tomorrow is the big day!!

Well......in 24 hours I will have my pacemaker!
Not going to lie, I'm terrified! Any words of comfort would be much appreciated!
Just scared about being awake through the surgery :(

15 Comments

1 Month ago yesterday

by EV1 - 2014-01-01 01:01:02

You are in for a great experience. I had my pacemaker installed December 2nd, 2013 and selected the "awake" method. Was not sorry I did so,

The total process was less difficult than going to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned and the process was about 1 hour total time.

Lots of comments are written about how you will feel after the insertion, I read as much as possible before mine.

I felt much better ( I was having 50 beats with multitude of 4 second pauses) and continue to feel better each day.

Go with the peace of mind we live in a fantastic world and are lucky to receive this medical pacemaker gift.

Amy......................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-01-01 03:01:48


...............all above is very sound advice.. but....there are those amongst this community that have a history of surviving long term chemical endurance...

This can have the effect of reducing the short term benefiet of the very best of those medicaments that will..'smack you out'

Waking up, during a procedure, having had the full dose of ..'Twighlight Drugs'..and , being told...'No More'..is the nearest you will get to a willing Death Wish.

Sorry...

If this Forum reflects Truths....my nineteen blood swabs, slotted into a plastic pocket .dangling in front of me..was not one of the big moments in my life.

But..

You wake up,..have something to eat..

And get back to being..Just You...

Then its all been worthwhile

TM

If anyone finds this hard....I found it hard.

..

Hi Amy

by IAN MC - 2014-01-01 04:01:26

You asked for words of comfort ! I sometimes wonder about some of the stuff which is written on here and , on reflection, I'm glad that I didn't know about the PM club before having my PM implant.

I didn't know what to expect and was amazed at what a simple, non-traumatic procedure it was ! The vast majority of people have it done under a local anaesthetic and you really will not feel a thing. As you are lying there tomorrow just think that 50,000 people in the UK every year have a PM implant.

There will be loads of other people within a 50 mile radius of where you are having it done , having exactly the same thing done at the same time as you.

Something approaching 4 million people worldwide have pacemakers. Almost all were awake !!!

I agree with what EV1 wrote earlier that it is no worse than going to the dentist .

Having a low heart rate and the constant possibility of fainting should scare you, having the problem solved by a VERY simple procedure should not.

Send a message as soon as you can and best of luck,

Ian

Best of luck

by Bostonstrong - 2014-01-01 08:01:09

Hope everything went smoothly and you are on your way to a smooth recovery. Sending positive thoughts from the bitter cold Midwest !

Stay calm

by Jonny - 2014-01-01 09:01:30

Almost 5 months since my implant. The NHS is great in these circumstances and they looked after me very well. The procedure room was cold from what I remember (apparently needed to be for some equipment) and I was advised to keep my slippers on. Didn't feel any real pain just discomfort when the pocket was being formed for the PM to lie in. Strangest feeling is when they start the PM to get the readings and wind the heartbeat up a bit. You'll get used to that at check ups later. It took around half an hour once they got started and wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had envisaged. TBH it's not very much pain for the real gain you'll have by having it. So try and think of the advantages you'll get as you lie there. Thinking positively is always a massive advantage. Best of luck. John

Hi Amy..........................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-01-01 09:01:34


...............................My, My,..2014 has taken off in a big way for You !!

Being a bit terrified just tells us that you have real human feelings and are honest enough to admit this.

Being 'awake' is an option..the Tough Guys on this Forum find this no problem.

Me.., I go for a GA. I have a simple philosophy...' Happy Patient = Happy Surgeon'..

My very best wishes..I am sure that it will go just fine..you are in a good place in Lancashire..( I have to say that 'coz Mrs TMs lot are from Fleetwood !! )

Let us know how it goes.

Tattoo Man

thanks, already feeling more confident!

by amylh87 - 2014-01-01 10:01:31

Thanks for the comments, it's nice to speak to people who have been through it already. I'm so excited to feel amazing after it!
You're right, tattoo man, great way to start the new year! And us Lancashire lot are the best :)

I'll let you all know how I get on!

Xx

Be strong

by pitty617 - 2014-01-01 10:01:34

I felt the same way 18 months ago when I for my first pacemaker. The procedure went well and I felt better immediately . I am so grateful to have the pacemaker today and wish I had it many years ago.

Don't know about the UK

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-01 12:01:16

Don't know about the UK, but in the US they give you amazing twilight drugs. You're awake but you DON'T CARE. They use the drugs for lens replacement on your eyes.

Any other time you'd cringe if someone said they were going to stick a needle in your eye. But after having the drug - YOU DON'T CARE! They could walk up, say they were going to cut off your leg and you'd say, "OK, do you want the other one too?" The best part is the drugs are LEGAL.

You've got some recovery pain but as the PM kicks in you'll start to feel better.

Looking forward to hearing how it went.

Theknotguy

its done!

by amylh87 - 2014-01-03 02:01:03

Hi everyone,

I had my pacemaker fitted at around tea time yesterday, I found the experience quite painful, but worth it!

Very sore and very tired now!

Thank you again for all your lovely messages, and I'm sure I will have plenty of questions to ask soon enough!

Amy x

Brilliant Amy

by IAN MC - 2014-01-03 04:01:27


Well done and welcome to the club ! The next big milestone is when you can take your first shower in a couple of days ( I draped cling film over the wound and that worked quite well ! )

Have a good recovery

Ian

can't wait!!

by amylh87 - 2014-01-03 05:01:26

Thanks Ian!

I can't wait to have a shower, I'm covered in that yellow stuff!

Onwards and upwards now :)

X

Hope you are healing well.

by LGP - 2014-01-09 11:01:37

I was just reading down through this for any information that I could get from people who have a pacemaker. I have to say, the post about waking up during the procedure did not make me feel any better... I am glad everything went well for you. Keep us updated on your healing!



-Lauren

Thank you!

by LGP - 2014-01-10 02:01:04

Yes, I am scheduled to get my first pacemaker on Tuesday. I've heard so many different things about the healing process already, and it is definitely nice to hear about it from someone who has a pacemaker already. I hope that you keep healing well.

Thank you for the information,



Lauren

hi Lauren!

by amylh87 - 2014-01-10 05:01:26

Are you awaiting your pacemaker, Lauren?

I was awake through the whole procedure, but I was heavily sedated and had local anaesthetic!
I was completely aware of what was going on, but felt very relaxed :)
The only painful part was when the pocket was made for the battery, just a lot of pulling and pushing. More uncomfortable than anything!

Almost all the pain has gone now after a week, the strangest part is when you can feel it working for the first time, kind of a nice feeling in a way, as you know it's doing its job!

I was in for the procedure at 3 in the afternoon, and was home at 3 the next day, so it was all very quick!

Anything you want to know, please ask :)

Amy x

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