My grandma is getting a pacemaker

Hello,

I'm new to this site and I mainly joined because we just learned today that my grandma is getting a pacemaker. I'm not really sure if it's the pacemaker or the defi that she is getting, but my question is this.

Her son who is my uncle and like a dad to me had a heart attack at 41 about a year ago. He used to smoke a lot and so he has stents on his veins. We have not told him anything about grandma going to get this device and I'm not sure if we should. My uncle is pretty strong now and doesn't even look like he had a heart attack. He is like 1000 miles away from grandma too. So should we tell him? he just knows that she is in the hospital that's all.

Thanks

4 Comments

Grandma Getting A PM

by SMITTY - 2009-07-28 02:07:26

Hello DRKIDD22,

Welcome to the Pacemaker Club.

I can't tell you if you should or should not tell your uncle, but I will tell you what I know about getting a pacemaker/Defib and let you decide if that helps with your decision.

First let me say mine is only a pacemaker but from what I understand the combo of PM/Defib involves very little more than getting a plain PM. The surgery usually takes about an hour or so and just requires an overnight stay in the hospital. Your grandma will have her physical activity restricted for a while but this usually involves mainly a restriction on the use of the arm. To me the surgery is much less painful than getting a couple of teeth pulled at one time.

One thing that is often overlooked for people getting a PM is that it does not take over the making the heart beat all time. It is an as needed device. There will be a low set and high set point. What they are for your grandma will be determined by the doctor. Regardless, the PM will monitor her heart rate and if her heart beats starts to drop below the low set point (mine is 70) the PM kicks in and keeps the heart beat at that level at least. As for the upper set point, the PM just monitors the heart function when the heart rate goes above that as it is not needed.

If she is getting a Defib device, that will monitor her heart function and in the event her heart goes into ventricular fibrillation (it starts to be way to fast and gets out of sync with the atrial) the defibrillator will send an electrical impulse to momentarily stop the heart so it can, shall we say, catch its breath and then return to its regular heart rate.

The thing to remember is a pacemaker or a defibrillator is nothing but an assist for the heart. Look at it this way, she is living without one now, so if it were going to be a life saving device for her they would probably would not have put off implanting the device.

I can say this, if I were in your place, I woud tell my brother our mom was getting a pacemaker and explain it is just to make her feel better and is not a life or death matter.

BUT BEFORE YOU TELL YOU UNCLE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, ASK HER DOCTOR JUST WHAT HER SITUATION IS THAT IS CAUSING HER TO GET A PM AND/OR DEFIB.

I wish her the best.

Smitty

TELL HIM

by pete - 2009-07-28 03:07:29

I think you should tell him. He wont be too happy if he finds out you knew about it but kept the truth from him.Try and put yourself in the same situation and imagine how you would feel. After all he is her son and has a right to know. I would rather have a pacemaker than a heart attack. A pacemaker is no big deal in most cases these days. Cheers Peter

I'd Tell Him

by Bionic Man - 2009-07-28 04:07:33

This is part of family medical history. It's always good to tell your Dr of medical issues in your family. I had an aunt who had a pacer when I was a kid. She was a big help when I got my pacer because she had the same issues. It made my situation a lot easier to deal with. It was like having my own pacemaker club. She had been through it and could answer all my questions. I'm glad her medical history wasn't kept secret. A call from your uncle may also boost your grandma's spirit.

Yep I agree

by Hot Heart - 2009-07-30 07:07:47

Think you should tell him. The pacemaker is going to make her feel better, he may be worrying that theres something much worse wrong.

HH

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I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.