First timer

Doctor's Instructions

by Artist - 2017-04-28 20:39:09

I really don't understand the extreme measures your doctor is recommending that you follow during your post op recovery and wonder how experienced he is.  Normally it is strongly recommended that you not wear a sling on your arm and that you use your arm to keep the shoulder from locking up. Following my procedure a nurse put a sling on my arm and when my EP came into my room and saw that he removed the sling and threw it across the room and was highly aggravated.  With his permission, I was driving 3 days after my procedure.  I was told to avoid raising my left arm above shoulder level for 30 days, to lift no more thar 5 lbs during the first two weeks and no more than 10 lbs for weeks 3 through 4 following the procedure. This is being overly cautious and it is extremely rare for leads to become dislodged. To deal with the challenge of washing my hair, I just did that in a utility sink.  In the extremely rare instance of a lead becoming dislodged,  it is more likely that the lead was not properly installed to begin with.  It generally takes about 30 days for the scar tissue that anchors the leads to the heart wall to fully form.  Again, I truly don't understand the severity of the restrictions your doctor has placed on your activities.  Can you get a second opinion on that?  How experienced is your doctor?  The procedure itself is really pretty quick and trouble free.  I went home at noon the day following the implant.  Best wishes.

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2017-04-28 21:23:59

I was told not to wear the sling after I went home, the first 24 hours only. If you don't use the arm, your shoulder can freeze. My instructions were no lifting over 20# or raising the arm overhead for 6 weeks, anything else is ok. I was mostly back to normal afer the first week, but I was moving slowly and napping a lot. I was never told not to drive after, but that varies based on why you need it and I think 2-4 weeks of no driving is more common. 

takes care of itself

by dwelch - 2017-04-28 21:39:05

I dont know if I agree with jumping right in and doing stuff immediately.  To be honest there is some pain, and that will restrict your motion, not that you should get a stiff shoulder that is bad, dont do that, but you wont want to push it.  I got my fifth one three days ago, and could have probably driven to work two days later (had to spend the night needed a new lead), granted my pacemaker pocket is already stretched out, so I dont have the first timer experiences.

What part of the world are you from, reading posts here, I assume that some of the differences are not just the doctor but perhaps country, region, and most definitely insurance company.  The doctor might have to say those things whether he believes them or not.

I got a new pacer and a new lead (went from a two lead to three lead) a few days ago.  told I can drive in 3-5 days but I was ready almost immediately.   Shoulder feels fine so long as I dont bump/touch the area just feels stiff but am using it, not completely normaly but letting the pain drive the limit, push it a little but not too much, better each day.  Taking no pain pills at all...told not to get it wet for 5-7 days (nurses said 7, docs 5, wonder if the two day difference is the two (partial) days in the hospital).  

I have not pulled one out, dont know the real risk there, I assume there is some percentage of legal fear on their part.  At the same time would rather not end up back under the knife so soon...I know on my first one I somehow managed to get the wire around and over top of the pacer so it was out front, and that was a pacer twice the size of what we have today.  had to ride that out for 7 years, at least it didnt yank it out...

Read through the other first timer answers there are a ton of them here average the results and go with that.

A percentage of us here are not first timers, and we have all been through the same procedure at least once and the recovery.  but at the same time our stories are all a little different the why we needed one, the procedures or not leading up to that, was it an emergency or like me I had years to prepare for this mentally before I got one.  Our recoveries are different to mentally.  the thing is there to make you normal and safer, not special. You WILL forget it is there except for the occasional doctors appt or when you bump it which you will learn subconciously to protect from.  

Some number of days or weeks after they will have you come back in probably do an interrogation (put the wand thing over it and use the laptop/computer to do some tests, some are between annoying and uncomfortable but they are isolating the leads to see that they are sitll hooked up and working) an incision check, then a few months after that and if all is well you go in once a year typically until you get close to the end, then they start bringing you in sooner.  The new boxes they have at home may reduce the visits.

Being your first, and not knowing your reasons for having one (not asking you to share thats your story) it may or may not take a while to get your pacer tuned.  You may sleep differently, it may feel different inside, remember you are now in theory feeling what folks with normal hearts feel.  Take your pulse as often as you need to insure that you are still alive...Dont worry about the coffee maker, the lawn mower, the leaf blower, the washer/dryer your hair dryer your, electric toothbrush, razor, the vaccuum, phone, tv, microwave, etc.  Not going to affect you, dont hug transformers and be cautous taking a tour in a power station...

Welcome to the club.  

First timer

by Pete1947 - 2017-04-28 21:55:38

Thanks to all of you for  your feedback.  I certainly feel less concerned about being confined/limited for several weeks following the procedure.  My doc is part of a large cardiology group in Florida and he, himself, will not be doing the surgery.  The group has, within it, particular docs who actually do the srugery.  Once I get to talk to the surgeon directly, I may get a different take on exactly what is involved re the recovey period and what the restrictions will be.

Thanks again to all of you for your feedback.  I'm sure I'll be back online after the procedure to catch up with you. 

Pete