Scared

Hi. I am a 49 y/o female and I have congenital 2nd degree heart block. After wearing a Holter monitor my cardiologist wants me to have a pm installed. During sleep my heart rate goes down to 29 bpm. I am very nervous about it. I have heard a lot of complications after the installation. But my main concern is does it hurt to have it installed? Can anyone tell me about their surgery? Maybe help me ease my fears? Thanks.

13 Comments

Does Not Hurt

by pete - 2010-01-29 01:01:26

You should not feel any discomfort. You may feel a pulling and tugging sensation. Anything more tell the EP immediately and he will give you a bit more anaesthetic. You are most unlikely to suffer complications. Trouble is a lot of people only come here when something is amiss. So you can get a bad perspective of pacemakers by reading a lot of bad news. You have age on your side as well. RElax it will be OK. Peter

Thanks

by DanaT - 2010-01-29 01:01:27

Thanks guys. I do feel a bit better already. I am so glad I found this site!

complications

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-29 01:01:59

If you read the posts here, you'll think complications happen all the time! In reality, they happen less than 2% of the time, but those 2% come here for answers. I'm 43 and just got my 4th pm this week for congenital heart block, third degree. So far (knock on wood) I've never had a complication. Most people have their surgery, are sore for a few days, and get on with their lives.

Every doctor is different and every person has a different tolerance for pain. My pm is buried behind the breast so my surgery was considerably more invasive than normal. I had it done on Monday. I took two doses of prescription pain stuff in the hospital and another 2 or 3 at home at night, but mostly I've been getting by on Tylenol. I haven't taken anything at all since yesterday afternoon. I'm more stiff than sore.

For the surgery itself, you shouldn't feel a thing. They usually numb you with a local and give something to sedate you. I found that the local lasted a good 12 hrs, I didn't feel much of anything until the next morning. I had versaid this time so I was conscious but don't remember a thing.

Please let us know if you have other questions! It's really not that bad. You should feel a difference in your energy level when your heart rate isn't dipping so low.

Getting A Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2010-01-29 02:01:15


Hello DanaT,

This is my story on getting a pacemaker.

I reported to the hospital at 7AM and was ushered into a room where I was given the hospitals latest fashions and told to put them on. By the time I finished that little chore the nurse was back with an IV and a bag of antibiotic solution. She then took my vitals to be sure I was still alive, I guess, and then the IV was plugged into my arm. After that she did a few other things and offered me a magazine and the TV remote and told me to make my self comfortable because it would be a few hours wait while the antibiotic slowly ran into my arm. After a couple of hours and when the antibiotic bag was about empty the nurse came in with some soap and a razor and proceeded to scrub and shave the area where the pacemaker would be implanted. I didn't understand the need for shaving the area as it was under my color bone and is as hairless as a babies behind.

About 1PM I was wheeled into the EP lab (as they call it at this place) and then more prepping took place. My memory is not as clear here because after a few minutes in there I was given something (librium, I think) to calm my nerves, at least that is what they said it for. What it did was make me go to sleep. Just before I dozed off I had to answer some more goofy questions, and then they proceeded to pretty well cover me with sheets. I was told I would be given a local anesthetic so that I would not feel any pain. They were correct, I never felt a thing. By the time the doctor came in I was asleep.

The next thing I knew was about 45 minutes later and the doctor was telling me my pacemaker was working fine and they were just making a few final adjustments in the settings and did I have any questions?

I had many questions, like:

What medications would I need to take? "Continue to take the ones you are taking now and we will give you a prescription for an antibiotic you will take for two weeks."

Who would take my stitches out? "The steri strips we used will come off in time, about a week or two, so and by then the sutures will have dissolved so there will be no stitches to take out."

Would I have to come back for further programming of the pacemaker? "We will see you in three weeks and thereafter about every three months, We will send you a schedule."

How long before I could shower? "Wait a couple of days, and when you do shower don't get the incision wet."

Would I have to keep taking potassium? "Yes, since you are taking a diuretic, you should continue to take the potassium."

Will I need to get a medic alert bracelet? "You can get one if it will make you feel more comfortable, but, some do and some don't. You will get an I.D. card showing you have a pacemaker and you should take it with you at all times."

How long would the battery last? Normal battery life is 5 to 7 years. "It depends on how often your pacemaker has to help out."

"Has to help out." what do you mean? Won't it be making my heart beat all the time? No, you have an on demand pacemaker which means it will monitor your heart beat and if it gets below the low set point on you pacemaker then the pacemaker will come on and bring the heart rate back to low set point." We can give you more information on this after you have your pacemaker for a few months.

What are my restrictions. "Don't raise your arm over your head for two weeks and do not lift anything that weighs more than two pounds for about a month. No exercise that puts a strain on your arm but you can start walking exercises tomorrow."

How long will I be in the hospital. "You can go home tomorrow morning."

It is surgery so I will not say there is nothing to it because complications are always a possibility but they seldom happen. As the days go by you will have many questions and I'll bet if you post those questons here you will find someone that has asked the same queston and can answer you.

Good luck,

Smitty

kudos

by irisheyes317 - 2010-01-29 02:01:19

That was a really great answer!

Piece of Cake!

by mikesmom93 - 2010-01-29 02:01:41

DanaT -

Welcome! I am 42 and I had my first implant surgery 8 weeks ago. I had the surgery on a Monday, stayed overnight for observation, was totally bored by Thursday, and went back to work on Friday!

Mine is under the skin. It was sore, but I on a scale of 1 - 10 I'd give it a 2... I ended up taking a Tylenol the first night after surgery, because I was expecting the pain to get worse, but it never did. Now at week 8, I forget it is even there most of the time. Even the scar is minimal. And I am living life exactly as I did before.

Honestly, I felt great right from the start. But I went into it with a good attitude, and I'm a fast healer.

Listen to your body, don't overdo things. Give yourself time to heal. Think of this as the best gift you've ever gotten -- it may save your life!

Melissa

Implant positioning

by COBradyBunch - 2010-01-29 05:01:06

I think the 'discomfort' after surgery has a lot to do with where you get your pacer put. I had mine tucked into the muscle and had a fair amount of pain about a week after surgery that I have written off, after the docs shouldn't find anything and anti-inflams helped it go away after about a week, as an inflammation response and probably doing too much too soon with the surrounding muscles. Other than that, only time it really hurts is when I bang it or do a lot of work with the muscles around it. Even then it is usually short lived and is more like muscle soreness than anything else. Still I like mine tucked away because I am very active and it is less 'in the way' than just sitting on top.

Help

by tsimbrow - 2010-01-29 08:01:14

Hi,
OK, so I have the same thing as you. My heartarte goes down to 29 at night as well and I did have a pacemaker in 10 years ago due to that and unfortunately I am one of the odd percentages that got an infection. I had to have it out. I'm going to tell you now that when I did have the pacemaker in I had no pain. Some discomfort and that was easily fixed with Tylenol. I am also going to say that what Smitty said is very true. Everyone has a different experience and what one person says may not be true for you. I think what you need to remember is that this is your time and experience and you shouldn't go in with expectations. Go in with an open mind and let things happen as they happen. Again this is your experience not everyone else's. Good luck and keep us posted.
Taryn

was in the same boat

by patsy - 2010-01-30 01:01:04

hi dana i am also 48 an getting the pm came on suddenly while in hospital for pnemonia they decoverd my heart pausing had to were monitor wen i left hospital took monitor back in three days an doc said i need a pacemaker like yesterday was admitted did not feel anything in op room wen they took me back to my room i got off of gurney myself an walk to my bed but after anastetics wore off i was givin meds that day and i ask for a script to go home with cause you will need it well i needed it for at least a week i had no complcations everything went fine but you will be sore wen you come home mine was put on my leftside above my breast some of our friends on this site evidently can endore pain i can not .word to the wise ask for meds wen you leave if you dont need them fine but if you do you have them this will save you a lot of phone calls wen you get home so rest an be well cause i was in your shoes 2 month ago an i would say on a scale of 1 to 10 im about an85 as far as feeling better an getting my body back in order if you ever what to talk with me give me a holler i be glad toanswer some of your qustion cause you will have them like i said everyone heals differently......good luck Patsy

good luck

by DanaT - 2010-01-30 02:01:57

I really have no symptoms yet, just very slight dizziness, but I tend to blame that on my blood pressure medication. The doctor does feel that my slow beat could damage my heart and would rather not wait until I get symptoms. On Wednesday I'm going in for a second opinion, although I have a feeling they may say the same thing. I have the same fears as you. Wondering if I'll be in constant anxiety about the thing in my chest. I almost have an attitude of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". LIke what if the pacemaker opens up a whole new set of problems? But what I read on here is most people feel so much better after the pm. I wish you luck and please keep me posted on how you're doing.

sigh.....

by DanaT - 2010-01-30 10:01:09

Thanks for the wonderful, wonderful advice and encouraging words All. I think I'm starting to breathe a little easier.

sounds familiar

by paulb - 2010-01-30 12:01:13

I too have a heart rate that drops real low at night. It also remains low during the day; in 40s and 50s. I have passed out several times and tired, nauseous, and weak. I also get heart palpitations that make me feel woozy and black out a little. I get my pacemaker on Wednesday and I am praying that all goes well and it will cure these conditions. I have anxietys and for this reason I am concerned with how I will mentally deal with having something in my chest with possible shock or something. Any one have good way of dealing with the anxiety? any one have similar fears?

You'll be ok

by chippy22 - 2010-02-02 01:02:59

As others have said the pm implatation is ok. The more relaxed you can be the easier the transition will be. This web site is fab and helped me soooo much when going through niggles afterwards. Don't worry you will be in safe hands. Hope all goes well.

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