Too old for this

After all that...

by AgentX86 - 2020-07-01 23:24:11

Welcome to the group, Dick.  There are a lot of good people here will help you in any way they can.

A pacemaker implant will be a piece of cake compared to the other assaults you've had on your body.  It's really nothing and in most cases is done with local anesthetics sometimes with and sometimes without a sedative.  The procedure is that simple.

After, the recovery is all about keeping the wound clean for a week or so and then keep from over-extending your arm, above your shoulder, behind your back, or reaching forward, for about a month.  There can be some pain but it's nothing like your other surgeries. 

Though I've never had one the TAVR will likely be even a bigger nothing. You got this.

Through it all

by jennk - 2020-07-02 01:51:43

After the surgeries you have had, this will be a breeze.  It will hopefully make you feel better quite soon.  I am on my second round.  The first one lasted almost 8 years, so once it's in, you won't have to worry about another pm surgery for awhile. Good luck.🍀 

Not that big a deal

by Protimenow - 2020-07-02 04:49:28

As the others have said, a pacemaker is usually not that big a deal - they open a flap under the skin, route electrodes through a vein, into the heart, attach the lead to the heart, then to the pacemaker. As noted, it's not required to put you under general anesthesia (reducing your risk, even at 89), and the TAVR may be even easier -- the device is threaded through your femoral vein (high up in your inner thigh), and there's no cutting into skin, other than getting the thing into your femoral vein. 

This also shouldn't require general anesthesia. 

As noted, compared to your other surgeries, this should be much easier on you. 

My experience may be easier than that of others -post-op I didn't have pain - not even enough to require aspirin. I'm hoping that yours is equally pain free. My PM surgery was done with just an hours' notice - I didn't have time to worry about it - and maybe this helped (although I don't think that I would have had significant anxiety). I hope that all goes very easily for you. 

FWIW - I have a friend, a nun who is 101 years old. Perhaps this can be a target that you can exceed, with your repaird valve and PM.

Age no problem

by Mini - 2020-07-02 08:43:32

The only thing I need to mention. I am a very skinny person 

( no fat ). I had my pacemaker inserted under the skin, the appearance 

is awful and uncomfortable using a car seat belt .

Insert the pacemaker under the muscle will be better

Pacemaker

by AgentX86 - 2020-07-02 15:07:35

Under the muscle will improve the appearance but will also be more painful. Mine, with leads and all can easily be seen but it doesn't bother me at all.  Once in a while the leads will get sensitive but mostly good.

To help with the seat belt, get one of the fake furry covers and position it so it's in the middle of your chest, not on the pacemaker. It'll lift the strap over the PM.

Best of luck

by _Claire_ - 2020-07-09 12:04:43

Welcome to the group. Sorry to hear about all your difficulties. I wish you the very best and hope all goes well :)