Pancreatic cancer surgery with pacemaker

A CT scan two days ago show I have malignant turmor in pancreas.  I will get details Tuesday and find out stage and if it's operatible.  How will my pacemaker for SSS complicate matters if I have surgery?  I never expected this as I have none of the risk factors except age (79).  Don't smoke, drink, not obese,   no family history.  I am very frightened.


5 Comments

Frightened

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-02 10:15:15

I can't imagine. Your pacemaker is nothing to be concerned about now. Just like the drugs you're on (including OTC and supplements), make sure your medical team knows about it. Good luck Tuesday!

Surgery

by boochance - 2018-09-02 11:01:01

I am deciding if I should go to Mayo in Jacksonville  or Mifferr in Tampa if we don't feel Orlando has a surgeon with enough experience to do the surgery.  Tuesday when my gadtro doctors returns from trip he will read report and look at CT pictures and see if looks operable.  My pacemaker should last another year.  I hope I do. 😅

surgery

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-02 11:30:48

Any time they do surgery, they will temporarily put the pacer in test mode for the duration of the surgery. This usually means having a pacer rep present. It's an annoyance, not a hindrance. MRI is the biggest challenge, but that can be worked around also depending on the facility doing the mri.

You can't go wrong with Mayo or Mifferr. See what your doctor has to say. I'm sorry you are dealing with this.  Take a deep breath, one day at a time. Try to stay positive, attitude counts.

Surgery and PMs

by Selwyn - 2018-09-02 13:00:49

The pacemaker is irrelevant to having surgery.  The surgeons and pacemaker cardiologist are well used to this scenario, just let them get on with it.  I have had many general anaesthetics with my pacemaker. No problem.  Radiotherapy was another problem, until I had my rate response turned off on my PM!

Try to find someone to talk to . Talking helps. Having something else to distract you is also helpful - now is the time to plan that project. 

Keeping fit is helpful. Not only does exercise induced some well being, it is good for relaxation, and good for your surgery, and good for your psychological armour.  

With regards to surgery, I have always thought that once you have that little injection, all you need to do is to wake up and wonder what time it is!  I had lung surgery recently and was quite pleased to have a little red button for a morphine pump dispenser post operatively. At the end of the day, what ever surgery you have, it is still a little injection and then you wake up and it is all done. 

Medicine has so many possibilities to offer these days.  Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Getting a proper diagnosis is essential.  The worse thing you can do is to start thinking ahead. I have had myself dead and buried a number of times, and I am still here quite active. Try to stop morbid thoughts, if necessary seek some expert help in doing so, as the reality is the thoughts are worse than the 'illness'. Try to achieve some goals over the next few days by planning and doing.  A lot of little things add up to something. 

Wishing you well,

Selwyn .

 

 

Surgery

by boochance - 2018-09-02 14:51:07

I appreciate all your comments so much.  I am just trying to deal with the pain until I see doctor in two days.  My family is a big help so I will face what I have to deal.  I have remedies fo so many things but not this. 

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