getting a pacemaker in 1 week

I backed out of this procedure 6 weeks ago when my cardiologist gave me an out.  I had a bad summer but after I was scheduled I began feeling much better.   I was minutes away from surgery (they prefer procedure,) sitting in my hospital gown and with an I-V in both arms and he asked if I wanted to postpone.  If the surgeon says this after all the trouble they went to, maybe the time wasn't right.  I called it off.  After another 30-day event monitor he called and urged me to go through with it.   I'm ready, just not crazy about it.  I'm most worried about recovery time to return to work.  Other lesser issues as well.   This is the first time I've been in the hospital since getting my tonsils out 64 years ago.

4 Comments

Got mine two weeks ago

by todd_654 - 2017-01-04 16:32:47

I had hernia surgery and then got my PM the next day (unexpectedly). The hernia recovery was more difficult than the PM. If not for the hernia, I could have gone back to work in a few days. Of course, I have a desk job. The annoying restrictions are that I cannot drive for 4-6 weeks or lift my left arm over my shoulder. The skin is a bit tight, still. But otherwise, it's just a minor inconvenience until enough time passes for the PM and its leads to be healed securely. I just had local anesthesia and sedation, so the surgery (or procedure) wasn't bad at all. I'm 53.

Pacemaker

by liberty - 2017-01-04 16:41:15

I just received my pacemaker December 16th a Friday at 6 pm ( I think I was an add on ) the two ahead of me had problems. It went very well - took about an hour. Discharged the following afternoon.  I wasn't totally asleep but I just didn't care. By Christmas Day I felt better than I had for a long time. Went to Church (drove) and went out for dinner.The Medtronic rep came in at 4 am to check the pacemaker and said he had 14 more to do before 8 am. Apparently this is becoming routine. I am 87 and in fairly good health.

6 weeks tomorrow

by John V - 2017-01-04 18:50:27

I can only tell you this .... going into cardiac arrest is not fun.  I passed out 4 times between July and Thanksgiving day in addition to having several episodes of pre-syncope that were very scary.  All my ECG showed was a bundle branch block.  Holter monitor for 2 weeks showed no episodes.  Then when I passed out the at 10 pm the night before Thanksgiving I was rushed to the hospital where I had a pulse rate of 22 in the emerg. room and was in 3rd degree heart block.  They sent me to ICU for the night to wait for a pacemaker implant the next morning, but my heart stopped again and I coded in ICU and somehow they got me back thanks to ER people who had put an external pacemaker on me and one of the responders who was administering chest compressions.  They got a temporary pacemaker into me at about 2 a.m. and the permanent dual lead unit at noon the next day.  Recovery?  Piece of cake if you follow orders. I'd also never been in the hospital other than to have my tonsils out when I was 7 and I'm now 64.  Don't wait until it's too late.  Sudden cardiac death is a real possibility for those of us who develop full heart block.

6 weejs tomorrow

by wallygatorsc - 2017-01-08 23:23:12

I guess you really need to think about it like this...will the pacemaker/icd improve your life? will it prolong your life? The operation although it not minor ; is relatively quick. I was out of the hospital in 2 days (sometimes it's 1 day) and I would guess you should miss two weeks of work depending on your recuperative powers and your doctor. You will have some pain in your surgery site and possibly your arm for a little while . I just had a new icd/pm put in due to my cardiologist finding a problem with the left side of my heart not beating in rythym and i feel better today than i have felt in years. Get it done and get over it. You will be glad you did. Personally i'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure i can watch my granddaughter grow up. Good luck!!!

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Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.