Newbie with Questions

Hey there-I'm 25 years old and just got a pacemaker a few weeks ago. I feel great-had my two week appointment last week and everything seems to be going well. I was just wondering what to expect at the following appointments. This past appointment my EP checked to make sure the scar was healing and tested the pacemaker-it only took about 10-15 minutes. Will appointments normally be longer than this? I was the last one of the day so maybe they were rushed. I haven't had any sort of echo or x-ray since leaving the hospital-is this normal? I'm always concerned something is moved, and would love to have confirmation that its in place! I'd definitely appreciate any guidance/advice you may have!

4 Comments

ditto David

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-19 01:02:06

I'm usually in and out in less than 10 minutes. The rep does the interrogation and I go. If something shows up odd or I mention something is going on, the doc will call me when he sees the reports. I see the doc once a year and he does a stress test and echo every 3-5 years. That's it! If the pacer reports are good and we feel good, there's no need for more. Get on with your life and forget about it.

Welcome

by chatterbox3110 - 2016-02-19 07:02:33

Hi and welcome.

They'd have tested your PM when you went back for the 2 week check, if anything had been wrong they'd have picked it up then so sounds as though all is well. Just take it easy until your next appointment and do as they've advised.

My 6 week post-op check was only about 10-15 minutes. I only had an xray the morning after my implantation just before I was discharged.

I'm back for my next check at the end of March, the only issue I have at the moment is a partly puckered scar, which is still very sore inside, so they're possibly going to push me in to see the cardiologist just to check it over, but otherwise it will just be a routine check of the PM.

Glad you feel great and good luck for the future.

The future

by Good Dog - 2016-02-19 11:02:27

If you have no complications (they are rare and it sounds as though you do not), it just gets easier from here. There is no need for another x-ray unless there is a problem, which can be picked-up from a routine PM check. If you've already had an echo it won't be necessary for another anytime soon. At your young age if there are no issues, echo's will be used to monitor the pumping efficiency of your heart over time. The frequency is up to the doc, and he has other means to monitor that. So you may not need it more frequent than every 5 years or so. Maybe 10.
In any case, barring some unforeseen problem (which again, are rare), you are likely good to go with very minimal follow-up except for simple and quick routine PM checks.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how little disruption to your life that there is from having a PM. Except for my routine checks and battery change, I usually forget that I have a PM. That is the way it should be.
Sincerely,

David

Thanks

by Sarbear - 2016-02-25 12:02:11

Thank you all for the feedback! Its great to hear that my experience is fairly normal!

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