Advice

Hello All,
I am new to this. I have to get a ICD put in on jan 16. It is being put under the muscle. Had heart surgery 2 years ago, but I'm more scared about this surgery. Any advice would b appreciated!! Oh, I'm a 41 yr old female
Thanks

6 Comments

It will be ok

by gulliver80 - 2012-01-04 06:01:00

Hi

Happy New Year.

I too had a Defib put in sub-pectorally about 6 months ago - you will be absolutely fine. Your quite lucky as the cardios prefer to do them the easier way (just unders the skin) but for wahtever reason they are giving you the best possible cosmetic outcome.

The good news is that once under the muscle it is hardly noticable. The defibs are generally bigger than Pm so this will make a big difference. I am 31 and still have a little vanity about me!! terrible I know but I like swimming/sports etc. You never mentioned why your getting the defib? Is it rerlated to your previous surgery?
Mine was for obstructive Cardiomyopathy and everything is going great.

Recovery time will take around 5-6 weeks but everyone is different. I was given Tramadol and some oromorv (morphine liquid) for the pain but never used it that much. I was actually riding my cycle after two weeks (but im a little daft!) You will need to keep your arm below shoulder height for the first couple of weeks and make sure you have a pillow or someone to stop you rolling onto your side when sleeping - the way I look upon it is we (u soon to be in the club!) now have a even bigger life insurance policy than most - it took a while for me think like that but you will get there. Im sure you have been told about the driving restrictions (if applicable) but here in rthe UK I was not allowed to drive for 4 weeks.

All the best.

Darren
I hope this has helped but believe me, its nothing to worry about.

Nothing compared to open-heart surgery

by admin - 2012-01-04 09:01:04

I've had three open-heart surgeries and five pacemakers implanted. You have nothing to worry about with having a device implanted, even under the muscle. Please follow your doctors recovery instructions and you should be just fine.

Blake

Thanks

by funera22 - 2012-01-04 10:01:42

Thanks for the positive encouragement! I too have obstructive cardiomyopathy. I had so many complications with my surgery, no I'm thinking the worst! I also have anxiety disorder and depression. I'm a train wreck!! Lol

Getting A Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2012-01-04 11:01:52

Hello,

I can understand your concern about the upcoming PM surgery, but like you have been told, it is unnecessary concern. I had heart surgery (quadruple bypass) a few years before I got my first PM and the only thing in common to the two surgeries the name "heart surgery." PM surgery is a breeze compared to the open heart surgery.

To give you an idea of what is involved below is something I have written about my PM surgery experiences. I got my first PM in 2000 and the 2nd one in 2009. Both were done in the same hospital but by different Drs. Both surgeries were almost identical. So to give you some idea of what you are facing:

I arrived at the appointed time, which was 7 AM. I was given a some of the hospitals latest fashions to put on and told to lie down and get comfortable as it would be a little while before the surgery. I read the paper and watched TV for a couple of hours while other PM patients were also being readied for their PM . After about an hour I got an IV and spent the next 3 or 4 hours being "prepped" which consisted mainly of getting about a quart (at least it looked like that amount) of antibiotic through the IV and the surgery area cleaned and cleaned real good.

About noon the doctor showed up and examined the area for the implant. After another hour or so I was wheeled off to the surgery area where I spent another 30 or 40 minutes being "dressed or draped" for the surgery.

Sometime after I got in the surgery area I received some medication to make me relax so they said, but what it did was make take a nap in about a half-sleep mode. I vaguely remember being told they were injecting a local anesthetic into the area where the surgery would be performed so I would not feel the anything. About 45 minutes later I was told, "okay Mr. Smith, we are through and your pacemaker is working just fine." I was wheeled back into a room where I had to wait for awhile to be sure I had no adverse reactions to any of the meds I had received. About 5 PM I was told I could go home.

I was not unexpectedly sore and my healing was no problem. I did have restricted use of my arm for a few days, the main thing being not to raise my elbow above my shoulder, or lift more than a few lbs. with the arm on the side of the PM. I was n lot allowed to drive for about 24 hours and then for short distances for a week or so. All in all the pain is less than most dental surgery I have had, and since I was retired even with the first one, it did not interfere with any activates.

One last word, you will go home with your Drs best guess on PM settings. Most of the time these are good, but occasionally some people need to have those settings tweaked. If you think your PM is causing you a problem, if it is just that you think something is amiss, let your Dr know, otherwise he will have no way of know everything is not perfect.

Good Luck,

Smitty


hi!

by Hot Heart - 2012-01-05 04:01:11

ive sent you a private message.

HH

Don't worry!

by marijke - 2012-01-15 10:01:39

After the operation they probabely will give you a painkiller, but The pain is not that bad! At home I took a painkiller the first 1-2 wks before sleeping. Make your self comforttable in your bed with lots of pillows. Build a kind of wall so you can not roll over to the side where they implanted your ICD. I also kept a pillow in my arms as a buffer. Wear lose comfortable clothes till after the wound is healed. After that you can start with a sports bra, but not to tight. Don't lift heavy stuff for a couple of weeks, also not with your other arm. And don't lift your arm or elbow above your shoulder. Ask your Dr about this. Avoid overcrowded places where people can bump into you. Always beware of redness of the skin around the pacemaker pocket.By serieus complains of any kind contact your Dr. You will see, you will be fine! Marijke

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