Had pacemaker fitted recently without any sedation

[Arrowe]

I had my pacemaker fitted in November after spending five days in hospital after collapsing at home with heart rate of 25. The implantation was very traumatic, as I was not sedated and the local anaesthetic didn’t seem to work. Despite me crying out in distress, the doctor didn’t stop the procedure. Did any other hearties experience this? Everything I read about pacemaker implantation states that the patient should be sedated.

[bantam12]

I didn't have sedation and it wasn't offered anyway. Yes the procedure is a bit brutal but they should have given you more pain relief if it was causing pain.

[Arrowe in reply to bantam12]

Thank you for that. All the literature states that you should be sedated, but perhaps that’s just in the States

[Arrowe]

Thank you for that....I just assumed that I was the only one that wasn’t. I’ve had 2 kids without any pain relief, but the pacemaker was so much worse than that.

[Stanley18]

I was sedated, but I’m not sure that it really touched the sides. I found the procedure extremely uncomfortable. Others, however, have said that theirs was a breeze.

[Everyoung]

Hi I recall I was sedated somewhat but was awake and aware throughout the procedure. I had local anaesthetic which helped somewhat regarding pain control.

[Andrew_A]

I was chatting with the surgeon during the whole procedure and if I felt anything he just gave some more local. There is a lot of force required for some of it and it can be uncomfortable

[Arrowe in reply to Andrew_A]

I had local anaesthetic, but the procedure was started before the numbing effect took place! I saw pacemaker technician this morning and she said it is common practice to allow ten minutes for the local anaesthetic to take effect.

[Kimkat]

I wasn’t sedated but I was given a local anaesthetic on the site and it was a pain free experience, however I can’t imagine having it done without any type of anaesthesia, it must have been awful for you.

[Arrowe in reply to Kimkat]

I had local anaesthetic, but the procedure took place before the local took effect. It felt like the surgeon kept hitting a nerve

[Kimkat in reply to Arrowe]

That is brutal.

[RufusScamp]

I was offered sedation, which I took. At a couple of points I felt some sharp twinges, but other than that it was painless. I had to take paracetamol for the first couple of nights.

I hope you are getting on OK with it now.

[MDR1]

Sounds brutal. I had ICD fitted last Wednesday and had sedative as well as local and was chatting with the team throughout. Felt no pain during the procedure but still taking paracetamol nearly a week later.

[Gundoglady]

Local only, yes it was uncomfortable, but, bearable, procedure took longer than it should as apparently I have kinky veins!! As I was at risk of bleeding, I was kept overnight ( not part of the original plan), offered paracetamol, but didn't need any

[Qualipop]

That sounds horrible. You can put in a complaint to the hospital. Contact PALS and get them to get full details of what was done *(or not). I was once given an injection without warning or my permission; needle just slammed into my backside without a word. I was extremely ill afterwards for 3 weeks . I put in a formal complaint so they could never do that again to anyone else. IT took an awful long time for the complaint to be addressed but it did result in a change of practice and written permission being required. Even though it didn't help me I know it helped others.

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I had an Icd, which I assume is implanted the same way as a pacemaker, a small amount of morphine was given, I asked for more but I was told the surgeon didn't like that no idea why, local anisthetic was useless and he had the cheek to tell me to stop moving, I wanted to run away! it was awful, second worse thing next to my angiogram, I hope I never have to go through it again

[Travelwatchdog]

Hell, that's distressing for you and worrying for others. I don't believe that's a standard procedure. People I know have had them fitted using a local and haven't had a problem. Im headed that way having had the occasional trip to a 28 bpm heart rate. Its normally resting at just over 40 so the cardiologist is saying hold off for now.

[JulesF]

Sorry to hear of your experience but thank you for sharing. I had the same experience when I had my ICD fitted, it was so incredibly traumatic, that was 6 years ago and I worry so much for when I need the battery replacing. Two of my children were born without pain relief and I'd rather go through that pain any day than the ICD with only local anaesthetic.

[Kelling]

Just had the same experience and am left with horrendous bruising and a ftting that does not appear to be flat

[BlueTosca]

hi Arrowe,

I had a pacemaker fitted in September 2023.

For the first time ever, I elected not to have sedation. I don’t react well to it and often fight in the middle of procedures. Both me and the surgeon didn’t think this was a good idea.

but he was very good and told me that he could stop at any point during the procedure, and if I couldn’t take it, I could have sedation.

I had asked around and patients had told me that I would feel a lot of pushing and shoving into my shoulder. Staff really helped by talking to me all the way through. When I realised that it really did help to be distracted, I talked constantly.

however, the local anaesthetic they gave me, which hurt like hell, really did work. I cannot imagine paying you must’ve felt if they hadn’t.. I am so so sorry. That must’ve been truly awful.

I returned to the ward, about 4 pm. Had my tea straight away. Chatted to my visitors and then set off to get myself a cappuccino in hospital, Marks & Spencer’s. A nurse came running after me asking me what I was doing.

I told her I was desperate for cappuccino because the hospital coffee was shit. She talked me into returning to the ward and about three hours later, the anaesthetics were off and I was in complete agony.

I discovered the anaesthetics contained fentanyl and I have been completely off my head.

But once they wore off I was shocked at the pain I was in and needed morphine by 3 in the morning. I was still in agony when they sent me home at 9am in the morning. The first night at home was terrible and I was screaming. It gradually settled down.

I hope you are able to get over the trauma of your experience.

I have been treated the way you were and it makes it difficult to trust again.

wishing you all the best

[possum]

I wasn't offered or had sedation. It was horrendous, very brutal, my whole chest was moving with the force of the cardiologist pulling the battery out. All of my left breast is badly bruised. He didn't put a proper dressing on either - just clear plastic stuck on top. Nor did he clean the op site up either so there's dried blood and cleaning fluid underneath the dressing. I'm dreading having to remove it on Saturday - it's stuck to the wound & very raised swollen tissue.