first pacemaker what to do & what not to do??????
Hi all. My name is Jessi. I am twenty and was born with 4 congenital heart defects. I just recently had my second open heart surgery *6th heart surgery all together* and during it I got a pacemaker implant. I was told its really rare to have open heart surgery and a pacemaker implantation at the same time. But thats just me. I've always been really rare. This is my first pacemaker. I'm really the only person I know with a pacemaker, except one lady who I cant always talk to. I'm finding out more and more that its almost the same as a holter monitor but on the inside not on the outside with all the annoying filters. So I am excited to know that I most likely will have a Holter ever again. I'm trying to learn how to live with my pacemaker but it can be hard. I find myself more and more moving certain ways and feeling it pull. I always get scared that I might pull to hard out of place. I tried doing push ups but I could feek it. Is that okay? What can I do and what should I be more careful about
5 Comments
Hi New to PM but nothing else
by janetinak - 2010-03-18 03:03:03
apparently. You have been thru the ringer in your short life, so your tough. With any kind of luck the PM will give you no trouble. But I think its too early (you didn't say how long you had it tho) to be trying push ups. You can look up to the right of the page & look under "Search" for exercise, etc. & see loks of good posts with info. It takes awhile to get over the initial discomfort & you need to keep the arm on PM side down for awhile. Hope you got some info from your doc.
The Holter monitor may or may not have to be used again. I was having some initial problems with setting on my 1st PM & needed to wear for 24 hrs to find out what settings needed to be so I would be more comfortable. So not out of the question but hopefully less use.
Well good luck & welcome to the club. I am sure you will get a lot of info here.
Janet
Hi New to PM but nothing else
by janetinak - 2010-03-18 03:03:04
apparently. You have been thru the ringer in your short life, so your tough. With any kind of luck the PM will give you no trouble. But I think its too early (you didn't say how long you had it tho) to be trying push ups. You can look up to the right of the page & look under "Search" for exercise, etc. & see loks of good posts with info. It takes awhile to get over the initial discomfort & you need to keep the arm on PM side down for awhile. Hope you got some info from your doc.
The Holter monitor may or may not have to be used again. I was having some initial problems with setting on my 1st PM & needed to wear for 24 hrs to find out what settings needed to be so I would be more comfortable. So not out of the question but hopefully less use.
Well good luck & welcome to the club. I am sure you will get a lot of info here.
Janet
thanks
by Jessi - 2010-03-18 03:03:12
Thanks guys I got my pacemaker implanted the same day of my open heart surgery. July 24, 2009. So almost 8 months.. With open heart surgery you have to lift your arms the same so because of the pacemaker I couldnt lift either of my arms. My mom had to wash my hair for the first 6 weeks. It takes 6 months really to start to recover from the surgery so I am just beginning to get back to normal. A lot of depression and nightmares but they tell me thats normal. Every little pain I feel I freak out over. I havnt been okay for so long that I just cant trust that Im okay now. But im trying.. The manufacturer is Medtronic. My mom thinks it would be funny to try and got to the airport and see if I really do set off the metal detectors and my brother likes to tell me im battery operated. Which helps a lot. Being able to joke is a very good thing for me. But I still am scared. This is all knew to me. My last surgery was at 1 1/2. But im trying
Welcome!
by tcrabtree85 - 2010-03-18 12:03:17
Hi,
I am 24 so closer to your age. Sounds like you have experienced a lot in your short life also. I haven't been on for a while as I just got a new pacer.
How long have you had your pacer? Depending on how long you need to let the first six weeks heal without using your arm too much. I know it's annoying feeling it at some points but it's kinda normal and soon before no time you will be able to ignore it for a while.
If you have more questions feel free to send me a private message and we can catch up some more.
Good luck,
Tammy
You know you're wired when...
Muggers want your ICD, not your wallet.
Member Quotes
I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.
5 or 6 weeks will do!
by sherida - 2010-03-18 02:03:47
Like the others said before: 5 or 6 weeks not lifting your arm on the pacemakerside above the shoulder, but don't keep your arm still al the time! The best exercise you can get in that time is walking. After the 6 to 8 weeks checkup you can start doing exercises again as long as it is not painful! So listen to your body!
I don't know what type (manufacturer?) of pacemaker you got, but most modern pacemaker keep a record of the heartrate of the last 24 hours, so holter may not be needed. There is even a possibility to do an in-office exercise test, which your pacemaker will record. Depending that, settings can be changed so you will benefit more from your pacer!
All the best!
Sherida