Pacemaker Surgery

Hi everyone! I just turned 60 and am having a pacemaker installed in 12 days. Living by myself, you know how at night the mind has a tendancy to blow things out of proportion. I'm a nervous wreck about having the pacemaker installed. I know that I will feel better after the procedure, but since the procedure has to do with the heart, I'm really scared. Can anyone provide positive feedback?

8 Comments

Dont worry

by orangebowls - 2015-05-03 01:05:45

I am 79 had a pacemaker put in 5 weeks ago, had no problems at all , site was a little sore for 2or 3 days I am sure you will be fine

pacemaker

by sagehen - 2015-05-03 01:05:48

The unknown is frightening, however you have come to the right place. There are wonderful people here to answer for questions and to encourage you. They have helped me and I've had one for years. First of all, I am 73. Because of my pacemakers for the last 43 years, I am alive. So I am very grateful for them.

As for the surgery, it has never been a painful experience. I am not saying that there won't be local pain at the incision, but it's never been very painful for me. I think the most important thing to do, is to ask your doctor any questions that you have. You are entitled to answers, so don't let them beat around the bush. I've been fortunate in my cardiologists, they answer my questions. I also trust them.

I expect that you will come back to this site and tell us that you did very well and feel a lot better. I wish you well and look forward to hearing from you again.

after pacemaker surgery

by phyllisilie - 2015-05-03 03:05:00

The night after the surgery I stayed in the hospital. There was minimal pain when sitting up but the pain increased when lying down. The nurse put a pillow under my left shoulder plus some pain medication and that helped. Once home the next day I continued with the pillow under the shoulder when sleeping on my back and there was not much pain. I was afraid to move my left arm and ended up with a frozen shoulder from inactivitiy. Use good judgement and follow the discharge instructions when home. I saw the surgeon about ten days after implant and have not had any problems in the ensuing three years. Good luck and try to keep calm.

Newby Perspective

by stricsm - 2015-05-03 07:05:17

I had my dual lead PM installed in Aug 2014 (at 53) for a 2nd degree heart block. My wife will tell you that I am the biggest baby when it comes to these type things and she is right. As far as physical pain, there was less than having a crown installed. I'd say it took me a couple of weeks to get back to normal except for arm movement. I went back to work 5 days after the surgery and was driving 2 days after but I wasn't on pain medicine. The mental is a little tougher. Mine was minimized by knowing that my EP is an electrical engineer like myself and I know how meticulous most engineers are. I also knew that he was very experienced at the procedure. If you live alone the toughest part will be washing your hair without getting the incision wet or raising your arm above your shoulder for the first six weeks. This was all I needed help with. Good luck.

Why are you getting the PM?????

by donr - 2015-05-03 07:05:51

All PM implants are not equal; all of us do not respond the same to the procedure.

Actually, you said it all about the psychological aspects of PM's - they are mucking around in your one & only heart & it must work every second of every day for you to live.

Fear of the unknown is natural & will become worse as the great day approaches. Now, while you can face things rationally, is the time to gird your loins w/ the sword of knowledge to slay the dragons of fear when they ambush you in the still, dark of knight. This is the place to study "Knowledge 101."

1) Start by filling in your Bio sketch completely so we know what dragons you face. Some are worse than others.

2) Follow up by asking some specific questions about YOUR specific situation. We know nothing about you other than in 12 days you get a PM.

3) Somewhere in here is someone who has BTDT for your exact situation & they can give you the straight skinny on how it is.

4) Realize that darned near every one in here has come for questions to be answered. Mainly because the world of the PM was brand new to them before they received the startling news that they were going to suddenly get a bionic buddy to keep the old Ticker going like a Timex Watch or the Energizer Bunny. You are among kindreds spirits!

5) A lot of us came here initially because we had not just questions, but real PROBLEMS. So far. you have met three (Make it 4 with my response) Pollyanna's or her sisters & brothers. Sounds like we went through the procedure like it was a breeze. Read on & you will find people who have really faced dragons that exhaled fire w/ every breath - do not be surprised.

6) There are literally MILLIONS of hosts for PM's out there who just wander through life like nothing exciting happened to them - THAT is the norm, trust me on that.

7) Most of these dragons cannot survive in the light of knowledge - they only make it in the darkness of ignorance. So as soon as you face one, come and ask about it. There is no stupid question - especially from a newbie!

Now for the arm-waving advice:

1) Napoleon Bonaparte said it in about 1806: "In battle, the mental is to the physical as three is to one." That is oh, so true with respect to the PM's psychological issues. You have already discovered that in the still of the night when fear ambushed you. And there are more of them to come.

2) Another great soldier, Gen Patton said it well, also: "Never take counsel of your fears," and "Any man who says he is not afraid is either a fool or lying." Both of these are paraphrases, but the essence is there.

Hang in there & come back as each question arises - we are here to help. You will make it, we all did.

Donr



Please See My Other Post

by MathTeacher - 2015-05-03 10:05:26

Hi,
You can read my post on Surgery and First Week Recovering. It's just a few posts down from yours. You'll be fine alone. I hope the information on there will help you out, so that you can relax a little more about the procedure. The very best to you!

new pacemaker

by islandgirl - 2015-05-04 05:05:08

I received my pm on an emergency Feb 17. I am 58 and very active. I also live alone. I have had bradycardia my entire adult life and it turned into sick sinus node. I have hereditary arrhythmias, starting about 10 years ago, with sudden death for my mom's brother and father. I've had 7 ablations over the past 10 years, with my local EP sending me to 2 different specialists for specialized ablations. Mine was placed sub pectoral to not interfere with my active lifestyle. Recovery has been slower than I expected and I'm still plagued with arrhythmias, although still in the healing stage. I had to wear a sling for 8 weeks when I was out (although the dr. let me discontinue it at 6 weeks when I was at my first appt as long as I promised not to raise, extend, or lift with my arm). I felt terrible for about a week with pain. I didn't drive, by choice, for a couple of weeks--he didn't want me to drive for a week. I did go into vfib the night before the pm surgery, after I was admitted through the ED, and they kept me an extra night after the pm was implanted to make sure I didn't need a defib. I had no problem washing my long hair, as you don't have to lift your arm above your shoulder to wash it. I could shower, as it had some plastic-type covering on it that wore off after about 3 weeks. The incision was glued shut, so no stitches and a clean wound. Surgical soreness lasted about 8 weeks. It's still tender to touch and use my pectoral muscle, and I'm still restricted to 10# lifting. It's still too sore to lift much, anyway. No swimming for or baths for 8 weeks.
I have carelink and send transmissions weekly. I will see the EP for a follow-up at 3 months.
I'm finding it tough to deal with the pm mentally. Thinking I will be living with this for the rest of my life. My heart is healthy except for the electrical system, so I feel blessed. With the arrhythmias, I still get frustrated with the symptoms. My pm atrium works at 98.7%, the ventricle around 12%. I'm looking forward to going back to the EP and asking more questions. As far as battery life, right now I don't care.....I just want to feel better.
Best of luck and you'll be fine.
I've been going to my ep for 10+ years, and he's awesome!

Scary

by Sue H. - 2015-05-05 11:05:07

Yes it is scary to get a pacemaker....it's your heart. There are some people on here who said they weren't scared, but I think they are the exception.

I was very frightened when the Dr said you need pacemaker NOW. I didn't have time to be scared but trust me when they were preparing me I was. Was sent home the next day and my thoughts were what the heck happened? It was all so fast...so like I do with many issues, I said I have to self educate and I did.

One of the best things I did was get on this site. I made many friends and they all helped me with my fears. It helps to have someone to talk to that have had the same fears. We all need a support system and this site is one of the best!

Now for after - you may have an emotional reaction and get paranoid, e.g. taking pulse every hour, every different beat your heart makes, you will say what the heck? And unfortunately some of the Doctors don't understand the emotional reaction that many of us had. They put in pacer, pat you on back and say get on with your life. Well for some that's not easy, it's our heart!

So my advice, stay on here, keep in touch and best of luck to you and let the emotions flow because eventually you will be so used to the little energizer bunny inside your chest you'll not think about it.

I knew I was healed emotionally when I went to a dr a few years later and forgot to tell her I had a pacemaker. She looked at me and shook her head and then said well actually that's good.

You'll get there too and maybe quicker than you think....keep in touch and if you want to private message me....do so.

Best to you

Sue (e.g. Magster)

You know you're wired when...

Your license plate reads “Pacer4Life”.

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