Hello again all you Affibers.
As you know my husband had a pacemaker fitted last Friday after an unsuccessful try the day before. He has been home since Sunday and all he has done in the main is sleep. I'm starting to get a bit concerned..... very in fact. Is this normal post op ? The way consultants say is that is should be up and about soon ?!!!!
Any feedback from other pacers would be really appreciated.
I absolutely agree. I have no troops to rally I’m afraid. We are both aware it’s going to take time to recover. Just wish consultants were more realistic with us. Hope all goes well got you Jo when we have yours fitted .
I agree with HappyJo in that consultants are so over optimistic about recovery. Most EPs tell people they can go back to work in a couple of days post ablation and we all know how untrue that is for most people.
One of the most honest surgeons was after I had my prostatectomy when I asked him how soon I could drive. "When you can do an emergency stop without screaming in pain" was his answer. Make that about a month then!
We all know that rest is important after having any hospital procedure, but I think what you are asking is about his sleeping all the time.
I think, as this is his 4th day after having his pacemaker fitted, I would be a little concerned too. Why don't you ring your doctors surgery or the hospital and ask if your husband's need for so much sleep is normal. Then you have an instant answer from someone who knows what they're talking about.
I'd hoped a few people who'd had pacemakers fitted would have come here and told you how they had felt afterwards. Perhaps they'll post later.
Best wishes
Jean
I too have a pacemaker, fitted three years ago, and it does take a little while to get over it and to accept what has happened to you however it should, if working correctly give him a much better quality of life so I would suggest you talk to him about it, what he thinks, how he feels and then get him doing things around the house and getting confidence in his pacemaker and its ability to help him. You don;t say how old he is or what ill health he has suffered etc., so if your gut feeling is that there is something wrong then tell the medics you want him checked over and monitored, in actual fact he should have regular check ups for 12 months.
Hello, hope your husband recovers soon. I had a dual pacemaker fitted three and half years ago. It was an emergency procedure so I didn’t have time to think about it or know anything about the procedure. I was told that I would be feeling much better afterwards. I did feel better too. I was having a bradycardia at the time and my heart rate was going from 150 beats to 27 beats. It was awful. So it was a lifesaver for me. I have had no trouble at all. After the procedure I went home . I live alone so was a little apprehensive but nothing happened. I felt good. If anything perhaps I felt a little breathless when walking. I can honestly say that I feel good and am thankful for having the pacemaker. I go once a year for a checkup and is good. Sometimes the thought and all the things that are going on can worry us and makes us exhausted. Let him take his time. Give him confidence and I am sure he will start to feel great after a short while. I am 80 years old. He will not regret having it fitted I am sure. He feels he has something alien in his body and he has, but give it time and that will pass.
Given that it was quite a stressful procedure with the first failure etc - I would say that may be natural and recuperative - but how long is ‘sleeping too much?
If you have trouble waking him - then I would be concerned but as one who can sleep for England at the slightest infection, recovery - I would say if there are no other indications that something is wrong - let sleeping people 😴......
Not sure whether his pacemaker was for pace and ablate or for slow heart rate. Mine was not pace and ablate and was fine afterwards but because of 3 to 10 second pauses when coming out of AF which caused dizziness but I think pace and ablate could be different.
Modern pacemakers are mini computers which record what is going on and can be interrogated by the hospital’s pacing centre (I still have 6 monthly pacing checks which I ask for a print out which I can show to GP or consultant.) If I were in your husband’s shoes that’s what I’d do to check that it is working properly
Hi I had a dual lead pacemaker just 6 weeks ago, like your husband it was not too easy. Mine took over 4 hours and I had to stay over night because I have extra heart problems.
I was extremely tired for at least 2/3 weeks, but it’s getting better. I think like myself and your husband, the extra stress of the complications really knocks it out of you. You have a phone number for the cardiac nurse if your really worried give her a call, they were really helpful when I rang. I feel the pacemaker is definitely helping. Good luck.
Thank you for that. Yes I think had it been straightforward he would be feeling better. It’s just that our consultant is very optimistic and seemed to give us the impression he’d be op and about in in few days. He is pottering around the house now and not sleeping as much in the day as he did. It think it’s baby steps to start with.
Hope you continue to feel better
Best regards
Pacemaker 
Pacemaker 
Pacemaker 
Pacemaker 
