What now?

I have had several syncopy episodes in my life. I will turn 50 in one week. Latest spell - fell out of computer chair - met tiled kitchen floor very hard. Extremely busted up face from forehead to chin - go to ER - long story short - felled Tilt Table Test - scheduled for Medtronic Pacemaker Insertion. had this - one week post op now - what should I be experiencing or not experiencing? I have what I believe is Tegaderm over the incision area. How long before this 'wears off' do I take it off? I have 1 1/2 weeks before my next Dr.'s appointment? Really clueless here.
Thanks for any help given :)

5 Comments

What to expect

by ElectricFrank - 2011-11-18 03:11:38

They should have given you a sheet of instuctions when you left the hospital.

So anyhow the first and most important thing is you shouldn't expect any more experiences modifying your face. If your heart tries to slow way down or skip a few beats the pacer will kick in and remind it to beat.

Otherwise, for the most part recovering from surgery is about like any other procedure. They basically cut a slit in your skin, made a small pocket to hold the pacer, inserted some wires into one of the veins leading to the heart and attached them. After all that they closed the incision. You are probably right about the Tegaderm over the incision. What you do with it varies with your doctor and is pretty arbitrary.

About all you need to do is keep an eye on the incision area for any sign of infection and call the doc if it shows up. The important thing is that since the lead wires had to penetrate the vein wall there is a slight chance that an infection could get into the blood stream. If you have any fever, chills, etc. get it checked. This is very rare, but not something you want to get out of hand.

They usually give you instructions not to raise the pacer side arm above shoulder level for 3-6 weeks or so. This gives the leads time scar into the vein wall and reduces the chance of pulling them loose. It isn't a disaster if you forget, but best if you are careful. The main sign of a dislodged lead is having your pre pacer symptoms return.

Finally, at some time fairly soon you should have a pacemaker check where they hang a little antenna device over it and use a computer to make any adjustments needed.

In the meantime if you have any questions that pop up post them here. There are plenty of us who have gone through the experience and can help.

The best part is you will feel a lot better keeping your face off the floor, and after a while will likely forget you have the little beast.

By the way, welcome to the forum,

frank

Sorry for typo's, I spell better than

by janetinak - 2011-11-18 03:11:49

that (bad typist) but lose whole message if spend much time cleaning it up :(.

Janet

Really interesting that you got no

by janetinak - 2011-11-18 03:11:53

info. I would leave the dressing (whatever it is) on until I saw the Dr or his nurse to take sutures out. Usually they advise to covber wound with plastic & keep dry when you shower. We just just had a lot of discussion on this (dressing/showers) so if you want other opinions you can go to the "Search" button upper right of this page & put in key words to see comments.Also see to the left fot other topics-sugery & recovery probably help. You should nit be lifting your arm on the side of PM for a few wks (ask at appointment). Rotate shoulder but keep arm below shoulder. !st time PM wounds are uncomforable for awhile, tahts another topic with a lot of info on here too.Suer you will get a lot of response here too.

Hope that helps,

Janet

Post op advice

by Big Gray - 2011-11-19 03:11:14

Hi Spenceville,
I had my PM inserted in Jan this year. Advice from Groote Schuur Hospital, (famous for the first heart transplant), Cape Town:
Keep the dressing dry for 10 days after the implant.
Don't lift the arm on the side of the pacemaker above or higher than the level of the shoulder for 14 days after the implant. You must however use the arm to prevent you getting "frozen shoulder".
Wash hands with soap and water thoroughly before touching the wound area.
When the dressing is removed by yourself (or your doctor) after 10 days, do not apply any creams, ointments, or plasters to the wound.
In my case the stitches dissolved and did not need to be removed by the doctor.
Do not fiddle with the wound.
Do not fiddle with the pacemaker and leads under the skin.
Allow the area to to dry and heal naturally.
You may be put on meds, such as warfarin, and beta-blockers and blood pressure medication.
I experienced fainting after getting up from a seated position a couple of times, so watch yourself when rising from a chair or bed.
Good luck, and welcome to the club.

Me too

by alison79 - 2011-11-19 12:11:10

I just failed my tilt table test and earned a new pacemaker too. Same issue. Apparently my fainting was a little more complicated than I thought.

I have the big clear sticky over my incision too and they told me not to mess with it or get it even a little wet until my first doctor check at 11 days. It itches like mad today (day 8), but otherwise looks fine.

My husband is totally grossed out about having the same bandage for that long, but I just see it as a big artificial skin keeping it safe.

You know you're wired when...

Jerry & The Pacemakers is your favorite band.

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