Pacemaker implanted yesterday - Thanks - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Pacemaker implanted yesterday - Thanks

HeartyJames profile image
28 Replies

Thanks everyone so much . Sorry posted in three groups if you seee this again. I felt myself twitching a lot on lab table , especially after a few short pains. He had difficuty locating veins so had to make cut larger. and dye. After tests decided not to do a CRT but a dual chamber ancillary biotronik pacemaker. Be easy to add third lead if needed later. Not sure if in there already but prob not. I think they tried with it in.

So paced at 60bpm. I feel so much better alreay when resting but very weird when i move a little and goes to 80. Just not used to that.

I must say the staff were the best from start to finish on NHS UK...

I hope now I can support others going through the same. xx If any men get this done , it is easier if you shave first as lots of stickers and cleaner. LOL

I know there are challenges yet and does not fix the plumbing but a good step and hopefully no infection or issues . nice to feel positive though

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HeartyJames
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28 Replies
Czech_Mate profile image
Czech_Mate

Good luck with the ups and downs ahead.

Thumper76 profile image
Thumper76

Glad it’s done and you’re feeling better 🙂. Onwards and upwards. 👍 X

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to Thumper76

Thanks Thumper and thanks for the personal messages

Welcome to the "Add On" club and what an add on it is, glad that you are feeling some positives, they look like they did a very neat job.

Take care and remember no dancing to ABBA with your arms above your head !

Strange but I always sleep with my arm up and head resting on it, to stop that I tied my arm down around my waist with a soft dressing gown cord,

when out I kept my left hand in my pocket, it wasn't till I had the pacemaker fitted that I realised how much my arms went above my head during the day.

Things you need { if you are left or are on your own } from the top shelves of cupboards etc get someone to get them down onto a work surface for you { its easy to over reach without knowing it }

You'll work it out

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to

I was thinking of playing tht 70's song "Leap up and down with your knickers in the air" I slep last night ok with arm inside T shirt,

How are you doing?

in reply to HeartyJames

Yes I am doing ok thank you,

like many I have a few problems that are slowly being worked out,

thanks for asking,

but this really is all about you and rightly so, even with your questionable taste in music ! { big smile }

Please take care.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Excellent news.Lovely to hear your positivity.

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to Milkfairy

Cheers Milkfairy. They keep stressing how important it is to get onto max dose of beta blockers etc . Not really sure why as always had bad effect on me but PM should allow this. Lots of struggles to come but I will fight it every step of the way.... How are you?

I said to nurse I had been on urgent list since Spring, and she said that is the time the urgent list takes.. Crikey

Hello :-)

Lovely to see your post and that you have had it done :-)

Glad you are feeling so much better already :-) x

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to

They did say it will bruise bad, You see that red bit. Will see how that goes :) Hope you have a good day too and enjoy supporting everyone as you do. :) The lady who did the stitching was loving stitching my flesh and she does a lot of stitching at home too - :) :) Quite funny. I do wonder if any of them read these posts. Anyway they all said she did a very neat job , so will see in 5 days when cover comes off

in reply to HeartyJames

Hello :-)

It will bruise but soon fade :-)

How lucky are you that the lady that stitched you up seems like she was into sewing should be a neat scar then you will soon see how good she really is :-

Enjoy your day :-) x

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to

😀

in reply to HeartyJames

:-) x

Harveyone profile image
Harveyone

Well done James & goodluck.Slow and steady wins the race.

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to Harveyone

Yes thanks. Just having a easy mostly bed day today, but I do not like beds so probably I won't for long.. Hope you are well ...

ParrotLover22 profile image
ParrotLover22

Hello James. You have the same one as me. I have had mine for two years now with no problems at all. I hope you will be the same. Best of Luck 🤞

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to ParrotLover22

Did you get a monitor as here they say too expensive to provide. To be honest I would have bought it..

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames

Day 2 - Not done any exercise yet as too early. Bruise is growing as is tenderness , with pain along jawlines and neck when painkillers wear off. Taking full dose paracetamol. Feels itchy around pacemaker and can feel it. but not touching as very tender but no feeling of infection. I am a very slow healer so I am concerned about that. A cut finger takes a month to heal and usuallly skin heals over scab. This pad comes off on Sunday. dissolvable stitches. Oximeter reports 93% as usual for me and bpm at 70 at resting but goes as low as 60 that it is set at. Not sure why it goes to 70 when resting . Used to be always 34 and lower. I do go dizzy and nearly fell backwards when cimbing in stairs and holding to bannister tightly when ot goes to 90. So yes feels weird, I get episodes so far. EARLY DAYS

Yes it is early days and your body needs to get used to having a foreign body in it, but hopefully it will all settle, try to get out for a walk with someone and not get trapped within your house walls.

As for the monitor, mine is a Medtronic Cobalt XT HF Quad CRT-D { bloody hell what a mouthful } supposedly the largest pace maker { this thing could kick start a Jumbo jet } I got a phone app that links me to the pacemaker clinic, maybe yours has an app? but if they are not doing the monitoring their end then I can't see it being much use.

I think the idea of mine is to save them money as I have just had an electronic check up { all is fine } and have not put a foot near the clinic.

You will begin to feel the wound site now but don't be frightened to contact your GP to up your pain killers if needed.

Take care and keep ticking along you are doing magnificently

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to

I will not be getting any app or monitor and I asked twice. Cost was the excuse. Was wondering if I could buy one privately. Anyone know? I do not think its right that they do not have the same throughout the NHS. I am techy so interested in such things. I will email biotronik

in reply to HeartyJames

Please let us know how you get on.

ahcm profile image
ahcm

So pleased for you Hearty James. Life will be so much better from now on.

HHH2017 profile image
HHH2017

So glad to hear it went well for you. Baby steps while you get used to it I guess but hopefully & onwards & upwards 💪🏽 Best of luck.

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames

Here is mine Small, Enduring, Complete, Smart - Enitra 8 pacemakers combine small size with a complete suite of tools for comprehensive diagnostics, powerful bradycardia therapy and facilitated handling— yielding long-lasting wireless devices that support efficient MRI access, timesaving remote monitoring and unique physiological rate adaptation.

KEY FACTS

Smaller, Lighter, Shorter – With only 10 cc in volume, 20.8 g of weight and 48 mm length1 Enitra pacemakers are among the smallest full-feature pacemakers in the market. Designed to improve wearing comfort and aesthetic outcomes, Enitra pacemakers may also allow for smaller incisions and pocket size.

BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® – Effective remote monitoring of heart failure and system integrity based on automatic and wireless daily transmissions - enables earlier intervention and Home Monitoring-supported follow-ups that are approved by the U.S. FDA and CE Notified Body.

Event-triggered IEGM transmissions – Enable prompt evaluations for fast and better-informed therapy decisions.

ProMRI® – allows patients to undergo MRI scanning under specific conditions.

MRI AutoDetect – Simplifies MRI access by automatically detecting an MR environment and switching the system to safe MRI mode, programmable for up to 14 days.

Closed Loop Stimulation (CLS) – Is a unique physiological rate response modulation that is able to adapt the heart rate in response to both physical and emotional stress.

Capture Control – Improves patient safety and extends device longevity by automatically adjusting pacing amplitudes.

Vp Suppression – Follows a natural rhythm and promotes the underlying intrinsic rhythm with on-demand ventricular pacing.

SafeSync RF telemetry – Is wandless and saves time when transmitting data reliably at implantation and follow-up.

Heart Failure Monitor – Enables early detection of changes in patients’ heart failure conditions with the continuous monitoring of clinical parameters.

TrendView – Displays channels' electrical trends over the last 240 days, allowing the user to check the system's stability over time.

Auto-Initialization - Activates essential pacemaker functions and follow-up data within 10 minutes.

Faub profile image
Faub

Congratulations and I'm glad you are feeling well!,

Hylda2 profile image
Hylda2

hi. I had my Biotronik Smart fitted seven weeks ago and have the Ablate procedure next week. I have a monitor like a small mobile phone. My husband has a Medtronic and his monitor looks like a mini urinal.

Let’s just say I wouldn’t get my consultant to do my plastic surgery. I think he embroidered it shut.

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames in reply to Hylda2

Really annoying that my nhs trust does not provide app access or minitors due to cost. II have contacted biotronik - hoping I can buy something. Should not have too. Postcode lottery although appreciate having the implant of course

Chelston profile image
Chelston

Well done, I hope the implant does the trick for you! All the best!

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