New wire/pacemaker restrictions

Hi all,

 

it's been awhile since I've had new wires put in and my memory is not that great.

i am looking to geting four leads removed (26 & 16 yrs old) in October this year.

and two new leads and pacemaker placed (hopefully back on left side; non dominant side)

Surgeon said 6-8 weeks recovery.

I plan to check back with him to clarify the restrictions as I'm hoping to be able to go back to work within 3 weeks (with some restrictions)

 The hard thing is I am a professional dog walker. However I am able to take things easier if needed until I'm 💯.

i am curious on weight restrictions and for how long?

how long do we need to not go past 90 degrees and is that with both arms or just the side the pacemaker is on?

 Hoping it will be possible to hold say a 10lb dog on my right side (non pacemaker side) and walk some dogs on leash also just using right side after 3 weeks maybe...

what are you guys thoughts and how did you handle going back to more heavy activity after having new leads placed?

I am ok with waiting the full 6-8 weeks to do full body workouts with weights (and I am hoping this is why the doctor said 6-8 week recovery) but hoping I can get back to work sooner than that.

 

thanks for all your time and input 

4 Comments

Good luck

by piglet22 - 2024-06-27 06:21:09

Not much I can offer in the way of advice, but it looks as though you have more events than most.

Did you get to the bottom of the battery life estimates?

Others will probably disagree, but I would put a full recovery ahead of getting back to heavy activity.

Listen to what your surgeon/consultant says.

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-27 10:27:26

Ask 10 doctors, get 10 answers. More are not giving us the weight and arm restrictions because they've found it doesn't affect incidence of leads being dislodged, but see what your doctor says for you. I was told not to lift more than 20lbs for 6 weeks.

Lifting and raising arm on the other side shouldn't be an issue. 

My biggest concern would be a dog lunging and pulling hard without giving you time to brace for it. 

I have not had an extraction yet but my understanding is the recovery is longer. 

Taking Off

by doublehorn48 - 2024-06-27 11:34:13

I had lead extraction done in 2017. The pm wasn't replaced. It seems like I went back to work in 4 weeks. My job was quite physical. I'm getting lead extraction again next Wednesday. The lead into my ventricle is not working as it should. I will get a new lead and another pacemaker. This will actually be the third time that I have had a lead extraction. I intend to ask my surgeon how long to let my lawn grow before I cut it again. I always think Tracey gives good advice.

New lead restrictions

by Amyelynn - 2024-06-28 13:59:58

So I heard back from the NP for the surgeon who will be performing my procedure.

 

she said she's thinks I will be OK 3 weeks post op holding a 15lb dog in my right arm (non pacemaker side)

also OK walking 3 dogs on leash with my right arm.

the 90 degree arm restriction is for the left side only this is due to the potential of twisting the leads of flipping the pacemaker if I was to put my arms past 90 degrees until the leads and pacemaker have time to become more set in my body.

as for the lifespan decreasing from 7.5 to 5.5 years I just went in for pacer adjustments yesterday it showed 6.5 years and the Medtronic lady told me lots of times the remote check will under estimate for battery life just to be safe and in office checks are more accurate. 
she did tell me that my ventricle lead is draining the battery more then they'd like though. As they like the voltage to be under 2 and mine is at 2.5 to over 3 volts ("all over the place")

I thought this may be the lead that had insulation damage during my latest pacemaker upgrade in October (but it's not that's the atrial lead) 

😬 well this makes mine and the surgeons decision to want to extract all four leads make even more sense now...

wonder if the ventricle lead has anything to do with the high ocean of PVC runs I've had also? (124 in last two months opposed to 4 the check up before)

are these indicators my ventricle lead is failing?

thanks so much guys!

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