ICD/Pacemaker Job Done

[Telboy1162]

Hi all. Got the implant op on Wednesday and home yesterday. Everything went like clockwork (excuse the pun). I cant praise the staff at Edingurgh Royal Infirmary enough. They were wonderful.

It was a very strange experience being awake while this was going on. I could feel all the pulling pushing happening but without any pain. That said, i ain't pain free anymore. The wound area is very sore and it's hard to move at all without feeling it.

I'm delighted it's all done though and i was given a wee router like box that communicates with cardiology if anything untoward is going with the device.

The bit of news i got i didn't know was coming, was that because my device has the defib function, i can't drive for a month. I thought it was only a week but apparently the the defib function makes the difference.

I'd like to thank all the guys who replied with good wishes to my previous post about it all happening. You know who you are.

I'm happy to help any others who are about to have this done now that i'm an expert. 😂😂

[Hidden]

Great news mate, I'm glad all went well. 👍. I'm waiting to see if I need a pacemaker so thanks for the heads up on the procedure . Keep us all posted on your progress.

[Telboy1162 in reply to Hidden]

Ok pal. Will do. 👍

[lindainglis in reply to Telboy1162]

yes they are really good my husband had one fitted 3 years ago and he has never looked back made a big difference to his quality of life after 3 previous heart attacks he got his life back

[Telboy1162 in reply to lindainglis]

Thats great to hear. 👍

[MummaSoap]

Glad to hear it went smoothly for you!

I hope that you’re pain eases soon and you’ll be able to move more freely 🤞🏼

Take care and keep us posted with how you get on if you can.

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[Telboy1162 in reply to MummaSoap]

I will pal. The next step is removing dressing so we'll see how that goes.

[RufusScamp]

Good to hear all went well. It is a strange experience, isn't it. Mine was painful for a few days, but has been no problem since. Having the remote monitor saves a few hospital trips!

I assume they also told you that you need to inform the DVLA? (I also made sure my car ins. people were informed.)

[Telboy1162 in reply to RufusScamp]

Yes RufusScamp, i did that yesterday. I'm a bit p****d off that i can't drive for a month though. I understand why but my wife doesn't drive and her 87 year old dad relies on me a lot. Hopefully it goes in quick. 🤞🤞

[Gumbie_Cat]

Glad it all went well for you. They really are great at the RIE - had my ablation there, and it was so much less scary than I expected.

[Telboy1162 in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Thats great pal. Hope your enjoying life.

[Pouchielou1972]

So glad to hear your op went well. Time t9 heal now and make sure to not lift your left arm too high. I didn't use mine at all for the first few weeks to allow the leads to the heart to settle, apart from rotating the shoulder a little to avoid frozen shoulder. It is a bummer about the no driving for a month, but it flies by. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Telboy1162 in reply to Pouchielou1972]

I've been using the arm a bit but not too much, certainly not doing anything that involves a stretch in any direction. I had a wee chuckle when on Thursday the cardiologist demonstrated an above the head movement telling NOT to do that. I dont think i could do that if you paid me a million quid given how sore it is. 😂

[Pouchielou1972 in reply to Telboy1162]

Glad to hear you're taking it easy with your arm. I think I was overly cautious about using it at the time as I was absolutely petrified pulling a lead out and having more surgery, as my implantation was unbelievably traumatic! Bo way could you have performed any over the head movements just yet...I can't believe he thought he needed to warn you of that!! 😂

[melnoakes]

Welcome to the club, you’ll be fine after the uncomfortable couple of nights where you struggle to find a comfortable position to sleep, had mine 3 weeks now and almost back to normal life….

So much life to me….

All the best!! 🎉🎉

[Telboy1162]

Thanks melnoakes. How is your wound healing going? I'm due to to remove the dressing tomorrow and i'm not looking forward to it. It still feels very raw and looks a bit raised under the dressing. I'll do as i've been told but dreading it.

[YorkshireBlue]

Well that was ghood to read. Best wishes for a long future.

[Telboy1162]

Thanks pal. 👍

[Gp0c]

Hi congrats on the ICD I've had mine 3 weeks now check with Dvla ASAP my paperwork says you can't drive for 6 months after having an ICD fitted but a month if it was fitted as a precaution, and a week if it was a battery change, don't waste your time calling or using the webchat they never ever answer I have had to write and email them and they are still mucking about

[Telboy1162 in reply to Gp0c]

I spoke to them yesterday and apparently mine is classed as being fitted as a precaution. On my card it uses the word "Prophylactic" ( i always thought that meant something else 😂) which lets me off the hook in a month. I was informed that if i get a shock from it the next ban is 6 months.

[FrankWillbe]

Hi. Pleased to hear it went well, I had my defrib in Oct. It all went well for me and is healing well and I am slowly starting to not feel it. As for not driving for 4 weeks, that is the DVLA rule. However I have been asked to follow the medical advice and to not drive (plus not do strenuous exercise etc) until the device is checked. This was meant to be in 4-6 weeks but is actually booked in for 2nd Jan. Which will be 10 weeks.

[Telboy1162]

Mmm, that's interesting. The hospital cardiologist said to me on Thursday quite clearly not to drive for a month and they will see me in 6-8 weeks. I suppose there are different approaches to this and there's not many hard and fast rules. Looks like it's more advisory.

[Deejay62]

Hi I’m so pleased it all went well. Your experience sounds similar to when I had my second 5 years ago. I wish you all the best.

[Telboy1162 in reply to Deejay62]

Thank you pal. Dressing off tomorrow. Hoping the wound is ok.🤞🤞

[Aaron_Stampler]

Glad to hear it went well

Had this procedure a year ago and had to wait 4 weeks before driving

Agree it was a bit strange being awake during it all. The op went fairly smoothly until the surgeon kept hitting an artery instead of the vein - I'm put together a "bit differently than normal" I was told.

Took a couple of hours in total. Everything working fine and the scar is difficult to see - unlike the ICD device. They say its the size of a matchbox - an extra large box of farmhouse matches !

[Telboy1162 in reply to Aaron_Stampler]

Yes i was on the table for 2 hours as well as there seemed to be a lot of time getting the gizmo to do what it should. I was starting to get a bit worried but they got there eventually. I removed the dressing on Sunday and it looks horrible but it's as it should be according to the info i was given.

I'm praying it doesn't get infected. Your farmhouse matches comparison is about right. My first thought when i first stood up was he had put a half brick in there.

Tomorrow is my first week up and it went fairly quickly. I just want the wound to heal properly and fast. Love your screen name. It was a great film. 😂😂

[Aaron_Stampler]

You have good taste 👌