Still scared but feeling better

I want to thank you all for the wonderful comments. You are making my day go easier. I am so glad there is a place I can go to and talk to other people who can relate.

Here is a little back ground.
I was diagnosed with syncope last year. During my pregnancy I was fainting and they said it was the baby taking my sugar to eat more. Yeah that helped! Well the fainting spells didn't go away so I then went to a cardiologist. After a whole bunch of tests and nothing showed anything. I had a loop recorder put in on christmas eve 2008. Yesterday it comfirmed by heart is stopping from time to time so I'm getting a pm.
I am 29 years old and work for Kawasaki Robotics and sit at a desk all day. I have a handsome 7 month old who loves his mommy to hold him. : )

So from your responses I could leave the hospital Friday or a couple of days after. It all depends on how it goes. That is good to know.

So basically I won't be able to lift anything (baby is 18 pounds) so I'll need some help from family. I also won't be able to lift my arm. Does anyone know if I'll be able to type with my left? Sorry for all the questions but you all make me calmer. One more does everyone ususally have a sling for their arm?

5 Comments

Good Luck!

by scadnama - 2009-02-05 02:02:40

My pacemaker was initially implanted for a similar problem...I even had the loop recorder!

You will feel great afterwards. Just take care of yourself and don't over do it.

Good luck with the surgery tomorrw. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!

Amanda

lifting

by Tracey_E - 2009-02-05 09:02:01

You'll be able to lift smaller weights (not 18lbs, sorry!), just not higher than your shoulder because there is a risk of pulling the leads loose. Carseats and getting the baby in and out of the crib were the two hardest things for me the first few weeks. I carried the kids with my right arm balanced on my hip, changed them on the floor and sat on the floor to play with them.

Typing should be fine. You'll be able to move your arm, just no wild movements and not higher than your shoulder. A few doctors do slings the whole six weeks but most do not. I didn't even take mine home from the hospital.

Some doctors do it outpatient, some keep you overnight so they can do an xray at 24 hrs to make sure the leads are where they're supposed to be. There's rarely a reason to keep you longer than that.

You've got one of the easiest problems to fix with a pm! It sounds like your intrinsic beat is fine so the pm won't be setting the pace for you, it will be there like a watch dog to make sure it doesn't miss a beat. It'll always give your heart a chance to beat on its own, when it doesn't it'll help it along.

Good luck!!!! Please check in and let us know how you are, and of course don't be shy if you have more questions.

Typing should be OK

by Yorker - 2009-02-05 09:02:26

it's just that you shouldn't lift you arm above shoulder height for a while (usually 6-8 weeks) to let everything get settled in properly. I have a desk job too and had no problem with the typing, just had to watch that I didn't over reach as I reached for the paper coming out of the printer near my desk (had to remember to get up and get it instead of stretching over the desk)
I did have a sling for the first couple of days, this seems to vary by the preference of the doctor, some people aren't give a sling at all, just told to be careful.

Be sure to ask for help when you need it, a lot of us tend to try and tough it out and don't ask - and that just tends to make everything worse.

Good luck and keep us posted

Donna

same problem

by enigma - 2009-02-05 09:02:59

I have the same problem, my pacemaker was implanted almost 4 years ago when i was 19, im 23 now. I was a waitress and so i had to lift things alot and i had to take a month off of work. But i never even wore my arm sling, it was uncomfortable and it is only there as a reminder not to lift your arm anyways. I dont remember having a problem with typing either. As long as you arent lifting your arm over your head you should be fine.
When i had my surgery they told me it was an outpatient procedure but because i had so much anxiety they kept me overnight. I was there for about 24 hours. To be quite honest i hardly remember any of it, they had me taking 2 percocet every 4 hours and i was in a coma. lol. Keep in mind that you are going to be able to use your right arm like normal and so ou should still be able to do most things. My biggest problem was not being able to wash my hair. But i turned it into a positive and went to the salon a few times and had them do it. It always feels so nice when the professionals do your hair. You are young and im sure you will bounce back quickly. In my case i was calling work after 3 weeks beggings them to let me come in and do something...anything. lol. It stops hurting way before you can lift your arm, so you just have to keep that in mind. Its easy to forget sometimes. So if thats the case the arm sling may be a good idea, just as a reminder.

Same as others, typing will be fine

by attybern - 2009-02-05 11:02:36

I am an attorney and rely on my computer for almost everything. I was a little concerned at first if having my arms up on a table while typing would be problematic, but it really is not since I am typing this right now. Like the others said, you have to be very careful with your left side, lifting nothing for a while and then limited lifting and nothing over your shoulder height for 4-6 weeks. I am also a golfer so I am out of commission for 6 weeks for that as well. I had to wear a sling for the first couple of days but then I only use it at night while sleeping. It just reminds me not to bring my arm over my shoulder. Good luck with the surgery, but is suspect you will be fine.

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