1st Time Pacer,......Scared.

Hello All,

My wife is 30 years old and her EP performed several eblations 4 years ago due to acute tachy. Now she has Sick Sinus Syndrone, Arythmia (with pauses consistanty between 3-6 seconds), MVP, and sporatic blood pressure. She has passed out 4 times within the past month, believably because of her pulse remaining in the upper 30's while laying down and mid 40's while moving. Her EP wants to put in a single chamber pacemaker.

My wife's name is Amy, she is small framed, height of 5'1", 122.5 lbs, and as beautiful as ever. She would probably kick me for saying that... Anyway, we both are pretty nervous about her getting the pacemaker. We have heard some good things and bad things about it. Here are our concerns:

1. Is it common to have the leads repositioned?
2. Is it surgury each time the leads are repositioned?
3. We are thinking of having one more child (two already, only God knows why); are there any complications with pregnancies and pacemakers?
4. What are some things that could happen after you go home that doctors don't want to tell you? What can we expect?
5. Are there any complications with pacemakers and in getting breast implants? (She's wanted them since she was 18)
6. We're simply scared, is there any reassurance that this will help?

Thanks,
~Chad (Hubby2Pacer)

6 Comments

New Pacer Myself

by Carol - 2007-10-27 01:10:05

Hi Chad!
Welcome to our website. I hope hope you find it as helpful and comforting as I have in the last month since I had my PM placed. I agree with what everyone else has said before me and here are my comments:
I would say that the one thing doctors generally don't tell you is that for some of us it takes some time to adjust to having a pacemaker, both physically and emotionally. We're all different in that respect and this website has certainly helped me....I'm one of the "slower to adapt!" I tend to panic over strange sensations and such, so for me its been a challenge, but lots of people seem to move on quickly. The other thing is that if one is dealing with skipped beats i.e. PAC/PVC before the PM is inserted, having a PM doesn't miraculously eliminate those issues. But it sounds as if your wife would reap more benefits than negatives of having a PM
The hair and bra issues are definitely ones to consider. My husband attempted once to help me with my curling iron issues....not a pretty site, but I learned how to do this without raising my arm over my head. I wore a "sleep bra" for my first few excursions out of the house and just added some padding under the strap..worked fine. These are all "girl pacer" issues but important ones! Sleeping for me has been OK as I was able to sleep on my back and the right side without difficulty. My PM is placed under the muscle and is hardly noticeable, pain was controlled well with Tylenol for me and within about 1 week didn't need much of anything at all. I too am small 5'2", although a bit heavier than 105#! Hope this helps, and remember you can always come back to this site as questions arise! Best wishes, Carol

Scared

by SMITTY - 2007-10-27 01:10:08

Hello Chad,

Taking your questions in the order you asked them, I'll offer what info I can.

1. Is it common to have the leads repositioned?
I'm not sure of the reason for this question. I've had my pacemaker for almost eight years and the leads have never been repositioned. Ii does happen but from what I know it is extremely rare.

2. Is it surgery each time the leads are repositioned?
Yes. The surgery would be about like that when the pacemaker was implanted.

3. We are thinking of having one more child (two already, only God knows why); are there any complications with pregnancies and pacemakers? I can' answer that one, but I would say your wife's doctor would be the one to provide the answer.
I will say that based on what you say about the symptoms your wife is having that if she had a pacemaker she would probably much better off health-wise and which I think makes for an easier pregnancy. I might mention here that my wife, a retired nurse with some 45 years experience and the mother of three, just looked at your message and her comment was that "if I were asked that question I would say don't have any more children. Pregnancy puts a strain on a woman's entire body and since she has problems that are yet to be resolved, I think she should not do it. If she is dead set on having another child she should certainly talk to her doctor and accept his recommendation, whatever it may be."

4. What are some things that could happen after you go home that doctors don't want to tell you? What can we expect? No doctor I know of holds back any potentially bad things about a pacemaker. That is not to say no one has any problems from their pacemaker, but greater than 99% of the time the problems can be solved with adjustments to the pacemaker. There are not dreadful secrets to be withheld from a new pacemaker recipient.

5. Are there any complications with pacemakers and in getting breast implants? (She's wanted them since she was 18) I can't answer that, but from what I know most pacemakers are
implanted an inch or so below the collar bone. Seems to me that would be far enough away as too not interfere with a breast implant, but again your doctor is the one to answer that question.

6. We're simply scared, is there any reassurance that this will help? No surgical procedure, including pacemaker implants, come with a guarantee. But the surgery is simple - so far as surgeries go - and again based on what you say I would think a pacemaker would help her in that it would be able to a better and more stable heart rhythm.

I wish your wife the best,

Smitty

Welcome!

by ela-girl - 2007-10-27 03:10:48

Hi, Chad!

You've come to the right place to ask your questions and receive reassurance. This site is such a blessing! There is a lot of hope here!

I'm writing to you because I am also 30 like your wife. I received my pacemaker a little over a year ago via emergency surgery for severe bradycardia and blacking out. I, too, have a small frame--I'm about 5'2" and 105. Besides a very small scar that's left from the implant, you wouldn't be able to tell I have a pm. Doctors can place pacemakers differently, and mine is placed under the muscle and into the breast tissue to hide it more (because of my younger age and small frame). I know of others on this site who have asked the question about breast implants and whatnot, and I agree with Smitty--your doctor would be the best to answer that question. I, personally, can't imagine having to deal with bigger breasts--my pm can sometimes be bothersome during "that time of the month" when my breasts swell a bit. Just my two cents on that one!

As far as having kids...I don't have my own yet, but my EP's only concern for me getting pregnant is the medication I take. I take Toprol XL daily and it is a class C medication for pregnancies. Does your wife have any medications that might have to be weighed as far as the use of it and getting pregnant? I have talked to many women who have had pacemakers and then had their babies without any problems. Even breast feeding was not a problem. I have heard that during labor your pacemaker will be monitored but that's about it.

As far as after surgery...the big thing to remember is that although pm surgery is considered minor in the realm of heart surgeries, it will take some time to recuperate. Many pacers I have talked to, me included, did not need any pain meds after surgery. Icing the incision area is enough to bring comfort. You should not lift anything heavier than 5-10 pounds for the first 6 weeks, not lift the arm on your implant side past your shoulders, and no overextending that arm or stratching it towards your back. The lead/s will need to have time to implant into the heart wall and be secured by tissue. Otherwise, you risk pulling a lead and needing another surgery to fix it. Your wife may want to think ahead of time how she is going to wash and do her hair and wear a bra. These are tricky things for women pacers! Sleeping may also be uncomfortable for a couple of weeks. Use lots of pillows to prop yourself up!

Your wife should also not leave the hospital without a booklet on her pacemaker from the pm company and her temporary pacemaker id card. It will take her time to feel 100% again...she shouldn't beat herself up for that! I didn't start feeling better until week 4. Pm recipients also come out of surgery with factory settings for their pm to be sure the pm is working properly. These settings will be adjusted over the next few weeks/months and takes time--it can be a bit of trial and error.

Your wife is in good hands with an EP. These are specialized cardiologists who know about pm's and the heart's eletrical system. You don't say when her surgery is, but please keep us updated! We are here for you with answers and comfort!

ela-girl

motor pacer

by megthered1 - 2007-10-27 04:10:52

I have had my pm for 4 years and got it in emergency implantation for bradycardia with complete heart block. My only concern was riding my motorcycle. I had to stop for three months, but since I got mine in November it wasn't too hard. She will feel so much better. It hasn't stopped my from doing anything and I feel like I can do anything. My husband and kids have trouble keeping up with me now.

Good Luck!

Peggy

Don't Worry!

by taylorct - 2007-10-27 12:10:58

Hi Chad,

I just want you to know you have nothing to worry about. I was 15 went I received my pacemaker, I was and still am 5`1 and very small. I have had zero problems with my pacemaker. I was also passing out and I feel 100% better now, it's extremely reassuring to know that if my heart can't keep up with me the pacemaker is there. I've had mine for a little over 4 years now and I rarely even remember that I have it. I was back up and ready to go 2 or 3 days after surgery. The only thing that I was restricted from doing was for 2 weeks after I couldn't raise my arm over my head, the doctors had me do that just to make sure the leads were in permanently. I have never had my leads repositioned but if you needed that I'm sure you would need surgery again. After the initial surgery, all the other ones are very simple though. My first one lasted about 4 hours and I've been told when they change it it's only about 30 minutes. Personally, I have not experienced the pregnancy issue but from what I've heard there are no complications, most women are labeled as high-risk because of it but that's just so the doctors know. I'm sure there are tons of people that could help you with that question better than me! Also, I don't think breast implants would be a problem because the pacemaker is in the muscle up by the shoulder and the implant wouldn't effect that. I hope I've been some help, I promise you guys have nothing to worry about. If I didn't wear a bracelet that said pacemaker I wouldn't even remember I had it!
-Taylor

Thanks for sharing your experiences......

by Hubby2Pacer - 2007-11-03 11:11:16

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Talyor, Smitty, Ela-Girl, Carol, and Peggy "Megthered1" for sharing your life experiences with me and my wife. After reading what you guys have been through, along with what we found on the internet, we decided to set up the appointment and go through with the procedure. The pros seem to out weigh the cons.

We were so nervous and scared about it in the beginning because my wife has already been through so much. We seem to live by the phrase, " If it could happen, then it probably will."

Earlier this week Amy called her EP and left a message with the nurse stating that she wanted the procedure. They finally got back in touch with us and the date is set for Monday, Nov. 12th. Her EP said that after further review of her history he is changing the pacemaker from a single to a dual chamber with one lead on the upper and one on the lower chamber. From what we have read we don't really think that it will effect the battery life that much, if any. We simply want to focus on quality of life. And, just about anything has to be better than what it is right now.

Well, I guess that's about it for now. I'll keep you up to date on how the procedure goes... Again, I can not thank you enough for being apart of this...

Thanks,
~Chad

You know you're wired when...

Your device makes you win at the slot machines.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.