Scared!

Hi.Thank you for your replies to my post on Saturday, when I was finding it really hard to stay positive. It is reassuring to know I'm not alone & that others have felt the same way.

Today I received a copy of my clinic appointment letter, from when I saw my EP last week. Here in the UK a letter is sent to the GP & a copy to the patient. It really scared me to see written in black & white that my "condition has deteriorated & they have been unable to control my arrhythmia with medication.....therefore they are going to do another EP study with probable sinus node ablation (modification), the procedure carries a pacemaker risk which they have informed me about."

It was just scary to see it written down! But I did get a bit confused in my appointment last week so I'm glad I've now got it in writing. The EP did say last week that the EP study may reveal the arrhythmia is coming from near the sinus node & that area is easier to ablate than the actual sinus node, but I think now I am probably looking at a sinus node modification.

I just feel scared now about having a pacemaker if they ablate too much of the sinus node. Does anyone know how they ablate/modify the sinus node? I think my EP uses a cryo procedure (rather than RF heat)....I need to find out more when I go for my pre-op tests (when I get a date).

It also feels scary, the thought of signing the consent form for possible pacemaker implantation. How long do you stay in hospital if you have a pacemaker put in?

It's all very scary! Did anyone else feel like this? Please let me know. Thanks.

Best wishes
Janey

5 Comments

Hi Janey

by janetinak - 2010-06-22 01:06:41

I agree with what everybody above has said. I had an ablation & am now 100% dependent. Surgery no problem (pain free, healed well,etc) stayed over night so basically only 24 hrs. Feel so good now that most times I forget I have the PM. Don't think I would have had any where near the quality of life I have now if I had not had ablation & PM. And in fact I am sure my quality of life would never have improved as I tried for 2 yrs to get out of Afib with meds, cardioversions,etc. Let us know how you are doing. Thinking of you,

Janet

I hate those letters

by Genie - 2010-06-22 12:06:35

they come in the post (usually in a brown envelope!) and scare you!

But you'll be ok if you have to have a pacemaker. It took my consultant 30 minutes to do my implant. I was sedated, and although I remember some of it, what I remember now has faded. It didn't hurt. I was early on the list and able to go home the same day, although I think it's more usual to stay over night. They give you an x-ray and check the PM is working before you leave. You'll probably be on a ward with other people having similar procedures, and everyone is very supportive.

If you do need a PM, ask you consultant about the new MRI safe PM which is available in the UK. Also, make sure you have the number of the pacing clinic (you'll go there to check the device the day you have it done) - they are a great first point of call if you are worried about anything.

But Im still praying you don't need one. Not because you won't be ok, but because it's not something to volunteer for!

Best Wishes,
Genie

Getting a New Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2010-06-22 12:06:46


Hello Janey,

Below is my edited version of an article on getting a new pacemaker. By editing the article I can include my comments which are based on my experience from getting a pacemaker. It may provide some answers. I'm sure you will hear for others on this subject.

Pacemaker implantation today is minimally invasive surgery. It is done under local anesthesia, and generally takes less than 45 minutes. After the area under the patient's collarbone is numbed, a small incision is made (usually about 3 inches long,) and a “pocket” is fashioned in the tissue overlying the muscle. The leads are inserted through a vein near the site of the pocket, and advanced into the heart using fluoroscopy for guidance. The leads are then attached to the pacemaker which on then placed in the pocket, and the incision is closed.

Once a pacemaker is implanted, it must be programmed. Pacemakers are extremely flexible devices, and their function can varied according to the precise needs of the patient.
After the pacemaker is implanted healing usually takes about 2 – 4 weeks. The patient can expect a completely normal life afterward. In fact, after getting many patients find they are able to do even more after getting the pacemaker. Periodic pacemaker checks are necessary, to check the function of the device and the amount of energy left in the battery. The scheduled checkups for pacemakers will be determined by the doctor.

When the battery begins to get low, which usually takes 5 or more years, (mine lasted 9 years) the doctor schedules a pacemaker replacement. This procedure is similar to the implantation procedure, except that usually the pacemaker leads do not need to be replaced.

What devices can interfere with pacemakers? Home appliances do not interfere with pacemakers, and should not cause any concern whatsoever. (This includes microwave ovens, despite the signs you still see posted in some restaurants.)

Arc welding equipment and other devices that generate powerful magnetic fields – medical devices and heavy duty industrial motors – can inhibit the function of pacemakers.

Cellular telephones, if held in close proximity to the pacemaker (which may happen if the phone is kept in a breast pocket) can potentially affect the function of a pacemaker. As long as the phone is kept 6 or more inches from the pacemaker there should not be a problem.

MRI scanners can interrupt the pacing function of pacemakers, and under some circumstances may be dangerous to the pacemaker and the patient. Many problems with MRI can be circumvented by taking special care during the procedure and limiting the MRI scan appropriately. Patients with pacemakers should discuss the risks and benefits of MRI scanning with their doctors.

Radiation therapy for cancers can damage the circuits of a pacemaker, and the pacemaker needs to be shielded from the radiation field.

One last word, the settings on a new pacemaker is the best guess of the doctor for a particular patient. The majority of the time these settings are good, but not always. If you think your pacemaker is not doing the job contact the doctor. He will have no way of knowing changes in the settings are needed if he doesn't hear from you.

Good luck,

Smitty

it'll be ok

by Tracey_E - 2010-06-22 12:06:52

Everyone gets scared! It's perfectly normal. No one wants a pm, but many of us find it gives us our lives back and most of us find it's not half as scary as we thought it would be. I knew I needed one and procrastinated for years before getting my first one (1993). The surgery was easier than I expected and I never could have imagined feeling so good, so I was kicking myself for waiting.

I hope they can fix your problems without ablating the sinus node, but if it comes down to that don't be afraid of it. Many of us are dependent on our little titanium buddies and lead full active lives. It's all going to be an improvement over what you're dealing with now.

They usually only keep us overnight for a pm.

Welcome

by qwerty - 2010-06-23 10:06:23

Welcome to the PM club. This is a great place as you can see. We have all been there. It will be OK. We live in an age where the PM is a great option to "fix" things that weren't possible to fix before. So, while it is not a journey we asked for, take a minute and enjoy the ride. Take time to let the Dr. do what they must do, and time to heal, and soon you will be back on the rollercoaster of life!

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