Pacemaker put in 2 weeks ago

Work

by WazzA - 2020-04-16 17:27:30

Well done you on still working at 72 yrs, even if it's not by choice :-) . I had a PM implanted at 71 yrs (6 months ago) & found I had lost a LOT of my original fitness. I have struggled to regain that, but am still active & feel so much better than before.

If you can take the time off to recover as your DR advises do so otherwise try to go back with reduced hours & a lighter work load for a while. Best Wishes

It takes time

by Theknotguy - 2020-04-17 00:46:59

First, welcome to the club you didn't want to join.  There are a lot of us out here.  You'll find yourself in good company.  

Second, healing, for us older people does take time.  With heart issues you can't look at a calendar, pick a date, say you'll get better, then expect it to happen. Unfortunately the body doesn't work that way.  It takes time to heal and the body works at its own pace.  And what is true for you today isn't necessarily true next week, or the week after that.  

Third, keep moving.  I woke up in a hospital after six days with broken ribs from CPR.  It took me two years to get back to "normal".  But then again, I had to, and still work with the effects of broken ribs.  Based upon your comments you don't have that problem.  At first, I'd go out in the morning, take a walk around the neighborhood, then come back in and take an hour nap.  Then do the same in the afternoon.  Point being, keep doing some exercise and it will help you.  It doesn't matter what, just keep at it.  

At six years out I was walking down the 1000 foot hall in the back of the hospital where I volunteered.  Kept running out of air.  Went to my EP and asked what was going on.  Did some tests and they had to adjust my pacemaker to keep up with my exercise level.  EP said he didn't have that many 70 year old patients who did up to six miles walking during the day while volunteering at the hospital, then moving 2000 pounds of wood while volunteering at a furniture bank charity.  In that six year period I went from barely being able to walk around the block to doing six miles a day.  On Thursdays I volunteer at the furniture bank charity and work with the cut crew.  We move a lot of wood.  I'm not on the cutting side anymore but I'm more than happy to work on the catch-the-wood side.  With the pacemaker I'm able to keep up with everyone else.  

Yeah, now I'm in my 70's and I don't move as fast as I used to, nor do I move as fast as I'd like, but I'm still moving.  The charities at which I volunteer have figured out it's kinda nice to have some of us old, grey haired guys around.  They're standing there, scratching their heads, trying to figure how to fix a problem and I walk up and say, "Why don't you do this?"  They won't let me do production cuts on the table saw but I'm still doing the precision and special cuts.  Mainly because they're standing there trying to figure out what to do.  I usually end up showing them how to do it.  

I sincerely hope your adjustment to your pacemaker goes well and you can get back to being your "normal" self.  Keep moving.  Hang in there.

Recovery time

by Tux - 2020-04-19 15:56:50

About 10 days ago had pacemker procedure and am surprised that I'm not feeling stronger. Can easily walk around the yard and do task in the house, but any real movement and I feel tired and weak.  Fortunetly not like I'm going to faint!  I'm 75 and in good shape with the exception of having afib. for last few years.  Someone else wrote that it had been 2 weeks for them and they weren't back to "normal".  It seems people who have not had one seem to think people get pacemakers and just get up and take up where they left off, but that's not the case with me. 

Wondering if there's an average time of heaing or feeling strong again?

recovery time

by CMH22567 - 2020-04-20 05:44:03

I was surprised I did not bounce back. I just had my 1 year anniversary, and now I can say, it has taken me 1 year to feel normal. Apart from the bads days where all I can do is rest. I am 48 years.