Pacemaker recipients: Looking for support from others

Are you having problems with yours? I’ve had one just a few months. Sometimes it hurts, but that’s the only issue.

Hi Cody1-
I am also a pacemaker recipient for Bradycardia and have had my pacemaker for the past 25 years. (I have had 5 batteries replaced already) since my initial surgery. I vaguely remember being sore and that I was not to raise my arms above my head for two weeks until the site healed. I wore button up shirts as it was easier to get dressed. Living in MN, I am a freeze-baby so that was a challenge for me, especially since my initial surgery was in October when it is staring to get chilly here. At the time of my surgery, my underlying heart rate was 38-40 beats per minute. A normal heart rate should be between 60-100 beats per minute. Currently, I am about 90% dependent on it. Do you know what your underlying heart rate was? What are you feeling? While I can't speak for every pacemaker recipient, I do know that everyone's symptoms are different. Do you know if you have a dual lead pacemaker (two leads threaded into the heart) or single lead? Typically, at your one month follow up visit, the cardiac nurse will set you up with a transmitting device that you will hold to your chest to transmit a monthly or bi-monthly basis to your cardiologist so that he can see what your heart is doing. I usually check my pacemaker about every three months in this fashion. It there is a problem with the transmission, the cardiologist or his nurse will call you. Depending on how much you use your pacemaker, the battery life is usually 10-15 years but it could be longer. Mine typically run about 10 years before I need to have it replaced. The replacement surgery is usually a quick one and it's a day surgery, so you don't need to stay overnight unless your cardiologist thinks you would be better staying overnight. I hope this helps- if you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out. Wishing you a super day and a speedy recovery. 🙂

Warmest Regards,
Sherry Kirby

I just received my pacemaker 4 days ago on Thursday, for Bradycardia. The site is still quite bruised and tender. I was told what the pacemaker does but not about any weird side affects. So I was wondering if anyone else has felt like they could feel it working or feel a slight twitching of the skin or small pains.

This is the second time I have been shut out as I am typing. What am I doing wrong? Where are my posts? All this machine wants to do is create an appointment for me. This is wrong. I have my own mind to make my decisions. Mayo is way to far away and there is no highway to there from where I live and quite a number of back streets to travel there. I know because I have already been there for another problem. So please stop stopping my posts.

I too am claustrophobic. When having a CT scan and having to be inside the machine, I simply closed my eyes and listened to the provided music and I did fine. My suggestion is to close your eyes BEFORED going into the machine and just listen to the music.

The hospital here in my county says "Just come and you will see". Anyway there is no surgeon specialist in this county. So this Legally "Low Vision" blind person will hire a driver, rent a car and hotel rooms and travel the 200 miles south of here to go to an accredited hospital and surgeon (if need be). And then be so broke that it will take two years to be solvent again. When I moved here I was not aware of the low medical standards of this county. It is so bad that this 84 year old woman is looking to move. Wow! That certainly speaks for itself. Either that or do a Hari Kari.

I think so. Discuss your concern in advance with the Nuclear Medicine Center you will go to, so that they can plan how to do it. For mine, I was on my back, with a 15 degree wedge under my head & upper back and a pillow under my knees.. It wasn't a super hard surface like a CT or MRI machine, but you need to be quite still.
Sue

You are a very wonderful and informed person who shares her knowledge and you must know how you genuinely help others including myself. I thank you sincerely,
Please take this seriously as I am embarased to say that I have a hiatal hernia and Gerd. I must have my head elevated somewhat to allow breathing. I want this test it is needed to keep me alive but can the test still be performed this way?

No, not inside a machine. It is a special camera, but to get the image they need you lying very still. Here is a description of the procedure: https://www.peacehealth.org/peace-harbor/services/imaging-services/nuclear-medicine/Pages/parathyroid-scan
Be sure to find out in advance any medications you need to stop, and for how long. In my case, I was instructed to take all of my usual meds.
Sue

Thank you, thank you, thank you. But.....what is this lying "In the machine"? I am claustophobic and have PTSD. I was never told this. Is this an MRI MACHINE? THEY DO HAVE OPEN MRI MACHINES NOW. But the open one I have used you must be sitting up and not lying down. And now with this AFIB I must be very careful of taking drugs. You have not confused me but have given me important information that I need to know. I will now call ack to get the full information that I should know about. Again I thank you for being so thorough. For I have to pay a driver (Low vision) cannot drive.) And, how long will the driver wait. I will not get used to this dependency as I was the one who did the caring for. Working hard on this physically and mentally. Will let you know.