A few questions

Hi everyone. I'm 21 and I'm having my PM put in on 28 Feb. I've read a lot about the procedure and what to expect etc. but to be honest, I'd prefer to find out from a patient's point of view, rather than the medics.

So I have a few questions:
What should I expect during the actual procedure? I've had 12 operations before, but they've all been under a general anaesthetic.
What is sedation like? Are you actually unconscious? Some people say you feel drunk and talk rubbish, some people say you go to sleep.
How long does recovery take?
Also, you can probably tell by my username that I'm crazy about cars, so I'd also like to know if there are any restrictions put on you? I work for the ambulance service in the 999 control room, and I already know that I can't go out on the road and become a paramedic as I won't be able to drive ambulances.

Thanks for any advice.
Emma

8 Comments

ambulances

by petrolhead - 2009-02-21 05:02:24

I can't drive an ambulance because of a policy my Service has - they say that you can't drive on blue lights and sirens if you have a pacemaker. I'm not sure exactly why though, I'd be far more likely to cause an accident without a pacemaker than with one!
I've been off the road for the last 7 months because the DVLA revoked my licence in case I black out at the wheel, which is unlikely but would be disastrous.

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2009-02-21 05:02:31

There are several different types of anesthesia, it depends what kind you get. I had general for all of my pm's (on my 4th). Sometimes you are fully awake and conscious, sometimes they use conscious sedation so you are awake but don't remember anything.

Full recovery is 6-8 weeks. You'll be sore for a week or two, but it gets better quickly after the first day or two. I never took anything stronger for pain than Tylenol after I got home from the hospital but others do.

Restrictions on driving depend on the doctor and your reasons for needing the pm. I was never told I couldn't drive, others are told as long as 4 weeks.

Wear a top that buttons up the front when you go to the hospital. You won't feel up to doing much bending and twisting when you come home so wear something loose and comfy that you don't have to pull over your head. I skipped the bra for the first week, contorting to get it on was too much trouble!

Fixing my hair was my biggest obstacle because we can't raise our left arm higher than shoulder for the first 6 weeks.

Why can't you drive an ambulance once you recover?

Good luck!!!!

Anesthesia

by ElectricFrank - 2009-02-21 06:02:05

If you don't express an opinion you will get whatever the facility likes to do. I pursued it before surgery and found I had several choices.
1. General anesthesia (you know about this having had it previously.
2. A local pain killer like at the dentist, but with the addition of one of the amnesia drugs like Versaid. This is supposed to leave you conscious, but make you forget what happened. The advantage here is that the recovery time before leaving the facility is shorter. The problem is that it doesn't always work and there are stories about feeling and remembering pain, but couldn't let anyone know. There are also possible psychological after effects.
3. Have only the local pain killer. This leaves you totally awake during the procedure. This is what I chose to do. The main advantage is your being able to take care of yourself during the surgery. I had one point during the procedure where someone in O.R. decided my chest was a good place to rest an elbow. I'm sure I would have had a very sore bruised spot if I hadn't complained. Another advantage is that when the procedure is over you are totally awake and there really isn't any recovery time other than the usual "observation" time.

Which you chose depends on how you handle things. For me it was easy. I had an agreement with the anesthesiologist that he would be prepared to give me something if I needed it, but only with my OK. That made it easier because there was always an out. I never came anywhere near asking for it.

One other suggestion. For the first couple of nights after the surgery it really helps to sleep with a pillow in front of you to put the pacemaker arm over. This takes the pressure off the incision and makes it less painful. I can't tell from your post whether you are male or female. It is common for females to have the pacer located under a breast for cosmetic reasons. This placement usually takes a bit longer since more tissue is disturbed. Maybe some of the females on the site could give you suggestions.

Most important of all is that a pacemaker implant is not a big thing. If you go into it knowing what your options are and taking charge it will go well,

frank

New Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2009-02-21 06:02:59

Hi Emma,

I'll bet the comments you receive will be interesting as we are all different and our doctors use different approaches to pacemaker implants. In my case, well first let me say I was 50 years older than you when I got mine in '00, so that may account for some difference. As for anesthetic, I was given a hefty dose of valium an hour or so ahead of the surgery which was followed by something (maybe more valium) and I slept through my implant. I awoke at the very end with no hangover, ready to get up and go home. Of course they wouldn't let me go unit the next morning, but I had no problems whatsoever. During the day I kept my hand in my pocket when walking and for about 3 nights I slept with my left hand on a leash to keep me from inadvertently raising it too high. By the 3rd day I was driving short distances and from there on it was a wallk in the park, so far as the surgery was concerned. I have had tooth extractions that were much more traumatic.

I don't understand why you will not be able to drive an ambulance. That pacemaker is nothing but a helper for your heart as it works only when needed. I can guarantee you that there are my people driving ambulances and whatever vehicles that have hearts in much worse condition and are greater risks than you will be. Of course, what I have said could be for naught for some reasons you could be getting a pacemaker. But since yours permits scheduling it a week or so in the future my guess is that you are getting one for bradycardia, or a slow heart rate. If that is the case, you will most certainly be a better physical specimen than you were before the PM. So unless the service which employs you has some archaic ideas about what a person can and cannot do because they have a PM, your work duties should not change much.

As for restrictions, I had none because of the PM. If I could do it before I got my PM, I could do more of it and be better at it after I got mine. Of course there are some things you should avoid, such as strong electromagnetic fields, and direct licks on the pacemaker but in general I do not avoid anything because I have a PM. Should I get into a strong EMF that interfered with the PM I would notice it an get away from the offending device and my PM would return to its normal operation with no harm done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it will be this. Do not have any preconceived ideas about what you can and cannot do because you are getting a PM. They do not impart the restraints on our lives that many people, including many doctors, seem to think they do. As I said at the very beginning, we are all different so get your PM and see how things go. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much it helps and how little it inhibits your life style.

Good luck,

Smitty

PS: I had not read the above comments before I posted mine so I see you have answered some of my questons.

frank's comments, continued

by Tracey_E - 2009-02-21 10:02:22

With a name like Emma, I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're female :o) I am one of the ones with it behind the breast. My recovery was a little longer but I have no visible scars or lumps, seat belts never rub and I can carry a backback (all common complaints with women with pm's). If you'd like to know more, just ask!

I must be getting old

by ElectricFrank - 2009-02-22 01:02:18

I didn't see the Emma at the bottom of your message. Thanks, Tracey.

frank

answer

by AHONEYBUNNY - 2009-02-22 07:02:31

go into it with a positive attitude. I did not feel a thing. they gave me a relaxer beforehand and i was unconcious during the procedure. recovered quickly.
i followed their directions and no infection or complications.

Welcome!

by tcrabtree85 - 2009-02-23 12:02:24

Hi Emma,
Just wanted to welcome you to the site. I am 23 and got my first pm at 21. I agree with Smitty everyone will tell you something different each person is a different case.
I can tell you the surgery is not bad at least it was not for me the recovery and not using my hand above shoulder level was a pain but i'm pretty sure you will get through it just fine.
I wish you luck on your road to recovery and if you have more questions that others have not asked feel free to private message me anytime.
Take care!

Tammy

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