Dual Chamber PM

Hey! I had a dual chamber PM implanted a month ago today. Tomorrow I'm scheduled to have the first interrogation. Is there much to this? And also when did y'all start relaxing on restrictions, such as; lifting arm above head etc... I've seen so may different recommendations that says from 1 week to 6 weeks. I guess I've been a little paranoid...

6 Comments

interrogation

by Tracey_E - 2014-02-05 07:02:06

You probably had an interrogation before you left the hospital. Nothing to it! They put the thingy over the pm, test it, print some papers, you go home. Sometimes it feels funky, like an elevator coming to a stop.

Dr's vary on restrictions but most ease up between 4 and 6 weeks. Really, it's all precaution after the first few days. Nothing you do is going to pull a lead at this point. Don't go on a roller coaster or do 18 holes of golf, but within reason, do whatever you want if you feel ok.

interrogation

by bmccasland - 2014-02-05 07:02:15

Thanks Tracey!!

No big deal

by Theknotguy - 2014-02-05 08:02:19

Like TracyE said, they drape this thingy around your neck with something like a thick hockey puck on the end over the PM. They have what looks like a fat laptop, open it up, and start tapping with a stylus. Then start getting a whole bunch of stuff on the screen. No big deal.

Like TracyE said, sometimes you may get a funny feeling because the PM went into a test or maintenance mode. The first time (in the hospital) I got the funky feeling. The other two times, nothing.

They dropped the voltage on my PM at the 90 day period. I was watching all the printouts and talking with the tech when they did. Didn't feel a thing. So it's no big deal.

I was getting all sorts of bad information about moving the arm on the PM side. What I'm getting from the cardio doctors at OSU is you can start "normal" activities at four weeks. Six weeks if you are older. 90 days if you want to do heavier exercise. "Normal" activities are what you would do around the house.

Like TracyE said, if you do anything like stretching too much in the wrong way, (I did) your leads will tell you very quickly. So if it doesn't hurt, you don't have to worry about pulling the leads. Even then you'll just be pulling the leads close to the PM area - won't affect the leads in the heart at all.

I was lifting 90 pound sheets. Was told that was out as there is a possibility of getting more than 100 pounds per arm. Because of the weight my cardio told me to wait 90 days to give the body plenty of time to grow around the leads. 90 pound sheets are out, but anything less than that is OK.

Remember to ask the PM tech for your copy of the PM report. Great to have.

Hope everything continues to go well for you.

Theknotguy

Interrogation

by SparkyNoel - 2014-02-05 08:02:31

No worries...no pain involved. A good tech will talk with you during the interrogation to let you know what he or she is doing, especially when they speed your heart rate up. Don't be afraid to speak up if/when you feel something unusual. Since I am new at this myself, I just ask the tech to keep me informed as we go along-I want to make sure I am doing my part in the interrogation to optimize my device. As I said previously, no worries:-).

In regard to restrictions, everyone heals at a different rate-let your body be your guide. I'm sure you were discharged with instructions specific to your surgeon's recommendations. You will find there are variances among physicians and their recommendations on the same procedure. I know this b/c I am a nurse & work w/Interventional Radiologists who differ on recommendations on the same procedure. It can be not only confusing but frustrating. Best wishes:-)

Hi There .................

by Tattoo Man - 2014-02-06 05:02:13


................all these guys are spot-on. My own first download made me realise how stressed I was, the result being that I have had all my subsequent downloads done while lying down flat and near an open window.

I always ask my Techie to keep me informed about what they are going to do.......the funky moment when they do the test is still a bit weird for me, but if I know its going to happen I am just fine.

Have someone with you in the room if you can,... it can also help when you are in the waiting room...watch out for yawning and feeling thirsty...sure signs of being stressed.

It'll be just fine

Best wishes

Tattoo Mantdobt

PM-repeat

by bmccasland - 2014-02-08 09:02:52

Hi.. Had The interrogation done on Thursday and 4 hours later back in surgery due to the upper lead becoming dislodged. He re-positioned both leads and gave them a little extra slack. He said cause was due to the pm dropping low putting tension on the leads. He sewed the pm in where it would stay in place. Needles to say my clock starts over. I'm glad that we have this support group, I was really stressed.

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