Aneeda72
Well-known Member
I had wanted a pacemaker for at least ten years. This year my symptoms worsen. After determining it was not a “pump” issue, but a rhythm issue, I asked my rhythm cardiologist to do a 30 day EKG. 
. He agreed. The EKG showed I now needed a pacemaker for my bradycardia. In addition, with a pacemaker in place if my SVT got out of hand I would be able to receive treatment for it. My lowest recorded heart beat was 36, my highest 210.
July 20, 2022 was the big day. It is an in and out procedure. An IV is put in each arm. You must be completely undressed, which I hate. I had seen the doctors PA for my test results in the office, and not the doctor. I saw the doctor, in the hospital before the procedure, signed all the paperwork, and off I went.
You are not given any meds to relax you before going into the procedure room, once in the room you endure all the setting up, (which I hate); then are put out, the procedure is done, takes about an hour, back to your room, another couple of hours, and off to home.
My pacemaker was placed in my left side, a little higher than my armpit, and very close to it. I got a two lead pacemaker. I had hoped for a lead less one, but, nope. No pain meds are given, take Tylenol. There is bruising, but not bad.
A strap is placed around your chest and your arm is immobile against your chest. You cannot move your arm for three days, or shower, or do much of anything. After three days, you can take the strap off during the day, but it must be worn for 4 weeks at night. You cannot lift your arm over your head for four weeks or use the arm much. You cannot lift more than a couple pounds with your other arm.
. I, of course, am left handed.
Microwave is not an issue. But you cannot use a cell phone on the side with the pacemaker, you know, the side I hear better on. An iPad must be kept a certain distance away, do not linger in doorways with those electronic are you stealing stuff devices, etc.
But worth it cause I feel, eventually great. Better than I have in decades. Breathing problems pretty much disappear, chest pain fades to almost nothing, I have an abundance of energy. No more afternoon naps. No more extreme fatigue. I get the one week after surgery check up. I am doing better than expected in the improvement department.
My pacemaker is set to 60 beats per minute, and my resting heart rate become 62 instead of 42. Instead of my usual 85 beats per minutes where I can barely drag myself around for one mile; I am back to walking 4 miles with a heart beat 100-110. So great, so nice.
Until it wasn’t.
It all changed at midnight, three weeks four days later. All the surgical tape was off, the wound looked good, but still a bit swollen, especially in one area, but not badly; and I meant to point it out on my next and last follow up. I got up to potty, and the especially swollen area burst open.
. He agreed. The EKG showed I now needed a pacemaker for my bradycardia. In addition, with a pacemaker in place if my SVT got out of hand I would be able to receive treatment for it. My lowest recorded heart beat was 36, my highest 210.July 20, 2022 was the big day. It is an in and out procedure. An IV is put in each arm. You must be completely undressed, which I hate. I had seen the doctors PA for my test results in the office, and not the doctor. I saw the doctor, in the hospital before the procedure, signed all the paperwork, and off I went.
You are not given any meds to relax you before going into the procedure room, once in the room you endure all the setting up, (which I hate); then are put out, the procedure is done, takes about an hour, back to your room, another couple of hours, and off to home.
My pacemaker was placed in my left side, a little higher than my armpit, and very close to it. I got a two lead pacemaker. I had hoped for a lead less one, but, nope. No pain meds are given, take Tylenol. There is bruising, but not bad.
A strap is placed around your chest and your arm is immobile against your chest. You cannot move your arm for three days, or shower, or do much of anything. After three days, you can take the strap off during the day, but it must be worn for 4 weeks at night. You cannot lift your arm over your head for four weeks or use the arm much. You cannot lift more than a couple pounds with your other arm.
. I, of course, am left handed.Microwave is not an issue. But you cannot use a cell phone on the side with the pacemaker, you know, the side I hear better on
. An iPad must be kept a certain distance away, do not linger in doorways with those electronic are you stealing stuff devices, etc. But worth it cause I feel, eventually great. Better than I have in decades. Breathing problems pretty much disappear, chest pain fades to almost nothing, I have an abundance of energy. No more afternoon naps. No more extreme fatigue. I get the one week after surgery check up. I am doing better than expected in the improvement department.
My pacemaker is set to 60 beats per minute, and my resting heart rate become 62 instead of 42. Instead of my usual 85 beats per minutes where I can barely drag myself around for one mile; I am back to walking 4 miles with a heart beat 100-110. So great, so nice.
Until it wasn’t.
It all changed at midnight, three weeks four days later. All the surgical tape was off, the wound looked good, but still a bit swollen, especially in one area, but not badly; and I meant to point it out on my next and last follow up. I got up to potty, and the especially swollen area burst open.
. He says he will keep me in the hospital till Monday morning, and put the new pacemaker in then. He is an idiot.
. I ask my doctor for a referral to wound clinic. I cancel the appointment with the cardiologist-never seeing that idiot again.
