Two days till PM surgery

Friday the 28th will be my surgery for getting a pacemaker. I have done so much reading and had my pre-op last friday. I got to meet with the anesthesiaologist and had blood work done as well as another ekg. I was not really nervous then and even earlier in the week I wasn't, but now knowing I only have two days, I am all kinds of nervous. Like I know what to expect from the anesthesiast, and for the surgery from what i read, but I still feel like a wreak. Was anyone else nervous? What did you guys do to calm your nerves, especially the day of it? Will they be able to give me something for my nerves? 

3 Comments

No

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-26 23:14:51

No, I wasn't nervous at all.  It's a pretty straight forward procedure, even with the ablation.  I've had all sorts (5) of catheter procedures (and and open heart surgery).  The catheter procedures used similar "consious sedation" and required the same four or five hours afterward flat on my back, so I knew pretty much what to expect from that angle (and my bladder). 

But the bottom line was that without the pacmaker I probably wouldn't live long (my brother died of sudden death syndrome) and with it I'd almost certainly be living a lot better.  There really wasn't anything to lose and a lot to gain.  Why be nervous?  I actually made a reasonably good time during the whole thing, though my wife didn't enjoy it much. Attitude is everything.

Scared before surgery

by LondonAndy - 2018-09-27 16:44:14

There is no doubt you are at the worst moment shortly before the surgery.  It is natural to think what can go wrong, and as Robin says, the best thing is to keep busy.  

In my case, I had a mechanical aortic valve fitted, and they automatically put in an external pacemaker in case the electrics of the heart are damaged during the surgery.  This happens in about 6% of cases I think, and I was one of them.  I a not complaining - the electrics are all near the heart valves, but not clearly marked with nice coloured wires of course, so damage is possible.

An external pacemaker is designed to last 10 days, and there are risks with them such as the nurse dropping it on the floor (as happened to me!) or the external wire breaking.  When they realised my electrics were damaged and that I would need a permanent pacemaker, my blood had not recovered from the first surgery sufficiently to carry out the pacemaker surgery.  So my Cardiologist was worried about the external device getting damaged before the pacemaker surgery could be carried out.  

Perhaps it is because I was on pain killers and the after-effects of the anaesthetic, but I also think I was lucky not to have long to think about it. 

If I am ever having trouble sleeping, I watch silly "Fail Army" type videos (where people fall flat on their face etc) on YouTube - yes, sorry, I revel in other people's mishaps.  But I find the complete distraction works for me. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it!  Or cat videos ...

Finally, remember that they carry out loads of these operations every day - last stat I saw was 1 millon globally per year.  So these are routine, boring operations that 99% of the time go fine.

Take it in stride

by sammy - 2018-10-01 20:51:52

Got my PM last week. I guess I'm unusual in that I always take these things in stride. Once it was determined I would need a PM, I just thought "Bring it on. Let's get it over with." Felt the same way with back surgery 5 years ago. Am also a diabetic with an insulin pump for 20 years.

You never realize how bad you were feeling until you start feeling better.

Just took a walk. Didn't get winded at all including the uphill climb to the street where I live.

You know you're wired when...

You have a shocking personality.

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