Pacemaker Club: Upgrade

Upgrade

by Beattie
2020-06-17 08:06:02
General Posting
924 views
3 comments

I am having my pacemaker upgraded next week.

I noticed on the admission form it said i was having it done under a General Anaesthetic. Last time i had sedation and local, just under 3 years ago....why would they choose this instead and has anyone else had a general to do this? It is currently placed under the muscle and it was very painful last time so i am dreading it a bit...

Thanks 😊

3 Comments

ask

by Tracey_E - 2020-06-17 08:35:04

Ask why they are doing general instead. I've had both, sedation is a lot easier to wake up from.

If you already have the pocket, it won't be nearly as painful this time. They will use the same pocket and it's all scar tissue now.

Thanks

by Beattie - 2020-06-17 08:39:54

Thanks Tracey,

I will ask what the go is, my phone consult with EP was cut short so he sent the rest as an email...

Thats encouraging and a comfort knowing it wont hurt as much!! Sleep hasnt been my thing this week i have been rather anxious!

Cheers

Anesthesia

by Marybird - 2020-06-17 18:07:22

Thinking it may be deep "conscious sedation" with propofol that will put you to sleep they are referring to with "general anesthesia". The difference is that with the propofol you are still able to breathe on your own and won't be intubated. They just give you enough propofol to fall asleep, you are monitored, of course. Propofol is a short acting agent, so you wake up when they stop it at the end of your surgery, and at least in my experience, can be ready to go within a short time.

They told me I would have general anesthesia for my pacemaker implant a year ago, and it turned out they just meant they planned to put me to sleep. When I asked if I would be intubated ( as they do for general anesthesia), they said no. They further explained that the anesthesia would be similar to what's used for colonoscopies, meaning propofol. That's what I had, and woke up pretty much alert and ready to go when they were finished.

You could check with your doctor, or perhaps someone at the hospital, to clarify the details of your anesthesia. But if I were to bet on it, I'd say they mean the deep sedation with propofol that will put you to sleep.