Getting a PM/Defib installed Thurs 1/14/10

Hi all, Just found this site. Getting wired up this coming week. I'm Hoping this will give Me some of My energy back. I've got CHF. Any advice or pitfalls I should watch out for? My device will be from Guidant. Thanks.

9 Comments

Getting PM/Defib

by J.B. - 2010-01-09 01:01:12

Welcome to the Pacemaker Club.

Good luck with the pacemaker implant. I'm sure it will go smoothly as its not often we see or read of anyone having a problem from the surgery.

I hope you will keep us updated on your experiences. We have very few experts here so most of us learn from the experiences of others. Believe it or not, from what we are able to learn from others and the research we do because of what we read here, many of us think we have some understanding of how our pacemakers help our heart. That statement is not to be confused with us thinking we really understand how pacemaker/Defib units work, but we do learn a lot about what they are supposed to, or not supposed to, do.

See you around,

J.B.

?????

by pete - 2010-01-09 02:01:07

I have a Guidant. Very pleased with it. Also had CHF. Greatly improved. Keep a note about all that happens. Let us know how it went and what type of pacemaker you got and what leads and what they are pacing. Are you going to have an ablation as well? Cheers Peter

Getting PM/Defib

by FilmoFreddy - 2010-01-09 02:01:08

"Ablation"? I think I did that to My lawn just before winter!-LoL...No, they haven't mentioned it but, I'm sure if it's something they can charge me for it will be done! Thanks for the warm welcome & I will (Hopefully-Gulp) post back after my "procedure".

Getting PM/Defib

by FilmoFreddy - 2010-01-10 02:01:33

Thanks to all for your comments. I appreciate it. I'll certainly report back afterwords.Take care.

You will do fine

by FirstDuely - 2010-01-10 02:01:36

It would be difficult for me to improve on what has been said above. I don't have CHF but I do have an AV block with almost 100 percent pacing. Every person with a pacer does different things in life and is at a different stage in life so each will have their own requirements of the pacer. I had a very slow heart rate caused by a virus or bacteria that short-circuited the nerves between the atrium and ventrical. That was at age 36. I am now almost 60 and have had around (can't really remember but could figure it out...given time) 8 pacers. I get monthly telephone checks and travel to the doctor at the clinic every 3 months so they can do some high-tech computer analysis of the pacer. As said above, try to keep track of all sorts of things that happen after you're home and active again so they can make needed adjustments. I am going to be talking to the doc Tuesday to see if he will raise the top rate so I don't hit the "wall" while riding my road bike with my friends. I rode 180 miles total on my bike this week which is a new record for me. My doctor has always told me one thing to remember: The pacer will improve the quality of your life. I always try to make every day count and I sure do enjoy waking up in the morning and starting a new day!!!
Yes, there will be soreness. It will pass within a week or two. Yes, it will stick out. In time the fat tissue will mold around the pacer and make it less noticeable. I have not done any push ups and pull ups but I have done quite a bit of lifting and reaching over my head even though they will advise against doing so.
The surgery itself is not all that bad but not all that fun either ;) I tend to try to yak alot at the people around me until they give you the IV (I hate needles) and sedate you a bit, then I just try to go to sleep and try to ignore the whole procedure. I used to pay attention alot but that just made me worry so now I just want to zone out and get out ASAP. It goes by pretty fast, maybe even faster than you reading all the words I just typed on the page......
Also remember this: There are so many more people who have way more serious medical issues, some really young and some really old. I'm just thankful that a pacer gave me a life to watch my little babies grow up and get lives and jobs and allow me to do the many, many, many things I have done since. I actually met and talked to the scientists and engineers who designed my first dual chamber, activity regulated pacer from Siemans Pacesetter in Sylmar, CA. and the president of the company. What great people. And I had the first one ever implanted in the US and it worked flawlessly for 6 years before the battery ran down. So you, too, will get replacements from time to time but each time the technology and ability to be adjusted gets better. It ain't all bad being BIONIC....well, sort of. Good luck and enjoy feeling better and knowing you can change pacer settings to fit your lifestyle.
Hope to read about your experience by next weekend.

Gary in Hemet,CA

Keep track of things

by walkerd - 2010-01-10 06:01:23

after procedure which isnt that bad. I have chf and a bad heart, they probably will have to adjust the pm let them know of dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadness and if possible what caused it when it happens they had to adjust mine four or five times before they got it right as I needed the defib more than the pm right now, mine doesnt pace hardly at all now since my last adjustment and Im doing pretty good. Like all said it will be sore for awhille and just do what your doctor tells you to do, dont be afraid to ask any question you might have, oh yes if you do have questions that pop up in your head at home after the procedure write them down when you think of them i didnt and went to doc and when i left the office thought crap I forgot to ask this. I started writing them down after the second time i forgggggoooottt..
best of luck and post on here and get things out of your system or questions you may have thats what this site is here for.
dave

Suggestions

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-10 12:01:36

Be aware that the site will be a bit sore for several days. The process of making a pocket under the skin to hold the pacer is a brutal procedure. I found that sleeping on the side opposite the pacer with a pillow in front of me to rest the upper arm on keeps pressure off the area. This let me sleep well the first night after the implant. You aren't likely to damage anything if you roll over on it, but it will let you know it isn't a good idea.

frank

Getting PM/Defib (Installed 14 Jan 2010)

by FilmoFreddy - 2010-01-15 06:01:53

Hi all, Just an update. I had my 3 lead guidant installed yesterday morning. Took about 2 hrs & I snapped out of it about 2 hrs later. Released today & all I can say is HOLY STAR EYED HORNEY TOADS! I now realize I have been living with a bum ticker for at least 20 years . It's like I have a turbocharger wired in under the hood. In just 24hrs symptoms that I had attributed to other causes & were mis-diagnosed by the Drs. all these years are rapidly disappearing. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning! I LOVE My "Little Friend"!

It SAVED My Life!

by FilmoFreddy - 2010-01-17 10:01:51

What I'm about to tell you is nothing short of incredible. I posted on 14 Jan how fantastic I felt coming home with My new pacer/defib. That evening (Friday) around 7:30 pm I was sitting at My laptop when a feeling came over Me like I have Never experienced before. I was getting ready to pass out. I yelled for My wife & as I was heading towards the kitchen floor I could hear or sense My Defib charging up. I new I was going to take a Hit.I got on the floor just as It discharged. HOLY !!!!!!!!!!!....I never lost consciousness. I yelled for My Wife to call 911. The paramedics showed up & off we went. The Boston Scientific rep was paged to the ER & 90 minutes later after interrogating My device We had the answer. I was going into Arrest & the defib smacked me with 1 Hit of 32 Joules(Watt/seconds) & snapped Me out of it. Less than 32 hours after installation it saved My bacon. The Docs & Hospital staffwere amazed & in awe. Not half as much as Me though. I returned home this afternoon grateful but, frankly, scarred. They have me on a Beta blocker now that's making me quite spacey. Anyone else have a similar experience (I hope not)?

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