Heading toward panic

Hi again,
There's so much helpful information on this site, but the more I read here and elsewhere, the more terrified I get (I'm scheduled to get a pacemaker on Tues.). There are so many horror stories, so many heartbreaking situations. The greatest advantage I see is that most people have more energy after the implant, but I have plenty of energy now; that's never been a problem. Is it true that a car seat belt causes most people discomfort? That you can't take a shower for a week after the surgery? What if you need surgery in the future for another condition--can you get general anesthesia? I'm beginning to think life isn't worth living anymore.

11 Comments

Stay calm!

by MSPACER - 2010-07-03 07:07:06

Hi Lulu:

I'm 47 years old and had my first pacemaker implanted when I was 38. I had my second one implanted in Feb of this year. If you are getting long pauses, you need one. It's not only for additional energy. Please try to stay calm-some people have had complications, but you can't think because they did you will have too. Please stay positive. I will give you an honest run-down. The first few days you will experience pain, but tylenol or advil are just fine to relieve it. You will not be able to lift your arm for a few weeks or carry anything with it. The leads need time to set and the pocket needs time to heal. You will stay overnight in the hospital and should go home the next day. The doctor may put your arm in a sling so you don't move it, but I did not go home with the sling. You will probably feel pain sleeping, but I alleviated it by putting a pillow under my arm. By the end of the first week, there is a lot less pain. You can't get the bandage or scar wet, but I was still able to take a shower carefully with a hand held shower. You can have general anesthesia for any additional surgery, but who wants that! Doctors prefer to give a local and mild sedation if they can. I prefer that too. The seat belt will cause discomfort, but you could buy a softee contraption to put on it, or try using a small towel wrapped around the belt. You probably won't be able to drive for a few weeks, so don't worry too much about that.

You will probably have a follow up appointment with the doctor within a week of the surgery. The bandage will be removed, and the pacemaker will be checked. Overall, don't be afraid to ask the doctors questions or tell them how you feel, if something does not feel right.

I actually laughed

by Lulu Moppet - 2010-07-03 07:07:15

Smitty,
Thanks for the information, but especially for your comment about the the doctors' mastering their TV remotes. I didn't think laughter was possible for me today.

Don't Panic

by SMITTY - 2010-07-03 07:07:19


Hello Lulu,

Let's look at your message one line at a time. There over a million pacemakers that have been implanted. The stats say that less than 1% of the people getting one has a problem with the pacemaker. There are about 11,000 members here and I think about 50% of them have had a problem of some type (mostly minor) and the other 50% just come here (like you have) looking for information on this little piece of metal that has been or is about to be implanted in their body.

Yes, there are horror stories and my guess is that 95% of them are the result of an unqualified doctor doing the implant and/or providing the follow up care. A doctor may be an outstanding cardiologist and/or surgeon but a pacemaker is a sophisticated electronic device and some of the doctors implanting them have never mastered the use of their TV remote. My advice to anyone getting a pacemaker is ask about the doctor's experience. While you are at it find out who will be doing your checkups and how much and what kind of training they have.

Pacemaker surgery is probably more simple than an appendectomy, but when the incision for the appendectomy heals that is the end of that story. You get a pacemaker, you have it for life. On top of that the settings on a pacemaker have to be tailored for the patient. A pacemaker has more than a million possible settings, of which more than 99% should never be touched. But a poorly trained nurse/technician, fooling with something they know little about can cause many problems for the patient.

True, one advantage of getting a pacemaker for some people is they have more energy. For some of us that pacemaker is the difference in life or death. In my case, I am not pacemaker dependant. By that I mean my PM does not have to work 100% of the time, as some do, but without my PM my life would have probably ended several years ago. I cannot truthfully say my PM gives me more energy, then again maybe it does. But more energy is a relative thing and at age 81 my increase in energy would hardly be noticeable to most. What it does is keep my heart beating fast enough to sustain life when it would stop if I was totally dependant on the heart's natural pacemaker. I know I am one of many in my situation.

As for the car seat being a problem yes and no. I got my first PM in 2000 and both of them have been located in the same spot. Since then we have owned 4 different vehicles. Three of those never knew I had a pacemaker. To my great surprise the shoulder belt in the one we now have gave me all sorts of problems until I started wrapping the belt with a soft towel. So it depends on the location of your PM and the type car.

On the shower question, I had to wait for two days to shower, then I just taped a piece of saran wrap over the incision to keep it dry. All that meant was I had about a 1 ft. sq. area I couldn't wash while in the shower. Also future surgeries are not a problem.

Finally, in my opinion the person that gets a pacemaker and doesn't really need one may find it debilitating and a constant source of irritation. On the other hand if that person really needs one it is just another means of treatment for their illness.

Good luck to you,

Smitty

LuLu

by LS - 2010-07-03 08:07:32

The seat belt was a bit oncomfortable, but I just put it off my shoulder a bit & went on my merry way.
I too had plenty of energy before the PM, & pretty much the same now.
Having had several close friends (5 in 6 years) commit suicide, I become quite an alarmist when someone says, " I'm beginning to think life isn't worth living any more." My advice would be to talk to a health care professional if you feel this way. This may sound a bit harsh, but it's my feeling.
I wish you the best.
Liz

Thanks

by Lulu Moppet - 2010-07-03 11:07:40

Thanks to all who've responded and offered support. It's especially nice to hear that SettingthePace is feeling pretty good after just 15 days.

Don't panic please

by Settingthepace2 - 2010-07-03 11:07:52

You don't have to panic. We can say a lot here because it is all behind us. Some people have trouble with every thing, some with nothing.
I am 15 day with a pacemaker. I am feeling pretty good to. Yes, it was uncomfortable for a few days, but now it is good. No problems and I have even forgot all about the surgery. Thank goodness we tend to forget pain, like when you have a baby, you would never have another one if you could remember the pain right? lol
You will be ok. You'll get a lot of support here.
Please let us know how you are doing. You will be showering within just a day or two.
You really just have to remember to not lift your arm up. I found that after two days in the sling, I would just put a rubber band around my wrist, then use a pin and pin it to my night shirt so I would not lift it at night. Worked great for me. I think I used that the first week day and night as an reminder.
We will all be thinking of you and keep you in our prayers. Good luck.

Lulu

by relax221 - 2010-07-04 11:07:09

IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE......NO PAIN AND LITTLE DISCOMFORT AFTERWARDS...GOOD LUCK

Lulu

by roy haycock - 2010-07-04 12:07:11

Hi Lulu,
I have had a pacemaker/ICD for eleven years now .
I had a checkup 3 months ago when I was told that I am now 100% dependent on it. This did not come as a surpise because I knew that my own heart has been gradually giving up. Without my PC I would have died years ago !
I go into hospital for my fouth new PC in three weeks time and am very much looking forward to it because , in the last eleven years, my two sons and their wives have given me three wonderful grandchildren and a fourth is on the way.
Without my PC I would not have experienced the absolute joy of seeing and playing with them.
So ,please do not be despondent , you will come to love it's very reasuring presence.
Live and be happy,.
All my very best wishes,
Roy

Piece of Cake ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2010-07-05 06:07:20

LuLu, I read 'posts/comments' on this PM site from 5/05 ~ 10/09 before my ablation/PM implant. I also read horror stories after night mare stories. When I started 'posts' of my many, many questions, Smitty, Pacergirl, TraceyE, Electric Frank and several others put my fears to rest. They assured me that these 'posts' were from PM members who really ran into problems. They told me about 95% or more PM members never mentioned their PM because they never had any problems. In my mind, I said, 'oh, now I see'.

My advice to you would be to listen to your cardio. Dr., nurses & hospital nurses. Follow their 'well' instructions of, do not lift your arm above your heart on the side of the implant for 6-8 wks, do not lift over a few pounds for the first 6-8 wks, both to keep the 'lead wires' from unattaching from your heart/PM. Do NOT wear an arm sling. This might cause your shoulder to 'freeze' up, thus requiring a long, painful re-hab. This was told to me by my cardio and hospital nurse. I could not take a shower as normal for a few days, so I took the luxury of making a couple of appts. at a hair salon to have my hair washed that week. What a treat for me! I found, that after the first couple of weeks, to just listen to your own body and do what it tells you in feeling right.

As far as anesthesia ~ some people 'posted' they did not have any, some had 'something' and my cardio and group doing the implant on me, put me completely asleep, I guess. When I get nervous, which I was 'strung out' the day of the implant, I talk non-stop! After 'working' on my 'area' for awhile & me just chattin' up a 'storm', I realized, when I woke up in my room, they had 'knocked' me out! Ya' think I was talking a lot?

I was kept over night due to my length of miles from an ER and living by myself. They 'observed' me that nite. I went home early the next morn & basically did my usual.

You only have one life to live, this life is not a dress rehearsal, so live it to the fullest, to the longest. I find that if you help someone less fortunate than you are, smile at someone and/or give them a 'bear hug', YOU feel a lot better about your ownself and your situation.

Let us hear from you on how great you are doing,
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ Lemons? Make lemonade ~

Thirteen hours to go.

by Lulu Moppet - 2010-07-05 07:07:57

Thanks, everyone, for all the helpful hints. I'll get back on the board when I can. Hope all of you are well and had a nice holiday weekend.

Wishing you well

by posie - 2010-07-06 08:07:22

Hi LuLu,
I left a message to you on the regular comments because I had just joined and your comments were tugging at me to comment. I was on my way out of town and didn't take time to figure out how to leave a message. (boy did I feel silly when I discovered on return today just how easy it is)
I just wanted to wish you well. Your experience sounds so like mine and I am near the same age (63). I too got a call (on my answering machine) telling me that my event monitor had recorded a significant lapse between heart beats and the solution would be a pacemaker. My surgery was easy. (I fell asleep and popped awake when the nurse announced "you're done." Other than soreness in the incision area that lasted only a few days to a week I felt quite good and have continued to feel well since. I was back to biking in less than a month and hope at my 2 month check I will be back to swimming and water aerobics. I've been in the water but not real swimming.
I'm quite fond of my little battery and hope that you have a similar experience. I will be thinking of you.
Lanna (posie)

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