New guy in Minneapolis

Greetings all. I stumbled onto this forum just days before my procedure. Perhaps like others, I was doing some Google research to attempt to calm my nerves in advance of the event. I spent a long time reading postings, and must say it helped calm me down a bit prior to the hospital visit.

I got a shiny new Medtronic ICD pacer-defib combo, with the two lead install. I guess it's model # DDMB1D4 but I don't know much about it than that.

It had been sugggested for several years that I have the procedure done, and I confess I was afraid of the process and potential life-style limitations as a result.  It wasn't until I felt bad enough on a day-to-day basis that I agreed to have it done, shortly after getting another new stent just three weeks ago.

Hoping to get back on a motorcycle here with the coming warmer weather, once someone tells me it's OK.  I feel a bit rough at the moment, the ICD was just put in on Tuesday this week, and at the same time they removed a different Medtronic device I had "owned" for the last 14 months (Medtronic LINQ data recorder).

Hoping the shoulder pain passes soon, I am left handed and I let them put it on the left side cause they said it was slightly more effective on the left/vs the right. This will complicate shooting sports going forward, but I guess if I get to feeling good enough to resume hunting that I will take on the challenge of learning how to shoulder long guns on the right and adapt and conquer.

Alright, i will shut up and let someone else speak. If there are any other members in Minnesota or Western Wisc. that would like to meet for a motorcycle ride, day trip or lunch, give me a whistle sometime. I hope to be riding in 6 weeks or so, or after I complete cardiac rehab!

All the best!

Paul

2 Comments

Thank you kindly...

by ePaul2018 - 2018-03-23 11:57:36

Thank you so much Robin, much appreciated. I was able to operate a fork and spoon last night with my left hand, and type a bit on the keyboard yesterday. Woke up today feeling oddly refreshed on a relatively short night's sleep. Not sure if it's a fluke, or if my new "idle RPMs" are kicking in and being enjoyed. 

I'll take it in any regard. Thanks for sharing your results and successes, it’s things like that a person can draw possible parallels with, and it gives me some perspective. I live about 2 miles from my primary provider's location for all my cardiac stuff- my goal is to be able to WALK to appointments in a couple months which will make them happy and save me $8 for parking.... 

: )

All the best,

Paul

number five

by dwelch - 2018-03-29 02:27:26

I am on pacer number five...

 

The shoulder pain and stiffness/etc will pass.  Just like a thumb or a toe you will always know deep down you have a pacer, but day to day you will forget until you bump it or have an appt or something like that. 

Originaly they told me they put mine on the left side as a right hander so that I could shoot and do things like that which I was not a hunter then (nor now) but will go shooting from time to time.  interesting they took that path with you, it is what it is at this point, being alive is a bit more important than can I shoot a rifle.

physically you should be able to get back to normal before long.  I think on my fifth one I was ready to drive three days in but held off over the weekend and drove on day 5 was only out of work those few days.  my first one was bumping into things, getting used to it, 30 years ago now so dont remember all the details, but probably took longer, one or two in the middle I know I kept my shoulder muscles stiff to avoid those little pains when you pull on the skin and ended up with a very stiff shoulder that took weeks to get over.  this last one it did take more than those few days it took a while before I could lay/sleep on that side again.

in the grand scheme of things the recovery from the surgery is measured in some number of weeks before you are mostly pain free and normal mobility, compared to the years you will have the thing before it is time for the next.  

you will be back on your bike soon enough...

 

 

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