Update on my pacemaker fitting

[Westie2012]

Just to update everyone, Wednesday 25th I had my pacemaker fitted. It was a long emotional day, I cried just before they gave me the sedation as I was fully aware of everyone moving round the room, listening to the instruments to be used and it got very scary that this was the moment I’d been dreading for the last few days. I must have fallen fast asleep as I only woke up when I could feel the last few stitches were being put in . I felt really queasy from the morphine and washed out afterwards. Very painful and really drowsy for the rest of the night, keep getting a stinging feeling where the pacemaker is, had to go back to A&E last night as I keep feeling jolts down my left side, pacemaker is fine, leads still in place thankfully. Still getting these jolts on and off, I have to ring the cardiologists secretary tomorrow . I’m glad the procedure is over with and I haven’t felt dizzy or breathless which is great. I’m finding it difficult to look at the wound, the thought of having this little box inside me and the appearance right now makes me feel very queasy. Very emotional still at times.

[bantam12]

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with the pacemaker, try to look on it as a new best friend rather than something alien and worrying. The incision will soon be unnoticeable but if it's upsetting you now try putting a light dressing over it while it heals. The shocks you feel may just be nerves recovering but not sure why you feel them right down your side, I certainly had lots of twinges afterwards but only in my shoulder.

I hope you feel better about it soon, eventually you will forget it's even there.

[Eadaoin]

I’ve had a pacemaker for 12 years and only had a couple of days of worry before I found myself in the Cath Lab having the urgent procedure done. I was shocked then but I have become very positive about my pm because it has given me such confidence when out and about. During the first few weeks you will have had to be a bit careful but after that you will forget the pm is in place - except in bed when you may be aware of the shape of the box should it creep up near your chin ! For me the scar (which fades with time) is a small price to pay for the peace of mind the pm gives.I hope your twinges either disappear soon or you find out the reason for them and get the help you need then hopefully you will be able to make friends with your pm. I wish you all the best.

[RufusScamp]

I had one fitted about 6 weeks ago. The site was a bit sore for a couple of days, but has calmed down. My main problem is remembering to be careful with my left arm. It felt strange at first knowing it was inside me, but that has worn off, as I find stairs and hills easier to cope with.I would talk to someone about those jolts you feel. Hope things improve for you.

[Westie2012]

Further update since having my pacemaker fitted 4 days after the procedure I started getting what felt like jolts in my tummy that actually made my body jump, went to A&E, ecg and chest X-ray g done, everything looked ok so I went home with instructions to call the cardiologist Monday morning for advice . Sunday night I was feeling better however , I was woken at 2.30 am so suddenly with the most excruciating pain that hit like a lightning strike it just started out of nowhere. Hubby thought I was having a heart attack. Paramedics were lovely, gave me morphine and off to hospital, ecg was erratic, the paramedics were discussing my heart rate and just gave each other a worrying look. They couldn’t tell my husband whether it was a heart attack or not, because of covid he had to stay at home, he admitted he thought he’d lost me. Many hours in A&E, blood tests, ecgs, X-ray, heart scan and pacemaker check, when the pacing team altered the pacemaker settings the jolting started up, the wire was irritating my diaphragm. Around 6pm I was sent to cardiac assessment unit to wait for covid test results before they could move me to a ward, 9pm there was a bed available and my test was negative thankfully. Dosed up on pain relief, two days later had the wires replaced. 12 hours later woke up to even worse pain, I’d developed pericarditis as the wire had put a hole in the heart muscle so was given even more pain relief and started on antibiotics. I wasn’t well enough to get out of bed as slightest movement increased the pain, I was finally well enough to be allowed home Saturday after almost 6 days in hospital. I was almost at the point of asking to have the pacemaker removed with all the complications after. Very traumatic emotional experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.