house work and yard work

Hi
Can anyone enlighten me as to when and what I can do as far as housework (vacuuming) and yardwork (lawnmowing) etc. I can't seem to get a good answer from the Docs. I am 2 weeks now since implant and feel like I could do this stuff. Thanks
Howard

8 Comments

Good advice

by The Fish - 2010-03-31 01:03:28

Thanks to all of you for responding and bringing me back to reality. I feel like I could do almost anything but REALLY do not want to go back to the hospital and have the procedure repeated. I am the kind of guy who has a lot of trouble just sitting and looking at the things that I could be doing but I am going to do my best to resist the urge and just take it easy. Thanks again to each of you. What a great group.
Howard

Waiting Until The Time Is Right

by SMITTY - 2010-03-31 01:03:55


Hello Howard,

Glad you are feeling like doing things that can make a person tired. Actually your pacemaker doesn't care what you do, as it is nothing but a robot sitting there doing its things time after time when it gets a signal that it thinks means your heart needs a little help. But those leads are a different matter.

Initially I think you can say our leads are just floating in the blood flow through the vein they use as a conduit to go from the pacemaker to the heart. While they may be attached to the pacemaker with a clamp held down by a screw the end in the heart is not so firmly attached to the heart wall. Because of this we need to give things time to get "settled" in before we get too rambunctious. This takes a different amount of time for different people. For me this was about a month, but I have seen some say it took 2 to 3 months for them Your doctor knows best about your body and, what, if any circumstances may be present that will affect your time before a lot of physical activity. So get his opinion before doing anything really strenuous with the arm or shoulder.

If getting a doctor's opinion is not an option, then play it safe and wait 2 to 3 months. Just remember that good feeling will keep until it is safe for you to enjoy(?) cutting grass. But mess up a lead and you get to go through almost the entire procedure again.

Good luck,

Smitty

I understand

by heartu - 2010-03-31 02:03:09

When I was 2 weeks post implant I cried because I couldn't do any housework. Thinking back, was I crazy or what? I also yelled at my husband for rinsing the toilet brush in my sink. LOL! ( a little bleach in the sink took care of that)

I know how hard it is to sit still when you are one who can't.Write in a journal and keep track of how you feel and what you do each day. You'll be amazed at the progress you make each week.

Today is 5 weeks post surgery for me and I took the dog to the groomers and my teen daughter shopping this morning. I was out for 3 1/2 hours and now threw a couple of things into the washing machine and am taking it easy.

Do the small easy stuff you have been putting off, like cleaning out your bathroom drawers, or go through your old magazines and either recycle or throw them out. At least this passes the time quickly while you heal and gain some strength.

Oh and by the way, this is a great time to strengthen your delegation skills. My daughter is now great at doing laundry, vacuuming, running and unloading the dishwasher, plus she's cooked a few meals!

Take care!

WOW

by The Fish - 2010-03-31 03:03:45

It is very cool to get all these responses. All of it helps a great deal. Thanks to each of you. Hope your days are going well.
Howard

for me ...

by mikesmom93 - 2010-03-31 03:03:57

Maybe my situation is different, since I have an ICD, but I had the surgery on a Tuesday, went home from the hospital on Wednesday, was totally bored by Thursday, and went back to work on Friday.

I was told I could resume normal activities right away, just no raising my left arm or heavy lifting for six weeks. Otherwise, I got the green light for everything else. I was vacuuming the next day ...

Melissa

housework & yard work

by LS - 2010-03-31 12:03:07

My Doc told me 8 weeks as far as lifting & raising the left arm above my head etc. So......I milked it (& still am a bit LOL) Hey, they like to help!! LOL
I found the smallest thing really exhausted me.
2 weeks is still pretty recent for yard work/mowing.
Take it easy for a bit more.
Liz

Good morning, Howard

by painthorse - 2010-03-31 12:03:38

I learned the hard way to not jump into trying to prove to myself that I was invincible. My first pm (I was 52yo) seemed like nothing. I had energy, stamina that I had not had in years. With my replacement, I was in the middle of building a hay barn when my EP decided "it was time...". Being a bit aggravated about the interruption, I went right back onto the scaffolding (keeping my left elbow below my heart, of course) and man oh man, have I paid. I caused myself so many problems that 15months post replacement, I am still dealing with pain, adhesions, and yep, a bunch of depression! Let me turn back the calendar and I would say the hay barn can wait until my body has a chance to heal and I would putter around VERY GENTLY with housework, yardwork and let the priveleges of being 60yo pamper me a bit. Depression? well, I think it could be a prefectly normal response for the same reasons other folks here have stated and maybe a few more but they are just too many to list.

SO! I said all of that to say for my two cents worth, putter around and put your mind on all the great things to enjoy in life and this being spring...there are sooo many possibilities (after the flooding and storms and well...) just look for the birds.

and remember...you have friends here who REALLY care and as I have seen, some are quite well informed and educated!!

pat

New and Confused

by cruz - 2010-04-02 01:04:15

All of this is new to me. I have PM/Defib 4 weeks yesterday. My diagnosis is congestive heart failure. I have EF of 11-14 and a also have a leaky valve and dialated, enlarged heart. This week is the first I have felt like even the most tiny of activity. I've had to take disabilty retirement from work, which I loved. I feel pretty useless at home, as even making the bed requires about 20 minute nap. My normal activity had become non-existent before the procedue, but I'm just wondering how everyone is back to normal so quickly??? I've been told that 70% of the people with my diagnosis die within 5 years. Normal to me just isn't there anymore an it has happened so fast. I wasn't diagnosed until Sept. The best they can figure is a virus. I am 58. I was healthy and extremely active. What am I doing wrong?
CC

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.