New box

Yay!

by Tracey_E - 2021-02-10 09:00:29

Great news! 

New box

by Beats20+ - 2021-02-10 09:44:57

I felt safe from start to finish. Going for covid jab tomorrow. NHS brilliant 

Great news and so quick

by Gemita - 2021-02-10 10:40:36

Well done Beats20+ and NHS.  You make it sound so simple, so I really shouldn't start worrying.  I presume you had local pain relief and watched the procedure and your doctors at work?

Take care and recover well.

I really doubt that they'd let you watch!

by crustyg - 2021-02-10 11:59:49

My PM implantation was under local only (my EP-doc not impressed) and there was no way I was going to be allowed to watch - even my questions buried under the sterile drapes were curtailed.  I had a small window laterally and could see my ECG, and that was it.

I can attest that it's even more stressful to be watched by the patient than an instructing senior medical colleague when performing procedures on live patients.  Box change / new PM - easy, low stress.  First time PM + leads, esp. if going for His-bundle, massively more stressful.

I don't think it's an accident that the 'Teaching screen' that shows what's being done is often out of the patient's sight!

Watching

by AgentX86 - 2021-02-10 13:15:50

I wasn't watching (curtain) but I was talking to the EP as he did the box (making the poocket was a bit painful and told him as much).  My EP was working a catheter in my groin so I couldn't see him.  I was surprised how quick it was too, though I had to lay on my back for a few hours because of the incision in my groin.  The rest has always been easy (except the time they cardioverted my while I was still awake) but I always hated being on my back for hours after.

Box replacement

by Aberdeen - 2021-02-10 13:38:37

I found my first pacemaker (January 20) more painful (but not overly so) than my second pacemaker (May 20). It is strange being covered by sterile drapes while the procedure is being done. I am glad it is under local anaesthetic as you don’t have the same recovery period as with a general anaesthetic. 

Great that you were done in 4 hours- wishing you well with your new box!

Box change

by Beats20+ - 2021-02-10 14:23:11

Gemita

Thank you for your reply

I have no worries about my recovery, it's my third. I chatted to the team all through surgery. I could only see the ceiling as I was wrapped in blue sheets from head to  toe. a  nurse held my hand. 

head to talked me through procedure and nurse held my hand. 

Glad To Hear All Went So Well

by Marybird - 2021-02-10 18:24:41

Beats, and now on to even better things.

Thinking about Crustys comment about how having a patient "supervise" ( watch) the surgery might well make a doctor kind of nervous- might be why the EP who put in my pacemaker made it his routine that his patients be put all the way out ( conscious sedation, breathing on their own, but out). That was fine with me so I didn't argue. 

I do recall, as I was being prepped on the table, I commented when they pulled the blue sheet ( screen ) up between my head/neck and the operative site, that "I couldn't see anything". To which one of the nurses said, "Of COURSE you can't see anything, you're not supposed to see anything. And just after that, I was out. 

Point taken - I have no desire to see what is going on

by Gemita - 2021-02-10 19:07:01

I'm no longer afraid to have a device change when the time comes thanks to everyone, but I will ask for heavy sedation!  I had a GA for my implant on doctors' orders, but at least I have had a peep into what I can expect in the future now.  I feel as though I have been in theatre already.

I sailed through my Reveal Linq explant.  I wanted a GA for that but the female EP persuaded me there was no need and that she would be very gentle and give me lots of pain relief.  It was so easy but she was exceptionally patient with me.

Beats20+ what is your model and make of pacemaker?  I hope it is working well

New box

by Beats20+ - 2021-02-11 04:39:55

St Jude dual. So far so good tad sore which is to be expected. I wish you good health for the future. Stay safe