:11:08

Standard St Jude DDD with rate-response capability if needed.

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

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Do feel free to contact the manufacturer of your device. I have found them to be quite helpful when I have had questions and concerns.