Help !!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello,
I will be getting a pacemaker in a few weeks.
I am scared !!!!!! NO, I am terrified, mentally and physically
sick. It was scheduled for this coming Monday the 22nd
but I had to postpone it a few weeks.

My concern is post- op time, the scar and will I feel it
sliding around in my chest. I know if I can feel it or see it, it
will worry me to death. Also what about the mental aspect
of this life changing situation.

7 Comments

it's ok

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-18 03:06:33

I understand unhappy, afraid, nervous... but why terrified?

Pm's don't drift around in our chests, they are anchored down. You've probably read a few posts here where people have had it shift a bit but keep in mind that what you see here is rare. For every one person who comes here with a problem, there are hundreds or thousands out there who never have a complication, and therefore no reason to come here. The complications you see here in a given week are probably more than your doctor has had in an entire career.

Mentally, yeah, it'll take a little getting used to. For me, knowing what I'm getting into made a huge difference. Understanding my condition, what would happen during the surgery, how the pm would work all helped me feel better about it.

Post op, most people are a bit sore the first few days but feeling a lot better within a week. We have to keep our left arm down and not lift for 6 weeks, other than that we get back to normal quickly. Most people are feeling their old selves- or even better!- by the end of 6 weeks.

Scar and feeling it, it depends on your build and your doctor. Ask about having it a little lower and a little deeper, possibly even burying it behind the breast. This is where mine is. No visible scar, no lump, no discomfort. Ask if you want to know more, I'd be happy to tell you details.

Try to think of it as life giving rather than life changing. Your attitude and perception will make a big impact on your healing. It's just a little blip on the radar for most of us after a while, I rarely give mine a thought other than to appreciate that I'm alive to see another day, be active and feel good, see my kids grow up. I consider myself lucky to have something so easily fixed. I hope you'll feel this way in time. If you have questions or just want to chat, there are a lot of us here who've been there and come through it just fine. We're always happy to listen.

Ditto the others!!

by Hot Heart - 2009-06-18 05:06:42

Hi hun dont be scared its absolutely fine, honestly. Just think how few people on here gets probs and we are only a really small minority of people who are pacing anyway. The op was fine, i was more than terrified, they had to delay it by 2 hours because i was so scared, boy did i feel an idiot afterwards! lol. The pm doesnt move, sometimes you might feel a slight heavy sensation where it is, especially if youve been doing bouncy stuff like trampolining, always wear a good bra. My scar is almost gone after 8 months, just take care of your skin moisturise it well, keep it out of the sun, just do fake tan on that bit. Soon you will be another pacer chick and be in here sorting everyone else out.

Good luck HH

Dont fret sweetie

by REALLADY214 - 2009-06-18 05:06:58

I had mine put in August of 06. It's hard for us as women to adapt to changes. I bonded with mine in a silly way. I named her Faith and decided we were and are a team. I wasnt happy about the scar myself, but am ok with it. I would much rather take a small scar and a silly lump in my chest than my loved ones have the scar of losing me too soon. Sometimes changes arent easy, but when you look at it from a different prospective, you have to rejoice. Amen that you have a tool to help you live longer. Amen that you were able to get the device. Some people cant afford to get the needed help. Focus on the other things in your body that make you feel beautiful. Go get yourself a pedicure. Take a bubble bath to Frank Sinatra. Do something just for you. Love yourself enough to know that you did something great to help you and your loved ones. You go girl!!!

NO BIG DEAL

by pete - 2009-06-19 02:06:24

Well you will see it , you can feel it, and it may slide around a bit like mine. You soon get used to it. I couldnt get mine soon enough because I knew I needed one for over 2 years. There will be a scar but it fades to almost nothing. Having it fitted is comparable to going to the dentist and having a couple of teeth extracted. Nothing to be scared of. Good luck Peter

Pete

by Tracey_E - 2009-06-19 04:06:08

You may see and feel yours but I do NOT see and feel mine, and it definitely is not normal for it to "slide around". It all depends on your surgeon. Please choose your words carefully when talking to someone new and scared. Why would you choose words that would feed her fears, esp when those words may be true for you but are not necessarily accurate for her situation? Think before you post.

I just posted a picture in the gallery of myself in an itty bitty tank top called "see my scar?" Most of the time you can see a lump but you don't have to. I'll repeat, it all depends on your surgeon.

p.s. that picture was taken three weeks after my last battery replacement and was in the middle of the hike to Delicate Arch at Arches (a long hike, if you've never done it) in weather hot enough that the filling had melted out of the Oreos when we got back to the car. I mean what I say- having a pm doesn't slow me down!

Country Girl

by walkerd - 2009-06-19 07:06:51

The pacemaker will make it possible to live a better form of life as it will help your heart do what it is supposed to do, IE then you will be around to enjoy what you love, family, looking at the beautiful country views, camping, what ever you love to do. Dont be terrified it is normal to be scared who wouldnt be, the procedure is really nothing, you wont feel it, it really doesnt hurt alot, I had mine put in about a month after open heart surgery, the biggest thing is not to lift to much wieght and dont put your arm over your head for about 3 to 6 weeks your doc will tell you how long and that is just so the leads get secured. You will have a slight lump like tracey said depends on your surgeon talk to them about it I understand they can put the pm under the breast of women so as not to be as noticiable, talk talk talk ask ask ask your doc. And like tracey said they dont move. Keep venting on here it does help to talk with people who have gone thru it, trust me it does, I found this site shortly after I found out last sept when I was to get mine. Relax read posts on here, reasearch pm sites like medtronic.com or other manufactures their sites are very very helpful. And please talk to your doctor about your concerns for gods sake dont keep it to yourself, and type on this site or others and ask ask ask. Youll be ok darling.
your friend in pm just like everyone else on here is to
dave

Communicate...

by turboz24 - 2009-06-19 10:06:47

My suggestion would be to communicate your concerns to your doctor.

Communicate that...

1. You are concerned about the appearance
2. You are concerned about pain
3. What is my over all condition, when will the pacer actually be used?

If you have a good doctor, he will listen and address these concerns.

1. He would offer a sub-pectoral implant or under the breast tissue. Make sure he describes how he would implant the PM.
2. He should tell you that this really depends on each individual, but it could range from almost painless to occassional pain for 1-2 years, but occassional discomfort (poke/stab here or there) is normal.
3. I'd want to know everything about my condition. Pulse occassionally to low, various stages of heart block, etc.

Ok, Examples...

Obviously Pete and I did not have the smoothest surgeons. My implant and cable are completely visible, my scar is 1/4" wide (it actually stretched after it healed, probably do to the implant pushing against my skin). If you refer to it sliding around, mine doesn't "move", but when I move it does travel with my chest muscle, so if I lift up my shoulder, the implant rides up and slides over my collar bone.

TracyE on the other hand obviously had a good surgeon who listened to what she wanted, and she communicated well what she expected.

My current doc really listens to what I ask and will "fix" my nasty previous implant job if/when the time comes.

You know you're wired when...

You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.

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