Pacemaker "Dos and Don'ts" after surgery

@jc76 i’m not seeing anybody. I haven’t seen anybody since six weeks after my surgery. How often should I be seeing someone?

@kb49
If this is your first surgery I would think they would have a programmed schedule for you to return and check your surgery wound and check the function of your device. It should go through a fine tuning process like mine did after surgery wound healed.

Who did your surgery? That surgeon should have had you returning for at least checking your wound. Have you contacted them about return visit.

Per my experience with this I am still recommending a EP for you to see even if you have to drive or fly to get to one. That EP will and can work with your local cardiologist.

I really do not understand your post, you are not seeing anyone. WOW, the device needs checking and programming, and the wound needs to be checked. I go through a home monitor check of my device every 3 months which is sent to my EP. If they see anything they set up an appointment. Once a year I go into the office and they do checks of wires, and other things and fine tune anything that needs attention.

@cottagecountry thank you for your input my device has transmitted scheduled reports to the clinic twice since my surgery I haven’t heard anything so I guess everything is working as it supposed to. I’m disappointed I don’t have more energy but it is what it is. Thank you so much for the information

@jc76 I did go in two weeks after my surgery and they made some adjustments and I had one telehealth visit after that, but I haven’t seen anybody since then I saw my cardiologist for my regular six months check up and he kinda laughed and said you really don’t like this thing do you I said no but that’s it besides my transmissions to the clinic so I guess everything is working OK or somebody would’ve got a hold of me

@kb49 I had my PM implanted 4 years ago. I explained that I still had chest tightness and exhaustion. They paid no attention to me until I made an appointment with an electrophysiologist (who had nothing to do with implanting the PM). He was able to reprogram some of the settings to make me feel better. You need to learn how the device works and find an EP who will work with you. You may be missing the boat if you don’t.

Get a different cardiologist immediately. I will be getting a new electrophysiology doctor next month. Try very hard to get a doctor and nursing staff that are patient friendly, and available to you should you need them on short notice, and will return your calls the same day. Heart issues require dependability.

Excellent information and informative from cottagecountry
@jer22
I was a avid tennis player before I had ICD/Pacemaker. My EP said I could go back to playing tennis after recovery time but my PACE Clinic nurse said I should not. She told me about those who play tennis and fished coming back in with leeds pulling out.

It is the drastic and violent movement of areas especially on the side you have your pacemaker. After 3 months I went back to playing tennis and left leed came out. I quit playing tennis after that and became a Sprint Triathlon participant.

Yes the swim causes you to raise your arms over your head but if you swim slow rympthmic pace and no jerky it has not caused me any problems.

Some new pacemakers are MRI compliant but mine is not as my leeds were put in back in 2006. They can do MRIs but have to shut certain things off in your pacemaker. Also keep your phone, and other electrical devices away from your pacemaker.

A ICD/Pacemaker is a lifesaving device that has kept millions alive and millions brought back to normal sinus rympthm. What my EP told me was like having my own EMS in my chest. The pacing of my heart to 70 beats a minute solved the issue of low pulse rate caused by medications and the irregulary heart beats caused by that.

It will take some time to get used to it but you will come to just accept it and becomes part of your body and life. I would NOT hesitate to have one put in if your cardiologist or EP is recommending it.

@jc76 Whow! Wires yanked out after 3 months! I thought that they would be firmly implanted after 4_6 weeks. Your experience changes my plans to continue bicycle riding in mid Feb 2026.

@wagonroad
It was strange my P.A. Pace nurse kept telling my not to play tennis or go fishing after my ICD/Pacemaker was put in regardless of waiting 3 months. She said it is the violent jerking of arms that they trace back to see what activity caused it and sees it is the violent jerking where she sees wires coming loose.

My EP was the opposite. Go play tennis (after 3 months). It is why we put the ICD/pacemaker in for you to enjoy the sport. Should have listen to the P.A.

But they did put a new wire in and remove the one that came out. But I had to have a surgeon do it and they went in through my side, deflated lung, and put directly on heart. I started playing tennis again after I healed and all was okay for several years. Then started having noise and problems with conduction on the wires. I stopped playing tennis after one day got my first taste of a ICD shock.

They tried to tell me most likely electrolyte issue but I think I just was pulling the wires too much and caused some irritation of the heart muscle. I have no idea it that is correct and surely I have no medical background to say it was but for me I no longer wanted to take a chance.

@jc76 Ah man! Your experience is heartbreaking, and warns me to be wary of riding my mountain bike into terrain where I could crash and yank out the wires.