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What to expect

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-11 22:34:53

Hi Christina!  Welcome to the group, though I'm sure you'd rather not be here.  ;-)

What to expect...  Do a web search.  There are loads of descriptions of the process.  Ask your electrophysiologist.  He should be able to walk you through what he does.  There are a lot different details that an EP may, or may not, do.

Basically, the surgery is a piece of cake 99% of the time.  For me, it was a lot less painful than a tooth filling.  They only use a local anesthetic and give you just enough anesthetic to relax you. The surgery is done in a "Cath lab", where they do heart catheterizatoins.  The room is kept very cold but they'll wrap you in warming blankets.  It's quite comfortable, actually.  The area is walled off with sterile dressing so you won't see what they're doing but you can hear them, of course, and even talk with them.  Some EPs will talk you through what they're doing and ask you questions about how your're doing while they're working.  If you feel pain, let them know and they'll take care of it.  As I said 99% of the time it goes incredibly smoothly.  You will probably read an unusual number of problem cases in this group because those are the people who want more information about what to do next or simply want to vent.  For the vast majority, the process goes so smoothly that they forget about it a week later and don't bother searching out this group.  ;-)

For the next week, you'll have to be very careful with the wound.  Infections are, by a long shot, the most common and serious of the problems with the surgery.  My EP instructed me that I was not to take a shower for 48 hours (no problem since I was in overnight) and not baths or swimming until the wound completely healed.  He used Steri-strips to close the wound, so they just fall off in a week to ten days.  He'll want to check the wound, the pacemaker, and give you a chance to ask questions a week after surgery.  A smart move would be to write down questions as they come to you so you can make this time worthwhile. ;-) A tech will also interrogate your pacemaker to see how it's doing and adjust settings.

For four to six weeks you can't reach above your shoulder or behind your back or lift more than five or ten pounds.  This is fairly important but don't go overboard with it.  Make sure you do everything else you would normally do with that arm.  You want to make sure your shoulder keeps moving.  You'll find that you can't sleep on that side, or stomach, but any other position shouldn't be a problem.  You may need pain killers for the first couple of days (I didn't) but not more than that.  Heat helps some during this time.  I didn't bother.

The details change from doctor to doctor but that's the general process.

Welcome to the club

by Shepheart - 2018-09-11 22:39:54

Hi Christina, getting a pacemaker is an adventure and everyone experiences it a bit differently. If your doctor is advising getting one then it’s most likely you will be feeling better after it’s in and you’ve had some time to recover. These procedures are quite common with few complications. Find some way to relieve your stress as that can be one of the biggest issues to deal with. I did quite a bit of research so that I knew as much as I could going in. I remember watching a few YouTube videos a well. 

I’ve had my pm since 2012. I also have fast and slow heart rate, including Afib and aflutter. I’m learning to take one day at a time and trying to live in the present moment. Life is amazing, every day. 

thank you

by Christina Ann - 2018-09-12 09:57:56

Thank you so much! I definitely been doing a lot of internet searching for information. Sometimes though when you look online for things it seems to be overwhelming. I am glad I found this site and look forward to coming back often. 

How soon after getting a pacemaker is it okay to travel? I have family in NC that I normally like to go see often. 

Does anyone happen to live near Bedford Pa? If so, it would be nice to be able to one day meet up and have someone to talk to and get to know, make a new friend. 

Welcome!

by loblolly - 2018-09-12 15:11:33

My surgery was 9 days ago, and as AgentX86 says , it was a piece of cake. Done under a local with IV fentnyl to relax me, and the whole thing took less than an hour. I was able to go home the next day.
I was a sore for a few days, but only needed tylenol for the discomfort. It is important to use your left arm for normal activities as AgentX86 suggests.  I've found that using a microwaveable moist heat pack helps with stiff muscles, and that by using a pillow under my left arm, I can sleep on my right side. I've also found that wearing a sports type bra with wide straps and cut so that it doesn't overlap the scar helps avoid having the weight of your breasts pull downward on the incision. For the past 3 days, I've found that going for short walks also helps with stiff muscles, and boosts my mood.

You are lucky to have found this group to get questions answered before the surgery! Mine was a complete surprise, so I was not able to do any research, or much else in the few hours between my diagnosis with total heart block and the implantation of my pacemaker. (On the other hand, I also didn't have time to worry about it either! )

What to expect

by LondonAndy - 2018-09-12 19:59:59

I agree with AgentX86, and my pacemaker insertion went really smoothly 4 years ago now, with remarkably little pain and no complications.  If anyone says about using a sling, try and avoid doing so: that used to be recommended to help people avoid reaching up too high, but these days they have realised that can cause a frozen shoulder, and it is more important to keep the arm free and mobile.  Just try not to reach up high - so if you have things in kitchen cupboards like coffee you reach up for regularly, move them lower or get someone else to make you a cup!

Don't walk the dogs on a lead if they might suddenly pull at you - the risk in the early days of reaching up etc is of dislodging the leads from the pacemaker into the heart wall before they have properly attached, though it is a low risk because of slack in the wires.

Also, have you heard of "rate response"?  This is where the pacemaker responds to your activity level as you exert, increasing the beats per minute to match the energy you need.  This may not be turned on until your first checkup, so this would mean you don't feel a great improvement until then, and feel tired if trying to do much.  It is worth asking about this.

Again, as AgentX86 said, infection is the most important thing to avoid: once they say it is ok to bathe etc, don't share your towel, and wash it frequently.  Don't let people touch the wound, and encourage good hand hygiene among family and visitors.  

You can travel pretty soon after the insertion - I think I have seen that people can fly in just two or three days, but remember that if travelling by car your seatbelt might rub on the wound, so some padding to keep the belt lifted over that can be helpful.

These days pacemakers are safe to go through the airport scanners - no real need to ask for the separate 'pat down': the device does not interfere with the arch and the arch does not interfere with your device. 

Pacemakers are incredibly common operations, and are routine and have an excellent safety record, so don't worry about it and think of it as just another gadget.  No drama, all will most likely be fine.  Tell us more on the other side!