Extremely anxious about surgery in 3 days

Anxious

by Pollypacer - 2017-04-17 15:51:54

Nicola....you may be awake (maybe a little Lalala) but you'll be given a local anesthetic.   I didn't feel a thing.....or just a little pressure from time to time, but no pain at all.   As far as post-op goes,  follow doc's orders and take it easy for a few days.   You should do just fine.

Anxious

by Nicola36 - 2017-04-17 15:54:38

Thank you so much for reassurance.. I was wondering do they give you something to relax?

Anxious

by FitMomma - 2017-04-17 17:55:48

Hi-I had my surgery on 3/24 and to say I was terrified is putting it mildly. My needing a pacemaker came as a complete shock. I was blindsided.

I told my cardiologist and EP and the physician's assistant, basically anyone who would listen, that I wanted to be asleep. I was promised that I wouldn't feel it. They gave me something for anxiety and I was drugged up enough that I was loopy, kinda semi conscious. I don't really remember much about the surgery. I was under a blue drape that was kind of tented over me and I could see the anesthesiologist and a nurse but not the EP or what he was doing. I felt some pressure but no pain. Everyone was incredibly kind. The procedure seemed to go fairly quickly. I try not to think about it now. It is behind me and my job is to heal and get back to my life. Its been an emotional roller coaster but from what I have read on this website, that seems to be pretty normal.

The best advice I can give you is to let your friends, family and church know so they can help out if you need it. My friends have brought meals, sent flowers and cards and every bit of that has been appreciated. Be gentle with yourself. Pick out some books to read during your recovery to help pass the time. It is all going to be ok.

Cathy

Yes you get Premedication

by Shaun - 2017-04-17 18:24:20

I received my pacemaker as an emergency procedure the same day I found out I needed a pacemaker and when I was wheeled into the operating theatre I was shaking. I like to think it was because I was cold but the reality was I was scared. As soon as they gave me the pre-med the shaking stopped and I was so relaxed they could have done anything with me and I wouldn't have cared. Believe me, the pre-med will take care of your nerves, so you can stop worrying now.

tell them you are very anxious

by Tracey_E - 2017-04-17 19:54:17

They can give you something to take the night before to helpy you sleep, then start the good juice not too long after you get the iv. Tell them you don't want to remember anything, also. Some doctors just use a local with a sedative but many (including mine) will use versed. That's conscious sedation so we are awake (way less complicated than general anesthesia) but we don't remember a thing. Are you meeting with the anesthesiologist in advance? If yes, be very candid. Believe me, you won't be their first scared patient!

Most of us find that the surgery is easier than expected. Knowing what to expect can alleviate the fear. If you have questions, please don't be shy. However, beware reading too much online. For every one person who posts a horror story, there are thousands who had easy procedures, so don't read too much and don't believe everything you read. 

Easy Peasy

by CRT-D Marine - 2017-04-18 11:58:55

I remember my first pm (Nov of 1998 at the age of 20) - complete shock for me too.  These surgeries are routine now and outpatient in many instances!  I had my fourth device implanted in October and it was by far the easiest for me and my first outpatient implantation.  I too have complete heart block and now have a CRT-D.

Prior to surgery, be sure to follow the doctor's instructions on cleaning the surgery site at home.  They should have given you some sort of antibacterial wash.  If not, use a good antibacterial soap. 

After check-in, they will take you to a prep area and start your IVs and monitors.  As previously stated, if you're really nervous let them know and they may give you something to relax.  One thing that has always helped me is to laugh and joke around with the staff as they prep you and you wait.  For me, once I was all prepped they let my wife come back.  Make sure you have good support with you.  I find that prayer is relaxing.  Then they'll wheel you to the operating theatre.

Once there, they will prep you some more and wash you with tons of antibacterial and antiviral scrubs.  After, or during the prep, they will administer the anesthesia, once under the procedure will start.  I did wake up during the procedure, but the anesthesiologist was there and talked to me.  I didn't fell anything other than a little pulling.  There was no pain when I started coming out of the local and given more. 

Once it's done, they wheel you to a recovery area and wait for you to come completely out of the anesthesia.  They'll bring you something to drink - take small sips even though you'll want to chug the whole thing.  Then you go home and take it easy for a few days.  Follow the doctors instructions for post-op.  The worst part about recovery for me was not being able to shower properly for a couple of days (I'm a two-fer kinda guy) and not driving for a week.  About 10-days out I was driving again and felling back to normal.

You'll do fine.  Let us know how it goes.

God bless.

KNOCKED ME OUT

by BOBJ - 2017-04-18 13:03:12

I had nothing until I hit the operating room. Then they gave me a mild sedative. After a few minutes they knocked me out cold. They already knew from prior proceedure that they would have to intubate.

But I recover quickly. Came to right as they were wheeling me out of the operating room.

I do not remember a thing about my surgery. But I fist bumped the surgeon and my EP on the way to recovery.

pacemaker surgery.

by taffy5 - 2017-04-18 16:07:46

dear Nichola i put my pacemaker operation off for 3 years because i was terrified i fell from a stepladder and went into cardiac arrest twice so i had no choice, i do not know what i was afraid of no pain just as everyone else has said a bit of pulling and pushing believe me once its done you will be wondering why you were so afraid all the very best Gordon.

1 year

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-04-18 22:52:33

Went into Emergency at 8 am. Into procedure room at noon. Woke up feeling good and in a room by 2:30 pm. Home the next day.

Just follow orders for aftercare.  Hope all goes well for you.

number five

by dwelch - 2017-04-19 11:02:25

30 years with pacemakers, getting number five on tuesday.  No big deal.

In 1987 with that doc, I could see them and hear what they were saying but was a bit loopy, anything I wanted to say didnt quite make it from my brain to mouth.  Number two awake, but a blue tent over my face an a nurse would peek in every now and again, dont think words made it to my mouth.  Number three and four I dont remember, number three supposedly I was chatting away dont remember.  Number five will be at the same place as number four, so I assume the same.

Number four they had a problem with the EKG machines and were trying to get IT down to the OR.  So they could not give me "something to make you comfortable" until those were up, two machines one for one thing one for another, had to wait on both.  So despite being experienced that didnt make me nearvous just uncomfortable.  I didnt realize they strapped your arms down (wrist straps with tethers), but that makes perfect sense.  This is not to concern you but to calm you.  Definitely tell them that you are a bit nervous, this is NOT their first surgery, you are NOT the first nervous patient, you are NOT their first patient, even if awake you will be a bit loopy and relaxed, having you squirming around is no good for anyone, that wont happen.  They dont go into this lightly they wont proceed unless everyone and the equipment are ready, if you are awake long enough to see/hear some of that, its fine, think happy thoughts about how awesome life will be with a smooth running heart, and wait for your happy meds to kick in.  I read that counting consumes more brain power than one would think thus the count to ten to calm down, counting sheep to fall asleep.  Maybe try that if nothing else is working.  Listen to/feel your heart as that is the last time you will.

I have complete heart block as  well, from birth, first pacer at 19 they dont wait that long anymore.  By the time I had mine my heart was large enough you could see the beats between the ribs and I could feel every one.  Could take my pulse by looking at a clock didnt have to feel for a vein.  That all went away, there was an emptiness that followed, I dont know if yours is like that, but just check your pulse as often as you want, despite how it feels your heart is working with the new pacer.  If your heart really had stopped because you cant feel it, you woldnt be able to take your pulse in the first place.  its there, its working, its fine, its normal now.

I assume this is normal as it is happening to me again next week.  If they need to put leads in which for a first timer that is the case, then you spend the night for observation then go home the next day.  When you get replacements if they dont need to add a lead for whatever reason you go home the same day.

Fear

by Snowman - 2017-04-20 00:22:09

I went under by conscious sedation, I remember rolling into the operating room, told a few Dr jokes and then woke up in the recovery room with my smiling wife waiting to take me home the same night. Had to sleep sitting up in the recliner, woke up Saturday morning and felt 10 years younger, My boss added 2.0 to my name. I recall things better now that my brain is getting the O2 it has been starved of for years.