Getting PM next month

Hi,
I am going to have a pacemaker implanted at the end of January. I'm a little nervous about the whole thing but I guess it is for the best.
I have bradycardia and my heart rate dips into the 30's which isn't good but it only happens for a short while every couple of days. ,out of the time I'm in the 40's and 50's.

Can I really expect to get back to all my regular activities?
Thanks for any insight you have on this process.

Patricia

7 Comments

new to pacemake ...

by lkhughes77 - 2015-12-27 02:12:56

I just got my pacemaker 12/14/15. The only thing I cannot do is raise my left arm past chest height until the leads are in solid. At my check-up this week, I am cleared for any activity and did my first 'run' 10 days after surgery. It was GREAT to be able to run and not get dizzy! I am winded but hoping that will improve with the device settings tweaking. I feel so much better and still trying to figure all this out too.

My surgery was outpatient and the following 2 days were not too bad but needed rest. I was allowed to drive after 3 days and felt great! I am a little fatigued still from the surgery but feeling so much better. This is for the best and good luck!

Back to normal

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-27 04:12:04

Most of the people who have pacemakers implanted get back to a "normal" or better than normal life. The time it takes to reach that goal depends upon a lot of things such as, what trauma (if any) you had before the PM was implanted, your heart problems, and your attitude.

I had a lot of trauma before getting my PM and it took me almost two full years to get back to "normal" activities but I'm more of the exception than the rule. I'm better than what I was before the PM implant mainly because I now have a strong and regular heartbeat.

You have the 4-6 week period where you need to let the PM wound heal. You may or may not need to go through cardio rehab. There may be some heart medications to which you have to adjust. I'm happy that lkhughes in the previous post indicated he/she got back to their routine very quickly. Not everyone heals that fast.

You indicate you only have bradycardia so you may have a fast recovery time and no new medications. The two people I personally know in your situation who have PM's went back to a "normal" routine fairly quickly.

Overall the PM isn't a hindrance to a "normal" life, it's a help.

You may receive warnings about store security, cell phones, electrical equipment, and other things interfering with your PM. I got warnings from the hospital in my discharge papers. But in reality, I haven't found anything in my day-to-day activities that has bothered my PM. So that shouldn't be a big concern.

I hope everything goes well for you.

activities

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-27 06:12:53

You can absolutely expect to get back to normal activities! Probably with considerably more energy than before. The dips aren't good, but your resting rate is pretty low also. Many of us here are quite active. We have members who do triathalons and marathons, any sport you can name. I do Crossfit 5x a week, hike or ski most every vacation, kayak and zipline every chance I get. The pacer doesn't hold me back at all. Ditto knotguy's advice about interference. I've been paced since 1994, there's nothing I've found that messes with it. Once you heal, live your life and forget it's there.

Work out at the gym and hike

by MathTeacher - 2015-12-28 02:12:49

Hi,

I work out at the gym all the time. I take spin classes and love to play pickle ball. As soon as I see my cardiologist next week, I'll see how much weight I can lift. As other people have told you, you WILL pretty much get back to "normal," or hopefully, better than normal. One day I was out hiking and was worried if it was too soon. As good luck would have it, I actually ran into my surgeon on the hiking trail and asked him if I was overdoing it. His reaction was, "Nope. You have my blessing."

welcome, Patricia!

by knb123 - 2015-12-28 09:12:40

I was 66 when I received my PM emergently after a diagnosis of full heart block. Before this, I considered myself in good health: watched my diet, worked out 3x/wk, traveled internationally, etc.

I was able to resume my normal life weeks after my implant and can honestly say I feel great. I trust that you will, too.

Let us know how it goes!

Better safe than sorry

by monkeyman - 2015-12-30 01:12:19

Morning Patricia. Just a little insight as to my experiences with my pacemaker so far. I received mine on Sept 3rd 2015. I was at home after work and passed out while having a conversation with my wife. No breathing, no heart beat. Woke up when I heard the dial tone when my wife called the paramedics. Long story short, bradycardia. Be careful, cold sweats and nausea are warning signs. Surgery is not bad. I was discharged the next day. Mandatory 24 hour observation. The healing process varies depending on your own body. Could be a couple of weeks or a month or so. Pay attention to the restrictions as far as lifting and arm movement of the side the pacemaker is implanted. You can resume regular exercise and activities when your body and cardiologist determine that you can. You may experience different sleeping patterns. I was told that the pacemaker goes through a test mode at a predetermined time. I have a follow up on Jan 5th and will ask about this because I seem to wake up at 4:30 am almost every morning . Other than that, I have had no other problems up to this day and have not passed out since. Best of luck and like I said, every one is different, hope your experience is a good one.

Getting Pacemaker

by Bee bee - 2015-12-30 03:12:40

I am in my early 40's and got my surprise icd earlier this month due to total block causing very low heart rate - although I've also always had a low heart rate and am (was) until this past month an avid exerciser. I am still healing so no runs yet - but I am using stationary bike and also walking a lot.

I found the surgery fine. I was awake and there was some crazy pressure as they put the bigger icd into my not so big chest ;) but other than that it was actually pretty good.

I was crazy sore for 3 days. then i had a week or 2 where i thought the icd was going to pop out of my chest it felt so odd and uncomfortable - which is not weird for someone who gets it inserted under the muscle as I did.

Now it feels much better and the pain is gone. Sometimes it just feels weird to have something in my chest. The mental part of getting used to it I think is the biggest challenge.

Overall it's been a surprisingly okay to good experience and much better than feeling ill.

I am looking forward to my bigger workouts but waiting until the arm restrictions are lifted.

Good luck and happy pacing.

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