During surgery?

Hi there,

I'm a writer for TV (in Australia) and currently working on a project where the lead character - a doctor - gets a pacemaker. Trying to do as much research as I can to be authentic...

Right now I'm really interested in what it felt like during your pacemaker surgery - especially if it was done under local anaesthetic? Could you feel your heart rate being dialled up and done to the right settings?

And in the day afterwards, were there any interesting emotional/physiological side effects? (Apart from general soreness and exhaustion).

Any help would be tremendously appreciated!

Best,
Sam

10 Comments

happy to help

by PEB - 2014-05-25 11:05:06

Hi Sam,
I'm in Sydney about to get my first PM implant (supposed to be today but now rescheduled to Thursday). I'd be happy to share my experience with you. Send me a private message if you want to set something up.
Peb

pm insert

by Alma Annie - 2014-05-26 01:05:10

Hi Sam,
I live South of Adelaide, and have had pm for 3 years, at age 68.
I had a heavy sedation during the surgery, but woke up, fully aware just as EP was pushing in the computer/battery. I sort of yelled out "I'm awake" Nearly finished, hang in there " says EP. "You're really hurting me" I say to him. No reply!! I knew nothing about the settings, in fact I knew nothing about pacemakers! EP told me nothing so I learnt most from this site.
That was in the evening, so I was given pain killers and sleeping tabs for the night and went home in the morning. Felt ok, just a bit sore. The wound was sprayed with 'OpSite' a wonderful product that waterproofed it so I could shower. No lifting arm above shoulder for 6 weeks, in case leads pull out before they are set in. No driving for 2 weeks. The pain and soreness was gone in 2 weeks, then I had to really be careful not to lift my arm high. It is surprising how often one does that automatically.
I don't suppose you can tell us which programme you are writing for? Perhaps you could private message me. I really would like to see it! (Would it be Home and Away?!)
Alma Annie

second pm

by annie21 - 2014-05-26 02:05:29

chatted to doc while he was replacing pm.

Very happy to help , Sam !

by IAN MC - 2014-05-26 05:05:27

I will fly from the UK to Australia , at my expense, then will happily play the part of the patient free-of-charge AND will tell you anything you want to know about pacemakers ..free !

One condition though, you have to get Kylie Minogue playing the part of the nurse !!

Best of luck with your project

Ian

Acting

by Alma Annie - 2014-05-26 08:05:23

Ian,-- the writer did not say the doctor character was male!!
There are many of us females here in Oz with pm's who would be willing to play the part of a female doctor and I am sure there would be some gorgeous male nurses on hand!!!!! As an ex RN, I am sure I could audition for the part. Oh dear, our lovely Prime Minister is going to raise the age of retirement to 70, so I thought I could do it but I am 71. Bother, Oh well!!
Alma Annie

hi

by pacergirl - 2014-05-26 12:05:57

I'm now on my second pacemaker. I recall feeling great after after each surgery and no I didn't feel much during the first pacemaker implant. The 2nd implant I did feel the dr changing the settings and then I fell asleep. Woke up and was ready to go home. The incision took a week or so to quit hurting, but I don't do well on pain killers so some advil was all I needed. I followed the instructions about not raising arm for a few weeks, but I heal fast so no problems there.

It did take me some time to get over the idea that I should be dead. My minister finally asked me this question "Do you believe in a higher power? in God?" I answered yes. He then said to me... If God wanted me in Heaven then It would so. I agreed. So, I quit feeling as if I should be dead and have begun to live my life with more purpose. I'm nicer, kinder and more forgiving now and a lot happier.

Best of luck to you

How's about Alma Annie ?

by IAN MC - 2014-05-27 03:05:18

.. if I played the patient and you play the nurse ? As long as the nurse is younger than me , then I'm happy !

Now, where did I put those plane tickets ?

Ian

writer too

by Gotrhythm - 2014-05-28 11:05:03

I've tried three times to offer psychological insight, but the *%^@* spam code keeps timing out. I'm not going to do it again.

I did encounter some complications which might be fuel for interesting scenes.


If you'd like to contact me privately please do.

fun

by Alma Annie - 2014-05-31 07:05:25

I apologise for Ian and I having some fun. Please tell us if the info we have given is what you want. I forgot to mention that the anaesthetist also yelled out to the EP that I was awake!
There could be a lot more that could make a script interesting, but also authentic.
Hope we hear more from you.
Alma Annie

awake

by PEB - 2014-06-15 07:06:57

Hi, similar to alma annie, I woke up from the sedation while they were still trying to push the PM 'box' into the incision. I remember turning my head to try and see what they were doing but the nurse turned it back and said "just look over here". I don't remember it hurting (they use a local anesthetic at the incision site) but they were definitely pushing with some force!
When I was put back in the ward the sheets on the op table came with me into my bed and there was A LOT of red/brown stains on them... I thought it was blood! then I realised later that it was the antiseptic that they doused the incision site with.
I didn't have any painkillers for the recovery, it was sore but not so sore that I couldn't sleep. After a week or so, all the soreness was gone.

You know you're wired when...

Airport security gives you free massages.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.