Introducing myself and I need tips for anxiety before surgery

Welcome to the world of...

by donr - 2017-08-24 01:59:22

...normal people!  That's exactly what normal people feel like when facing the unknown. It's called "Fear." It is especially strong when you are alone.  But you will NOT be alone - you will be accompanied by the OR crew.  But that's only if you bring thm aboard with you.   Chat w/ them - ask them what their part in this great adventure is.  What will they each be doing for you?  Ask them.  Tell them of your fear, your discomfort.  They will respond with moral support for you.  But only if you reach out to them.  They know what your fears are - they see them all the time.  Start by asking their names.   Ask about their equipment, their duties, their background.  Last time I went in, I found a room full of Vets!  The head nurse was an ex- Army tank engine mechanic, who had been stationed at a base where I had been.  Until you break the ice, they are not sure of what you are all about.

You will make it, I promise you.

Donr 

Anxiety is normal

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-08-24 08:24:04

Getting a pm is a major change and your worry is normal.  You probably will have sedation and then a local anesthetic at the incision site. Sedation is much easier to wake up from and fewer side effects than general anesthesia.  This is a great website for suppirt.  Also check the Pacemaker Support Group on Facebook. You will find many people in your age group can younger with a pacemaker. 

I am sorry you gave to go through this but a pm is assistance to your heart to allow you to continue an active lifestyle at any age. None of us choose this but having a pm does get easier over time.

Do educate yourself to ease some of the anxiety.  Do talk about your normal activities with your doctor before the procedure.  This discussion might affect the brand of pm, some pm settings and/or the pm placement in your body.  After you know which pm you will receive go to the manufacturer website for more information.

Please post to update your progress throughout this process.  There are many people here to offer you support.

worry

by Tracey_E - 2017-08-24 10:01:51

It's perfectly normal! I was 27 when I got mine, also, but that was in 1994, and it was my first surgery. I found that the surgery was easier than expected and I felt better after than I ever imagined. For me, the anxiety before was the worst part of it. After, I felt nothing but relief to have my life back, to feel good again, to not worry about passing out. As we heal and get back to our normal activities, it gets easier and easier to forget it's there. 

You are probably not going to be unconscious for the surgery. General anesthesia is pretty rare. Most use conscious sedation so we are awake and breathing on our own, but don't remember anything after. A very few do it with a local and light sedation. I've had both and conscious sedation is much easier to wake up and recover from. You can ask them for something to take the night before to calm you, and they generally offer the good stuff as soon as the iv is hooked up once you are at the hospital. Don't be shy about telling them you are nervous! They've seen it before and can help you. 

As the others mentioned, be sure your ep knows about your lifestyle. Different pacers have different ways of getting our rate up when we are active (if you will need that) and some are better for active people than others. Also, the usual placement is just under the collarbone, just under the skin. Depending on your build and lifestyle, you may want it lower and deeper, or possibly under the pectoral. That's where mine is. Healing takes a little longer but imo it's well worth it to have it out of the way. I can hike with a heavy pack, lift weights, whatever I want and it never gets in my way. 

There is absolutely nothing I want to do that I cannot. No one looks at me and sees a heart patient. I had two children after I was paced, perfectly normal pregnancies and deliveries. They are both in college now, so I got through the teen hormones and teaching them to drive which are MUCH harder on a heart than pregnancy! I ran my first half marathon with my oldest earlier this year and we do Crossfit together when she's home. Last week I was with my youngest and we went ziplining, did a ropes course, and rode an Olympic bobsled when we weren't hauling mountains of crap up the stairs into her new dorm. The pacer doesn't hold me back. Just the opposite, it gives me a normal heart rate so I can enjoy an active life. 

Last bit of advice, wear a button up top to the hopsital because you won't feel like pulling anything over your head the first week or two. I found it helpful to sleep hugging a small pillow so I didn't roll onto my sore side in my sleep. 

If you have questions about the surgery, recovery, or living with a pacer, or if you just want to chat with someone who's been in your shoes, I'm always around.