How soon can I get back to work?

Hi,

I posted my worry and immediately I got support that warms my heart. Thank you. Thanks for everyone that read my post.

As I read more, I noticed that most people took quite some time off work. I don't think I'm pacemaker dependent as most of the time I am energetic. I plan to have it done on a Thursday, take a rest on Friday and go back to work on the next Monday. I can't afford to lose more days at work. I'm an in-house translator so I work literally at my desk all day. Why is it that a lot of people are saying they feel tired after the placement?

My second question is about exercise. I love to play badminton. Competitive one. I'm right-handed so the doctor will put it on my left chest. After 6 weeks of rest, can I resume it? I know people can still play tennis after that, but when I smash, I raise my right arm and it pulls the muscle on my left shoulder a lot too. Quite some doctors here in the US don't really realize how competitive badminton can be, so I don't know if it's true when my doc told me I could still play.

I have so many questions but I am going to read more posts to see if I can find the answers.

Thank you so much for reading it.

10 Comments

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT

by IAN MC - 2015-01-16 01:01:28

is one of the most important responses you have received so far ! So bear that in mind when I tell you that I disagree strongly with some of the above comments :-

- Theknotguy says he wouldn't resume competitive badminton for a year. I think this is nonsense.

- Sheila says that most drs recommend a sling for 2 days . I would love to know the evidence for that statement. Slings are best avoided completely in the view of the medical profession here in the UK

I strongly recommend that you have the implant done under a local anaesthetic rather than a general. Post-procedure tiredness is mainly due to the anaesthetic and not the procedure.

I identify with many of the statements you have made.

I,too, am a high energy person and I play lots of tennis and golf in between my running and cycling . I was surprised how totally normal I felt the day after the implant I can see no reason why you should not be playing competitive badminton after 8 weeks.

Once scar tissue has formed around the leads it will take more than a badminton smash to dislodge them and scar tissue will be well and truly formed after 8 weeks. Scar tissue formation is the ONLY limiting factor in your return to sports of any kind.

I do not believe that a pacemaker implant is any more severe than a tooth implant so, with your attitude, you will sail through the procedure.

Try going back to work whenever you want; we are all different !!

Best of luck

Ian

Energy

by WillieG - 2015-01-16 03:01:51

As you have read, everyone has different advice, as we are all different. I had the same energy as before my surgery and drove 440 miles the day after I came home from the hospital by myself to attend a graduation. I wasn't tired but my left arm was very sore for first 4 days. Like Sheila, mine was a surprise and I did not have bradycardia nor fainting before. I just had " excercised induced heart block" on steep hills biking so I was back to normal very soon. I did not wear a sling as it wasn't mentioned. I cheated and played racquetball after 5 weeks instead of 6. With any question, when I called to see if it was OK to do with my Right arm, the nurses said yes. This was lifting my 20 lb. grandson and vacuuming. I wondered why they just didn't write on the paper of no, no's ....can do with right arm but not left. So see how you feel before going back to work and let us all know how it goes for you!

Good luck! Don't be surprised it you have discomfort sleeping on your side for about a month. I had not thought of that and didn't realize I wasn't alone til I discovered ths site 2 weeks after my surgery.

Wilma

Agree with Ian!

by SaraTB - 2015-01-16 04:01:47

Yes, absolutely, we're all different.
It also depends on what anaesthesia is used: I had conscious sedation for the initial implant, and although I thought I was fine, it did take a few days to work out of my system, meaning i needed to rest now and then.

My doctor (in the US) never advises slings either, because too little activity can be bad as well, resulting in a frozen shoulder. I'm still recovering from one of those, which was ideopathic, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

The 6 weeks' wait is to ensure the leads get properly bedded into the heart tissue. After that, most people can do anything they like.

FWIW, I went on a vacation the week after my first surgery. I was very tired - but it turned out it was because the settings weren't good for me. Took several visits and readjustments, so don't be surprised if this happens too - If you feel really tired for a prolonged time, make sure you tell your doctor because it may not just be recovery time.

Incidentally, make sure you urge your doctor to suture the PM in place: they are designed to be, but many don't bother. My first wasn't, and the increased comfort with the second one, which is sutured, is phenomenal.

Good luck!

returning to work

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-16 08:01:25

Everyone differs when they are ready to go back to work. If you are mostly at a desk, you should be fine going back right away. There are a lot of reasons people are tired after. It's a minor surgery, but it's still a shock to the body and it takes some time to recover, to process the anesthesia and pain meds. How long you needed it before you got it and how badly you need it, your overall health also affect how tired you are after. I felt good and was mostly back to normal within a week, but I was grabbing naps whenever I could for the first few weeks. It wasn't awful, but I was'nt 100% either.

After 6 weeks you can play badminton or any other sport that isn't full contact.

Take it easy

by Theknotguy - 2015-01-16 10:01:04

One of the nurses in rehab said I should be nice to my body. I told her I was. That was until I went back to doing regular stuff.

You can return to work but I wouldn't go back before you've had a week at home. The world will go on without you whether you like it or not. The main thing is to heal first.

The caveat I'd give them at work for the first six weeks is that you can opt out at any time. Believe me, when I say I learned this the hard way. Your gasoline tank has been emptied and you don't have enough fumes to continue on. You won't believe me, push to hard because of a "crisis" and find yourself unable to get out of a chair. So whether you like it or not, take it easy for the first six weeks. Yeah, the translation job isn't the same as moving 2000 pounds of wood but it's still mentally taxing to the body. Sometimes more taxing. But, you'll have to learn it the hard way.

Badminton. Golfers on the forum have said nothing but putting and chipping for the first six weeks. Then a short game with par three holes until you feel better. Playing the lighter games gives you and your body time to learn how everything works.

I say this because I thought I was smart, pulled a lead, and spent the next six weeks getting over it. Fortunately I had a person who told me it would take a year. So anytime I'd get frustrated, I'd say, "It isn't a year yet." He was right. It was shortly over a year before I felt close to 100%. For competitive badminton, I wouldn't go back into competition for a year. You have to give your body time to heal and your body doesn't work off a calendar. So while your mind may be saying it's time to do something, your body might think otherwise.

It's 15 months since my implant. I'm back up to moving 2000 pounds of wood. Did so last Monday. Then a mild flu bug going around put me in afib, messed up the effects of my medications, and put me out for a week. Fortunately I'm a volunteer so can just say no, but I tell you this to give you an idea of how sharp the razor's edge can be after having to rely on a PM and medication to keep you going. If you think I'm trying to scare you, the answer is yes.

Mark the date on the calendar, say, "It isn't a year yet.", take it easy until things feel good, don't push it unless it's an emergency.

My best wishes go out for you.

Thanks.

by etmichelleh - 2015-01-16 10:01:41

Thanks for all the sharing and advice.

I have a question. Will a pacemaker make you feel tired more than before you have it? I read that many people felt tired after the insertion. Did they feel tired often before the insertion?

I'm usually very energetic and I don't feel tired easily. So I wonder if it will be the case for me as well.

I start to think I underestimate the whole process. I even told my manger I can be back to work the next day if she needs me to work from home...

I had full sedation when I was undergoing my tooth implant procedures. Twice. After I woke up, I felt OK and I went back to normal the next day. Is the insertion more severe?

Thanks again. Really appreciate everybody's input. Can't tell you how happy I was when I found this club last night.

work after implant

by bluebowtye - 2015-01-16 10:01:54

Hi,

Everyone heals differently, some faster than others. I did not return to work until 2 1/2 weeks after my implant. I have a desk job and felt that was too soon. I was very tired and some days did not feel well at all. I was healthy and in relatively good shape before my 2 syncope episodes one night, totally out of the blue. It was at least a month before I really started feeling like my old self. It does not matter how dependent you are on your pacemaker. At the time I was only using mine 14%. But you still had surgery which means being cut open and both your body and mind need time to heal, recover and adjust to having a chunk of metal in your chest and wires stuck in your heart.

My advice is to take it easy and do not overdo it. Get lots of rest and return to your normal routine slowly. If you must go back to work so soon maybe start out by only working half days if possible.

I wish you the best of luck!

~Sheila

tired

by bluebowtye - 2015-01-16 11:01:53

Hi again!

It is hard to say how tired you will feel after your implant. As said before, we are all different. I was very surprised how tired I felt after mine. The first few days were really bad and then some days I felt ok and some days not so good. I was pretty energetic before mine too and never had any health issues prior. I have never had a tooth implant so I can't answer that question. I was not fully sedated with my PM surgery. I really don't think you would be able to work even from home the next day. Most docs require you to keep your arm in a sling for 2 days. A lot of people here don't agree with that, but I did because that's what my dr. told me. (I did not find this site until after my implant).

I agree with the Knotguy and recommend trying to take at least a week off. If you feel well enough after a few days you can always start sooner, even if it's just a few hours a day. For most people getting a device implanted is a huge mental adjustment and it really takes time to process it all. Your body needs time to rest and recover.

I'm so glad you found this site. I had my implant almost a year ago and it has been the thing that has helped me the most. It is very comforting knowing others have gone through the same thing and hearing their experiences and knowing I'm not alone.

I hope all goes well with your surgery and that you feel better soon after!

~Sheila

tired part 2

by bluebowtye - 2015-01-16 12:01:47

I forgot to mention in my comment above that how tired you feel after also depends on your particular condition. Many people who have dealt with symptoms prior like bradycardia for years felt better almost immediately after getting their pacer because their hearts were beating more regularly. Others, like me who had no issues and found out suddenly they needed a pacer may take longer to feel better. Only you will know and not until after your procedure.

Good luck and please keep us posted how it goes for you!

~Sheila

sling and tired

by vattens1 - 2015-01-18 12:01:12

I'm in ireland. No sling but i was told not to raise my left arm above shoulder height for 3 weeks or lift anything over 2 lbs For 3 weeks. I am bradycardiac. Didn't know i was getting this last june until i went into hospital feeling rotten then told i had 20 to decide to have it or not. Scary stuff. I'm still getting used to it. Get a bit down. Can't run ti far and had to get it repositioned last week as it flipped around in pocket and Leeds got twisted. I groom my dogs which i sore and it might have been the shoulder movement. But i was very careful for the 3 weeks. Felt tired for weeks not so bad now just bouts of it. If i was you no way would i go to work give your body and mind time. There are leads being inbedded in your heart it takes time to recover. Mine was under local anaesthetic i chatted thru it all. Take care of yourself no practice runs in this life toy only have one x

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