topic Re: Pacemakers in Wellness

Pacemakers

Georgiagrama — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 05:44:45 GMT

I realize that this is a personal question and everyone has a different experience.

Would any of you be willing to share a POSITIVE experience about getting a pacemaker.

I have a close family member who is having the surgery in two weeks and I'm trying to encourage her and not worry too much myself.

Re: Pacemakers

RedTop — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 06:22:04 GMT

The sister of an old friend had a pacemaker put in about 7 years ago after I encouraged her.

Her doctor had mentioned the possibility of her needing one, but she was hesitant to agree because she did not know anyone who had one or actually knew anything about the procedure to insert one, or how it worked. She had passed out numerous times after experiencing general weakness, and lightheadedness, and was ordered to stop driving until she dealt with the issue.

Her procedure went very well and she was discharged from the hospital the next day. She has not had any health problems or issues with the pacemaker itself, and is glad she had it done.

Google insertion of pacemaker to read specifics of how the procedure is done.

Re: Pacemakers

Georgiagrama — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 06:50:46 GMT

@RedTop Sometimes, all you need is just a little encouragement as a boost. It was fortunate that you encouraged your friend, and I thank you for your positive words.

Re: Pacemakers

HiLo — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 07:10:22 GMT

@Georgiagrama wrote:

I realize that this is a personal question and everyone has a different experience.
Would any of you be willing to share a POSITIVE experience about getting a pacemaker.
I have a close family member who is having the surgery in two weeks and I'm trying to encourage her and not worry too much myself.

If she/he really needs a pacemaker. there is only one answer. Get it done.. The individual won't even know it's there in about 2 weeks. I had to have it done about 12 years ago also with questions and fears but after a short time I never thought about it except when it was time for the pacemaker to be checked. Since that time, many in my extended family wear them and without incident. What will be a disaster is to wait until it's too late.

Re: Pacemakers

pachutabelle — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 12:23:31 GMT

Husband had one implanted a few months ago. It is the size of a large vitamin pill. Very small. Actually they removed a loop recorder and put in the pacemaker. He has permanent afib along with other problems. He was in the hospital only overnight with no problems. Have a monitor bedside and every so often he is asked to manually send in a signal by pressing button on monitor and holding a device to pacemaker. Very easy.

Re: Pacemakers

Miss Pepsi — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 12:32:37 GMT

I have one, it was put in 9 years ago. I was actually out of the hospital the same day. I go in for my Pacercheck every 6 months but other than that You can hardly tell it is there. they give you a card to carry with you that states the make and model number in case ofy are ever in an accident.

albeit I was scared at the time because to me walking into the hospital for anything scares me.

If they need it do it.

Re: Pacemakers

msgb — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 14:59:06 GMT

My mother in her upper 80's has one. She was fitted with one after she had an aortic dissection and then had some sort of a seizure (in front of my and my then 3 yr old nephew). It was after that experience that she was fitted with a pacemaker. That was almost 8 yrs ago. She has lived thankfully due to the pacemaker helping her when needed. There are things that you need to do when travelling (there is a note that you take with you so that you do not walk thru the scanner--you need a pat down). There are a few other rules that you have to follow but it is a small price to be able to live a longer life.

My mother has to have quarterly check up on the pacemaker but they can be remote and that she goes physically to the office once a year.

If memory serves right, I think the actress -Julie Bowen-- wears a pacemaker. I do not know what the condition is that causes her to have been fitted with it but I think she has had it for a number of years.

Re: Pacemakers

ScrapHappy — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 15:01:29 GMT

My Mother had a pacemaker inserted several years ago because of A Fib. She has other medical conditions which made her nervous about having this done. The procedure went smoothly and my Mom did very well. Having a pacemaker put in is a very common everyday procedure.

Re: Pacemakers

Georgiagrama — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 20:22:56 GMT

@ScrapHappy @msgb @Miss Pepsi @pachutabelle @HiLo

I want to thank you all for your positive replies. The procedure certainly sounds straightforward enough. Although everyone is different, and no surgery is minor, especially when it's you or a loved one, it never hurts to have positive reactions from someone who has been through it.

Re: Pacemakers

ALRATIBA — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 00:31:24 GMT

No good news from me.

I know three people who had pacemakers- two died from a stroke. Read about the occurrences of strokes in people with pacemakers.

The third died in recovery after a hip replacement.

Re: Pacemakers

depglass — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 17:50:41 GMT

I have a good news story. I've had mine since I was 47 and I'm 75 now. What's that, 28 years? Replaced battery twice, due for another one in two years. My problem was bradycardia, which means slow heartbeat. There was a blockage in the electrical system between the sinus node and the AV node. You can absorb as much or as little medical info on your issue as you want. I can honestly say this impacts my life very little. It is checked every three months at this point. I have developed a fib and went on warfarin a couple years ago, that should prevent any possible issue of a stroke. I may switch to Elequis one of these days so I can give up the routine blood tests, which I do myself. If diabetics can ****** their finger, so can I.

Re: Pacemakers

Georgiagrama — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 20:27:54 GMT

@depglass That's also the problem with my family member! Her heartbeat is slow. The Doctor held off as long as her rate was 35, but it began being a continuous 34 so he said it was time. He has been very reassuring and positive, but, when it's a loved one, you can never have enough reassurance. I thank you very much for yours.

Re: Pacemakers

hckynut — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 01:23:47 GMT

@depglass

Just wondering how accurate your INR/ProTime numbers are for you, in comparison to a full blood draw. Not sure if you know my story, so!

My 7 years on Coumadin/Warfarin the finger stick tests were off a full digit, sometimes even more. Mine was a balancing act because I had both PE(twice)and also about bled out with an INR reading of 12.9/13.0.

Being off for me as little as a 2.5 to a 2.2 was a risk for another PE event, and I was lucky enough to live through 2 of them already.

My Pulmonologist would call me after every blood draw(which at times was all 7 days of the week) and tell me how many mg to take that night. Never could go over 2 days without a blood draw. Tried the finger poke several times and they were too far off to be able to go that route.

How often do you poke your finger, and what method is used to get your INR/ProTime reading?

I also have a low heart rate, the more fit I am, the lower the HR. I always take mine before I even get up in the mornings, as even getting up can raise it 5-10 bpm. Mine however is not Bradycardia. All my Pulmonary Max Treadmill Tests showed even at my low heart rate more than enough blood was being pumped.

You don't say anything about Lovenox injections and that is good. I had to shoot myself 2 times a day for 45 days to keep my INR close to my 2.5 reading. Big syringe and that stuff burns, at least for me.

Sounds like all is going well for you with your pacemaker after these 28 years. Hopefully it stays the same for you. As for Eliquis? Not for me should I ever need thinners again.

Stay well now,

hckynut 🏒

Re: Pacemakers

stargazergal — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 20:55:19 GMT

@pachutabelle wrote:
Husband had one implanted a few months ago. It is the size of a large vitamin pill. Very small. Actually they removed a loop recorder and put in the pacemaker. He has permanent afib along with other problems. He was in the hospital only overnight with no problems. Have a monitor bedside and every so often he is asked to manually send in a signal by pressing button on monitor and holding a device to pacemaker. Very easy.

May I ask , did your husband have a pacemaker put in because of his Afib ?

My husband was diagnosed with Afib. He takes 4 medications because of Afib.

Did your husbands pacemaker relieve him of taking medications for Afib ?

Re: Pacemakers

jubilant — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 13:03:09 GMT

@Georgiagrama DH's heart stopped in a neighbors garage in 2011 (cardiac arrest). They lost his heart beat many times. He was given a 4 in 100 chance to live but live, he did!! When he was well enough they implanted a device. He sleeps next to a heart monitor hooked up to a landline. It gives us great peace of mind because it reads his heart rhythm, BP's, etc. If there is a problem it will flash a light which means we need to call an ambulance. He can push a button at any time and have it read. All the information on that machine is sent directly to a doctor at Boston Scientific and they relay it to his doctors office. I think if it flashes a certain color light that means he need to make an appointment with his heart doctor. If it's a red light that means we call an ambulance. We (thank God) have never had to do that but it's nice to know the machine will tell us. At first it seemed a litttle "nerve racking" but (as I said in the beginning) it gives us peace of mind. I wish your husband all the best. The implant procedure for my husband was a simple one.