Planning for Surgery... List of must haves!

Hello! I'm new here and about to officially join the club next week! I'm 31 and receiving a dual chamber device for Tachy-Brady syndrome.
Looking for expert advice on preparing for surgery and things that helped your recovery. Anything at all from preparing your house beforehand, reducing anxiety or gadgets that helped you after (seat belt covers, bra strap pads, etc.) any other words of wisdom welcome also! Thanks!

15 Comments

Planning ..

by oldearthworm - 2015-08-21 09:08:46

If I had to do it all over again ...Maintain a diary .. take down names.. which some may not appreciate ..but .. Out of 8 to 10 .. ONE good doctor, and I never received his name ! ONE really god nurse .. same thing .. Also, bring nothing of value with you .. I trust not hospitals ..
Gathering as much info as possible .. beforehand ..this forum is GOOD ..

Organize

by Theknotguy - 2015-08-21 10:08:24

A lot of us didn't get a chance to plan. I got mine during a six day coma so missed the whole thing.

Like oldearthworm said, maintain diary, get names of people to thank, bring noting of value. You do have to bring insurance ID and personal ID. Otherwise....

Get housework done before you go, pay bills, do laundry, clean out refrigerator of old food. Have quick meals ready to go when you get back. Get a route planned for walking. Have phone numbers of people to call lined up. Have emergency and "what if" numbers where you can find them. Have clothes you want to wear laid out or planned. Where are pain killer pills, can you get to them. Have a list of drugs. Do you have enough to get through the first week? If your refrigerator has an ice maker, make sure it's turned off before you go - ours just kept on making ice and jammed up. I wasn't in shape to fix it. Get car maintenance done and fill gas tank. Get thank you notes, addresses, and postage stamps.

I'm sure I missed something. Anyway, you've got a list to keep you busy so you shouldn't have time to worry.

Hope everything goes well for you. Let us know.

make lists

by knb123 - 2015-08-22 01:08:07

While you're not under anesthesia, make lists of the questions you want to ask the doctors. Keep them in the journal/diary you carry with you at all times. (You might be surprised at how little detail you retain when you're in the hospital--I was glad I wrote stuff down.)

Rely on loved ones to do the heavy lifting. Honestly, you might feel like a million bucks when you're discharged (or not) but you'll soon find your energy ebbs and your emotions take over. Many in our club have reported feeling weepy at the drop of a hat. This is extremely common. Be kind to yourself, don't push, just take it easy. Follow your doctor's orders and report any symptoms without fail. Ask questions about anything you don't understand...and don't be afraid to keep asking until things make sense to you.

Don't hesitate to ask folks for what you want/need. People may say "Let me know if there's anything I can do" and you may hesitate. But in those early days you might want to go to the market but you can't drive yet...and you're not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for a few weeks. Let people drive you places.

Don't forget that you can't lift your arm above your head for the first six-eight weeks. Figure out who'll do your hair (even blowing dry is a two-handed operation). I pampered myself by getting a weekly shampoo and blowout at an inexpensive salon chain nearby. It made all the difference in my recovery.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Pillows

by Janenotarzan - 2015-08-22 03:08:45

Get out all the spare pillows, so you can try several different arrangements for the most comfortable/least uncomfortable sleeping position while recovering.
Best wishes! ~Jane

Not that difficult.

by Artist - 2015-08-22 05:08:53

Everyone is different, but my experience was more like Ian's. I was driving after two days and was told not to lift my left arm above my shoulder for 30 days. Clothing that buttons up the front is better than things you have to slip over your head, but even that is doable. Hopefully you will get written post op instructions to follow concerning wound care and lifting limits. My instructions were no more that 10 lbs for weeks 1-2 and 20 lbs for weeks 3-4. Dog gone it, no shooting a rifle on the left side of my body, not anything I was planning on doing. One of the biggest adjustments for many people is dealing with their sleep discomfort, especially if you sleep on your left side. Extra pillows help there. Keep moderately active so that you don't have excess time to dwell on the discomfort in the surgical site. Keep using gentle movements with your left arm so that the shoulder does not stiffen up. Talk to the people here in the PM club, because there normally are emotional adjustments and sometimes difficulty working with medications and finding the right ones that are effective for you and have minimal side effects. People who have not actually gone through this think that a pacemaker is just popped in using a minor surgical procedure and everything is just "Hunky Dory" afterward. My exercise class instructor thought I should be back in class doing one armed planks and lifting a weight with the other arm two weeks after surgery. That was a stretch for me when I was a healthy 73 year old woman. So, keep in touch here and let people who have been there and done that help you along your journey.

Ipad or Tablet

by howdoyoumendabrokenheart - 2015-08-22 07:08:14

You'd be surprised how surfing the net or playing games can distract you from minor pain and stressful thinking. lol. Sounds crazy but it helps. Plus you can just throw it in your bag.

Hi Gertrude.....................

by Tattoo Man - 2015-08-22 08:08:19



......I am definitely with the 'Diary Guys'.....I kept a diary through my five cardiac procedures. I included stuff such as how I was feeling...who had visited me...the food...some of the really great people and funny moments that happen....I drew my ward at night when I could not sleep...My Family took photos of me looking dopey after returning from theatre....all the stuff that you may well forget.

No less important, for me. is being able to look back if I am having a down day so that I can remind myself just how lucky I am.

Two years ago. when in hospital for a new PM I took my laptop and started a running report from my bed ...all the way from pre-med to post op, when MRS TM took over the reportage.....it was fantastic to be in touch with people from round the World while I was languishing in my bed !!

Best wishes Tattoo Man

PS....don't take any t-shirts...only front button stuff 11

procedure/recovery

by hopefulheart - 2015-08-22 09:08:20

Hi, Gertrude
Fresh linens with a few extra pillows for propping comfort and loose clothing are both nice to come home to and wise for infection prevention. Placing items you use daily in your life within easy reach and amounts you can easily handle is very helpful also. Make sure you have all recovery instructions in writing and any prescriptions before leaving the hospital. Remember your procedure/device is for a better life. You seem positive and are carefully planning ahead. Keep in touch. Ask any questions you may have. Welcome!
hopefulheart

Hi Gertrude

by IAN MC - 2015-08-22 12:08:35

I sometimes think that I had a totally different op / procedure to many of the people on here .

I returned home the same afternoon , having had the implant under a local anaesthetic and felt good.

I hadn't emptied any fridges, made wills or paid any bills.

So , you won't be able to lift one arm above shoulder level for a short time , big deal , use your other arm ( apologies if you only have one arm but presumably you know somebody with 2 good arms ) .

You will NOT be an invalid when you return home !!

If you asked me for must-haves before having a PM implant , my answer would be the same must-haves as those before having a tooth out at the dentist i.e NONE

There is only one must-have and that is a positive attitude

Go in believing that it is a minor procedure and you will be fine. If you go in thinking that it is akin to open-heart surgery ( which it most definitely ain't ) then your recovery will match your perception.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes

Ian

Pre Surgery for PM

by Andyfoo - 2015-08-23 02:08:16

Go in believing that it is a minor procedure and you will be fine. If you go in thinking that it is akin to open-heart surgery ( which it most definitely ain't ) then your recovery will match your perception.
The above statement was written by Ian and I totally agree with it. What you need is a positive mental attitude and assure yourself that you're in for a PM that will make your life more bearable besides ensuring that your heart will be in the best performance for your daily activities.
For your info this is my 6th day after the minor operation for installing the PM. I drove my car on the 3rd day with no difficulty and life goes on as usual of course with care take not to exert the left hand as the PM is inserted to the left of the collar bone as I am right handed. Wishing you all success!

Prepare

by Texas54 - 2015-08-23 08:08:40

I found a padded cover for my seat belt at the auto shop that helped as the belt went directly over my ICD.

Pillows

by BetsyQ - 2015-08-24 10:08:00

I recieved my pacemaker on July 8. The biggest thing that I needed were lots of pillows. I just gave up the pillow I used to prop my arm on this past week. Also the padded seat belt protector is wonderful. Realize that not everyone heals the same so don't compare yourself to others. That was a big mistake on my part. I became very frustrated with myself for not being able to jump right back into life like others I knew who had received pacemakers. You make be just like them. I hope so!

I ended up in the hospital for several days and saw my EP this past week for my 6 week follow up. He was supposed to release me back to my cardiologist but wants another follow up at 3 months. I'm told that's not usual, but hey, as long as he's watching out for me it's okay with me!

Thanks so much!

by gertrude - 2015-08-25 02:08:47

Y'all are wonderful! Thanks for all of the input and great ideas! Surgery is just 36 hours away at this point and I'm ready to get on with it and on the road to recovery. No stranger here to cardiac arrhythmias and procedures. I've had a few EP studies/ablations. I've needed the device for some time now and looking forward to feeling relief of symptoms from my bradycardia. Hoping for an easy implant and a speedy recovery!

Anyone awake for their procedure and just have local?

Hi Gertrude

by IAN MC - 2015-08-25 04:08:30

Best of luck for 36 hrs time.

It is normal practice to have PMs installed with just a local; here in the UK anyway. I honestly didn't find it at all traumatic and was in conversation throughout the procedure . Hope you are the same !

Ian

UK vs US

by gertrude - 2015-08-25 07:08:27

Ian,

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I certainly know there are differences between the UK & US when it comes to cardiac procedures and anesthesia. I know it is commonplace in the UK even for EP studies to only have local and no sedation as to make inducing arrhythmias easier. Here in the US, they primarily will use general for all of these procedures and it usually isn't given as an option to remain awake. I, myself have gone through one EP study awake with only local, it was worth it for the findings. Wasn't bad at all and happy to share the experience with anyone that is interested. However, I did choose to have anesthesia for the ablation portion of the procedure as it is incredibly painful! I'm strongly considering requesting only local and mild sedation tomorrow. I just don't do well with general anesthesia.

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Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.