Pacemaker, pain and sailing

[BlueTosca]

Hi,

I am female and 74 and pre - diabetic. About 7 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with angina. Due to waiting lists, I am due to have an angiogram late November. I was put on beta blockers and aspirin in the meantime.

A week ago, I phoned 999 and was taken into hospital with complete heart block.

On Thursday, I was given a pacemaker under local anaesthetic. I react badly to sedation.

The op was successful, but I am in a lot more pain than I expected. Is this normal?

I may still have to have the angiogram to see if there is anything else wrong with my heart. Has this happened to anyone with a pacemaker?

Lastly - is there anyone here who is a sailor and has a pacemaker? I am the helmsman on our 28ft yacht. I don’t know if I can handle the boat in bad weather with a pacemaker. Anyone else in the same position? I don’t want to give up sailing.

[Hidden]

I don't have a pacemaker but I am a sailor with a long cardiovascular history including CABG and six stents over the last 28 years. I also had a nursing career, and although now retired I could make a good guess.

Although heavy weather helming is strenuous I can't visualise how having a pacemaker would make it worse. It's designed to provide a minimum blood flow. If you are the only helm I would guess you don't do long passages; alternatively, if you do watchkeeping you can still get a rest in heavy weather as you need it. Either way, no reason to give it up. If you are really apprehensive stick to F6 or below until you have reassured yourself enough.

Sailing is such a good activity for cardiac health. Fresh air and exercise increases NO production which is a good vasodilator and will improve blood flow. Not to mention the general sense of wellbeing on the water.

[BlueTosca in reply to Hidden]

Dear Ancient Nurse,

I am an ancient sailor. I cannot thank you enough for your reply. I was getting ready to do calm weather (nice, but boring) sailing. I didn’t know sailing was good for cardiac health, that is just brilliant news. I think I have been in the ‘ sorry for myself’ stage.

Thank you for spurring me on and giving me the incentive to continue with the sport that I love.

best wishes to you.

[EMBoy]

Although it is done under local anaesthetic, having a pacemaker fitted is still quite major surgery, so it is bound to be painful afterwards. For me, the pain went away after a couple of weeks, but for the first week or so it was fairly painful. I had to sleep sitting up as I couldn't lie down in comfort. I used paracetamol, as I don't like taking anything stronger, and it seemed to do the trick.

As regards the sailing - as long as you follow the advice from your pacemaker team, and give yourself time to recover, you should be able to do everything you did before. In fact, you may be able to do it better. I have heard stories of people with pacemakers running marathons.

Your pacemaker will not only keep you alive, but increase your quality of life.

All the best.

[BlueTosca in reply to EMBoy]

Thank you so much for your message, it was very reassuring. I am indeed having trouble lying flat and I’m in quite a lot of pain at night. It was so good to hear that it is not an abnormal reaction and will pass.

it’s also good to know that my sailing might even be improved by the Pacemaker.

my husband says that your reply was so good and helpful, that it’s the one I’m to listen to. He is now planning to say all the Atlantic. 😂

Thank you again. I am so glad I reached out to this site.