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Going in 7/7/15
- by Macabr
- 2015-06-28 12:06:03
- General Posting
- 1550 views
- 12 comments
Hi all,
I have bradycardia (clocked in as low as 25bpm awake and about). It's been asymptomatic so far. Had an EP study done last year which found slow sinus node. Was put on cpap which didnt work out. EP decided best option for me was pm due to the fact that the condition is progressing even though no symptoms yet. Got a 2nd opinion which concurred w/EP. I get it on 7/7/15 and just wanted to know what to expect more or less. I know every experience is different but some advice would be much appreciated. I'm 46 y/o male btw.
12 Comments
Going in 7/7/15
by Mona - 2015-06-28 03:06:08
I have posted this before. No one was more frightened or apprehensive than me about getting my CRT-D implanted in Feb 15. I was terrified. Thanks to the greatest EP around and a wonderful and caring anesthesiologist, it was a piece of cake. I was for the most part awake during the procedure - which is somewhat lengthy, but never felt apprehensive. Had one pain pill post op, never needed anotoher one after that.
Mona
Post PM implant
by Theknotguy - 2015-06-28 03:06:44
I'll let others chime in on getting the PM. I was unconscious for six days and missed the whole thing. Guess it went OK as I woke up with it working and it's been working ever since.
You probably will be told not to lift your elbow on the PM side above the shoulder for 4-6 weeks. Also will be told not to lift over 10 pounds with the arm on the PM side for the same amount of time. Idea is to keep activity down so you are less likely to dislodge leads in your heart. Discussions on this forum are the leads aren't going to come loose unless they were anyway. But you still need time for the body to incorporate the leads and scar tissue to form. So if you forget and raise your arm too high or pick up something over ten pounds, don't get excited. Just don't make it a regular habit.
You do want to keep the arm on the PM side moving so you won't get a frozen shoulder. Just take it easy. Same for exercise, gentle exercise is best, and taking walks keeps the body active. Anything that would hit your PM or the PM pocket is out, same for stretching where you might cause the stitches on the PM site to break and to open the wound. Chance for infection and a PM site infection is a nasty infection. Not to mention re-insertion of PM, insertion of leads, a long hospital stay, and a mountain of bills.
You may see comments on the forum about pulling the leads. Actually you're pulling on the scar tissue. It hurts like hell and may cause problems. So it's best not to do anything strenuous that would pull on the scar tissue. So giving the ball a hard toss for the dog (like I did) is out until the scar tissue heals. Then gently until you're back to normal.
You'll want to drink plenty of water. Not sports drinks, soft drinks, or alcohol. I was drinking 1/2 liter per 33 pounds of weight per day. Seems like a lot, but the PM raises your heart rate which ups your metabolism and you need more water to stay hydrated. Eventually you'll find a balance for how much water you need.
Recovery time varies per individual. Some people are out running marathons within a month, my recovery was seven months, others seem not to heal at all. It just depends upon how you body was prior to the implant and your mental state about the whole thing. Obviously the more positive you approach it, the faster and better your healing.
You'll probably be told to stay away from large electrical fields. There is a lot of misinformation that is repeated over and over. Some of it from the medical industry that should know better. (My misinformation started with my discharge papers.) Mostly it's just lawyer talk to prevent lawsuits. Rest assured there is nothing in the typical US, UK, and Canadian household that will affect your PM. So you don't have to worry about microwave ovens, cell phones, store security, airport security, TV remotes, car remotes and the like.
Post PM implant and after your body has become adjusted, you should be able to go up to 100% of normal activity before the PM. Some people do better than the 100% because they feel better and the heart is working better. Due to trauma prior to getting the PM it's taken me over 1 1/2 years but I'm better than 100% now. (You can check my name and search for old posts if you want the messy details.)
Feel free to come back to the forum and ask questions. All of us have PM's or ICD's so we have personal experience. Actually I got more of an education here than from my heart doctors and the medical industry. You'll also want to fill out your bio on the forum as it will help us answer questions.
Hope everything goes well for you. You have my best wishes.
Re: Thanks
by Macabr - 2015-06-28 04:06:27
Thank you Mona, Thek. A lot to take in but appreciate the info and wishes.
Nervous
by wired&blessed - 2015-06-29 01:06:22
Hi Macabr
Ill be having my surgery next Tuesday the 30th im 46 yrs old and suffer from Sick Sinus Syndrome, shortness of breath, bradycardia etc i am very nervous because everythi2that has to do with hospitals make me nervous abuway my surgery should had been last Tuesday but was rescheduled for insurance reasons so i really want it to be done so i can relax. Ill have you on my prayers!
Hi Macabr................
by Tattoo Man - 2015-06-29 02:06:33
.....................best wishes from the UK.....
Tattoo Man
symptoms
by Tracey_E - 2015-06-29 09:06:40
I have nothing to add to the above but I'll bet you feel a lot better after! Sometimes we go downhill so gradually and cope so well that we have no idea just how symptomatic we are. That happened to me and quite a few others,when our hr is that low it is affecting our body whether we realize it or not. I was astounded how much more energy I had after. Good luck!
fear not
by knb123 - 2015-06-29 09:06:50
Hi Macabr and welcome to our club! I received a PM in March on an emergency basis (complete heart block). I had been asymptomatic until one day I nonchalantly ran up the stairs in my house to grab my water bottle before going to the gym and instead found myself breathless and lightheaded. Took my BP and discovered it was at an all-time high so contacted my doc, who examined me and said I had an electrical problem with my heart.
I didn't fit the "profile" for heart block, but as many will tell you, it can happen to anyone at any time. During the implant procedure, they put me in "twilight sleep," i.e., I was mostly aware, could feel my fingers, etc., but lost track of the passage of time. Came out of it without any problems, had moderate discomfort at the implant site, but I am now back to a normal life.
Be aware that you may feel emotionally fragile for some weeks after the procedure. This is completely normal. Give yourself permission to take it easy those first several weeks. Nap when the urge hits you; don't be a hero. Let your friends and loved ones do stuff for you.
Good luck and let us know how it went.
Good luck
by RoytheBoy - 2015-06-29 11:06:24
Just to wish you all the very best for tomorrow, stay calm and remember the above comments from everyone, think positive on following this Op you can get your whole life back on track and not have to face each day as a chore.
I said to my wife this morning as we entered the supermarket, this time last week I was having my Op, how the last seven days have flown by and I have my confidence back about walking on my own, knowing I am not going to collapse anymore.
My thoughts will be with you, stay strong, let us all know how you are ASAP
Wow
by Macabr - 2015-06-29 11:06:38
I really appreciate the responses and I'm so glad I found this group! Goingtobewired, your situation almost identical to mine! Please let me know how it turns out! Thanks for all the advice and well-wishes. Again, this is an awesome community I've found!
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Feedback
by RoytheBoy - 2015-06-28 01:06:55
Hi, I am 64 and just had a dual St Jude's PM fitted last Monday, my past history was that I collapsed once last yr and had all the usual tests and they said they thought it was a one off, this March and April I was rushed into A&E six times and each time said they didn't know, had seven day holster didn't show, on my last collapse they decided to put in an implant recorder in chest to record any further collapses, I had that put in four weeks ago, three weeks later I collapsed and rushed in again, cardiology dept read the loop recorder to find my heart had stopped for six seconds and I was being kept in and awaiting an emergency spot for a Pacemeker to be fitted, they fitted that and at the same Op removed the loop recorder, so have two holes healing now in chest.
As the Op is only under local anaesthetic the surgeon was very good and explained each part of the Op as he went along, my Op was about two and half hours but this was longer as had to remove loop recorder, they use two types of fittings for the wires into the Heart, I had the screw in type which apparently screw into wall of Heart, the wires are all watched through a screen for placement, one cardiologist then connects wires first to a computer and they send some low voltage down wire ( strange feeling ) he does this on both wires, then the surgeon connects these wires into Pacemaker and that is inserted into a pocket he has made, there is a bit of pushing and pulling, but if I was uncomfortable at anytime he said I could have some funny juice, but I didn't have any, the main thing is that you have to lay still for so long.
After the Op I was back on ward for two hours bed rest, then the cardiologist brings up computer to carry out further tests to check all is working well and give you a card to carry at all times with all the settings of the pacemaker, you then go to X-ray and have two chest X-rays to check that screw fittings in heart are all in place, then it was back on ward and I was discharged that night at 7pm.
Told three days and dressing could come off, I had a few odd pains and twinges I am sure this was a settling down time as you now have this foreign object in you, plus you are not told how up you may feel, well I hope I haven't bored you and it is an insight to my recent Op, hope all goes well for you and let us know how you get on.