In Shock
My husband went into surgery last tuesday for Afib. We had the maze procedure after having several Ablation surgeries to no success. This morning, after 6 days in the hospital we were awakened by an alarm telling us that his heart stopped for 10 seconds. This has been going on all day and now we again were shocked to hear that he will have to have a pacemaker put in tomorrow. Please help with any comments about what to do! Kind of Pacemaker??? We are in shock and would love to hear from anyone. Especially Scuba Divers with pacemakers! He's an adventurous guy...I love him so much.
Thank you, Heather
7 Comments
diving
by Tracey_E - 2010-09-22 06:09:08
Some diving is ok with any pm. I believe some models will go deeper than others so you'll want to ask how far down he can go.
If it turns out he doesn't need it long term, you'll be able to tell when he has it checked. Keep in mind however that if it's only kicking in for pauses, even working ONCE can save his life so a small amount of pacing can be significant for him. Think of it has his safety net. It sounds scary now and you're still dealing with the shock, but it's really not that bad. Yes, they can be removed, easily for the first year, a bit more involved after that. The easier thing to do is simply turn it off. I've had one since I was 27, I'm coming up on 44 next week. Once we heal, it's very easy to forget we have it. It's just a part of me and I don't give it a thought other than getting it checked every 3 months. Good luck! I hope this takes care of his problems and he can move on.
in shock
by sugar - 2010-09-22 08:09:03
I think the type of pacemaker your husband gets depends on the dr. According the the drs. here they choose the medtronic - they say it is the most up-to-date thing at this point. Some drs. are used to different brands - discuss this with several drs.
I am paced at 100% and 67% - I still have rumbling going on in there and just don't feel it as much and the pulse is no longer 40 bpm.
I have had one since Nov. 09 and I still get sore at times. No big deal though. Can't sleep on the left side etc. I suggest being sedated even though some people don't need it - it helped me alot because I could feel what was going on even when numb so sedation was my answer.
Be well - take a big breath - ask many questions.
Sugar/Patty
Is it possible???
by maydayblu - 2010-09-22 12:09:02
Is it possible to use a pacemaker for three months and determine that my husband doesn't need it anymore? Is it possible to remove one once they are placed? There is some speculation that these 'pauses' might be related to the maze surgery and temporary. Any thoughts?
Your comments have meant so much to us tonight.
Heather
Getting a pacemaker
by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-22 12:09:03
First off getting a pacemaker is no big deal. It is relatively simple surgery and should solve the problem. He will be a bit sore for a few days and need to avoid reaching above shoulder height for a while to give the leads a chance to settle in. After that he should be able to get back to diving for scubas.
The effect of the pacemaker is immediate when it is turned on. The heart pauses should be eliminated. Again it may take a few weeks to get the pacer adjusted to be best for him.
It's probably a bit late to try to decide on a make of pacer.
So both of you get a good nights sleep and be fresh for tomorrow.
By the way I'm 80yrs old, have had my pacer for a bit over 5 yrs. I go on Jeep runs where even a burrow is scared. I've been up to 13,000' in Colorado and hiked around old mines. Just to give you some perspective on the outcome. We also have some divers on the forum who will likely chime in.
best wishes for tomorrow,
frank
Best Wishes
by mike thurston - 2010-09-22 12:09:40
Hi Heather,
Just wanted to send positive vibes to your husband and you. I have a pacemaker defibrillator and am totally pacemaker dependent. I went through a mini maze that turned into shock and having my chest split open as the surgeon seemed darn determined to do the procedure. I am still in permanent a-fib today and had my AV Node totally ablated. It has been 3.5 years and although not perfect I am active and doing o.k. considering. I was on the operating table for 13 hours and scared my family to death. So hang in there and make sure you have a good Doctor (should be an electrophysiologist) that has a lot of experience. You could always contact the Cleveland Clinic as they are the best. As to what particular Pacemaker to use I would not feel qualified to say. Lots of info on the web but you probably have to trust the Doctors and what device they use. Anyway I am keeping you guys in my thoughts. Hang in there .
Mike
Hot Tubs?
by maydayblu - 2010-10-08 02:10:12
I know I'm new at all of this but I was just wondering. Can my boyfriend sit in a hot tub with a pacemaker. I know we have to wait 3 months after the surgery, probably but he does love his hot tub. How long can he stay in??? thanks for helping this newbie.
Heather
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Member Quotes
I am no expert, but I believe that without the defibrillator that I have, I would be dead.
Temporary PM
by mike thurston - 2010-09-22 02:09:38
I am sure that having a temporary PM is done fairly often. Very possible that as his heart heals from the trauma that things could improve. As Tracey said having a PM for a backup in case may be a good thing. The Doctors should be able to make that call. Sounds like some time to heal and take it easy are up next. Try not to worry too much as it takes time. I wanted to jump out the window at the hospital after my epic - it did get better and time does heal some wounds..
Mike