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