New Pacemaker 1-3-18

healing

by Tracey_E - 2018-01-11 09:23:46

Depending how low your rate was before, a normal rate may feel like racing now. My rate more than doubled when I first was paced so it felt like I'd been mainlining coffee for the first months. Eventually it felt normal. Or it's possible your pacer is using rate response, which senses movement and raises our rate for us. It's common to take a few tries to get the sensitivity adjusted on this. No two of us are alike so they start with a good guess. If it gets your rate up too easily/quickly, they can turn it down. 

There are virtually no household appliances that will affect the pacer. Avoid the scales that calculate body fat and we shouldn't do TENS. Anything else is ok. In order to affect it, it would have to have a very strong magnet and be less than 6" from the device. Even then, it won't do any damage, simply put it in test mode until you get away from it. It's the same thing they do when they interrogate. The puck they put over it to interrogate is a magnet. Industrial settings are where we need to watch out, not at home. 

Trust Your Pacemaker--or-- More Advice Than You Asked For

by Gotrhythm - 2018-01-12 14:57:23

I was tempted to let you post go by without chiming in. After all, Tracey has given you a good solid answer. But I find I must climb onto my soapbox and offer some unsolicited advice.

There's lots of old, old, bad advice still floating around about threats to your pacemaker. Even medical professionals may repeat it. Some of it was true 40 or 50 years ago, but pacemakers have come a long way. Today, thery are well shielded from electronic interference, tough, and incredibly reliable.

Until you're healed up and get used to having a pacemaker, you'll probably feel all kinds of sensations in your chest you never noticed before. It's unlikely they mean there's anything wrong with your pacemaker. You'd might as well worry about being hit by a meteorite as worry about breaking your pacemaker, damaging it, or having it fail. 

Do look after your surgical wound. Do begin slow and gentle movement of your arm and shoulder as soon as possible to prevent "frozen shoulder."

Here's what I wish someone had told me: It's great that you have questions. Pacemaker Club is a great place to ask them and get honest, real world answers. Learn as much as you can about your condtion and about your pacemaker settings. Settings aren't cast in stone. They can be changed. The more you know, the more respect you will get from medical professionals. And the easier it will be to advocate for yourself. Come back here when you encounter stuff you don't understand.

Yep I have rate response

by Gemsofjen - 2018-01-16 00:36:24

Thank you everyone. I live in a tiny town. I was sent home with no tools and hell I had no clue what was happening. I do have a rate response unit ended calling dr. Ya it takes some time getting used to. I've been begging the dr's for help for ten years. The pace maker is a little more then double the rate. I have not felt my heart beat normal in ages. I was never do happy then to find this site. I'm Hanna read more posts and stay on here for the next couple of months till I find I'm more comfortable.