I have a date for my pacemaker to be fitted in March and would really appreciate some advice from those of you who are already living with one. I’m sure I asked these questions to my consultant but, being the anxious person that I am, can’t remember.
My very low heart rate, arrhythmia and breathlessness are the reasons I’m having a pacemaker fitted. My heart functions well and my arteries are good, it’s the electrics in the top half that are no good.
Your heart rate drops when you’re asleep - does the pacemaker ‘sense’ this and adjust down accordingly? Sleep is difficult for me and the last thing I need is a 60+ beats a minute heart rate thumping away! Which brings me to the question . . . Can I still take my half a 3.75mg Zopeclone when required?
Will the thumping and arrhythmia I experience disappear? This not only happens when I exert myself in any way, but also while I’m sitting up in bed reading, before going to sleep. I find sleeping on my left side exacerbates the arrhythmia, so I try not to.
Will I be able to walk fast, walk up hills (or even slight inclines), walk up stairs, housework etc without my heart thumping hard and me being breathless.
I also have a hiatus hernia which, after eating certain foods, also makes my heart thump. I believe this is due to the close proximity of the Oesophagus to the Vagus Nerve. I don’t think this will cease but I’m hoping it will be less severe once the pacemaker is working.
This is for the ladies - I’m due a mammogram towards the end of the year . . . How does that work?
I know that I can’t drive for a week after surgery nor can I lift my left arm above my head for several weeks after. I’m changing my induction job to a gas one and I can’t go through security scanners.
Is there anything else I can’t do?
I think that’s everything I can think of at the moment, but if there’s something else between now and my surgery, I hope you don’t mind if I ask for your help and advice again.
Many thanks to you all for taking the time to read this and I am truly grateful for any advice you can give me.
My best wishes to you all.
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Darkandlong
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Hi, though Ive not had a pacemaker fitted I have had an ICD version which is similar but also will shock you if needed. I can't reply to a lot of what you're asking but haven't you been given access to a heart nurse? They will be answer your questions. Good luck
Thank you for the information about the heart nurse, no, I haven’t been referred to anybody but I will now call the cardiac unit and ask for one. Hope all’s well with your ICD.
Hi, I am not sure I can give you any answers but I do totally understand your concerns and fears. I had an emergency pacemaker fitted 11 weeks ago. You will be given so much support when you have it done, there will be follow up appointments and you will also get a home monitor. I can only speak from my experience but as far as sleeping goes, I sleep so much better now. Yes you need to be careful for about 6 weeks after but this will soon pass, so just be mindful for those first few weeks. My pacemaker was fitted about two weeks after I had open heart surgery and as for walking I am back up to walking my 3 miles a day. I wish you every bit of luck for the future, and remember you can still ask questions on the day of the surgery and at your follow up appointments. Good luck and take care. Thinking of you.
Home monitors are not provided to every pacemaker-fitted patient: I think that it depends on the reason for the pacemaker fitting and what might happen, say, if a lead become detached.
My wife had a pacemaker fitted 14 months ago for TLoC: she does not have a home monitor. She has an annual pacing check at our local hospital where data is taken from the device; battery life checked and any required pacemaker parameter adjustments are made.
I haven't got a pacemaker but what I will say is make sure they mark where your bra strap goes so as not to put it there. My mother in law had one fitted but they put it wear her bra strap went and it was to painful for her to wear a bra so she just wore a vest but luckily only had small boobs .
I am pretty sure that future shoulder mobility has a much higher medical priority than comfort when it comes to pacemaker siting. My wife and daughter have pacemakers and they are placed just under their left collarbones. My niece’s husband - a BA pilot - had a pacemaker fitted last year and he has had shoulder mobility issues which required physiotherapy. He expects to go back to commercial flying next month. Fear not, he will be crewed with other pilots that do not have a medical limitation on their licence!
Is your wife and daughters.pacemaker where.their bra strap sits ? I have said the same thing to friends who had pacemakers and glad I did as they wouldn't have wanted to go braless.
As a man you have no idea about wearing a bra and how you need it to be comfortable. If that sounds sexist so did your remark about shoulder movement over comfort.
The word 'comfort' does not just apply to women. Comfort is a big issue for both men and women when it comes to pacemakers and wearing seat belts which is why protective pads are available from online sources.
Sorry never thought about seat belts. I have problems with seat belts as I have shoulder pain in fact pain in all my joints . Are the pads widely available?
hi there, I’m only jumping on here although I don’t personally have a pacemaker my husband does it was fitted 14 years ago, last year the battery was replaced he was 100% percent better once it was fitted - strangely enough I’m experiencing slow HR at times caused by ectopics all the usual tests done were fine I too think mine is the electrics but i’m in no man’s land at the minute as they want me to increase my meds sotolol which only makes the HR slower so really not sure what is happening I do have a tel call with the pharmacist so see what he/she has to say - I tried upping the meds but it made me feel worse 🙁 let us know how you go on like I say my husband was not himself but once he got his pacemaker he was different again it was a very positive outcome take care 😊
I had bradycardia ( slow heart rate) and immediately after having my pacemaker I felt better and I was able to walk up hills etc I’d recommend getting a v shaped pillow to help with comfort when sleeping for a while after the surgery.
Mine was placed under a muscle ( I’ve since discovered this isn’t always the case) and I believe that this is more comfortable in the long run .
At your mammogram you should tell them that you have a pacemaker and they will position it to avoid your pacemaker.
I got one in June last year for similar reasons. My "base rate" is set to 60 but the PM senses when I'm relaxing and allows it to go down to 50. Your current symptoms are slightly different from what mine were so I don't know how they'll change but I'd guess they'll get better. Walking fast etc should be no prob, the PM only kicks in when the beat is slow or irregular. There's a friendly Facebook group where you can ask such questions and read about others' experiences, Pacemaker UK. Hope to see you in there!
Two years with a simple pacemaker and no down side to date. Minimal pain and a quick recovery. I bought a basic one strap rucksack for post op period to carry wallet, water and items such as hat gloves. Swim at leisurely pace 3 times a week and walk 7000+ steps daily again leisurely. Male , 79 years.
PS now also aortic tissue valve by TAVI and one metal hip .
hi. I am now on my second pacemaker. I work (about to retire) and have done all along in a very busy and often physical job , I run , I travel abroad frequently, I’ve an induction hob on my oven I just stand well back when I’m cooking, and I swim three times a week. Life with it is better than without it ,my pulse used to drop as I have sick sinus syndrome. It doesn’t affect my sleep and to be honest I usually forget I have it. When first fitted it’s a bit uncomfortable due to the cut but I found sleeping with a vertical pillow on that side helped for a couple of weeks. My first pacemaker was set to 60 and that was great. This one is 50 , I prefer the 60 and will ask the pacing clinic to turn it up at my next visit. I find my pacemaker no bother , once those first few weeks are over you do tend to forget it’s there. Mine isint under muscle and a slight bump can be seen and felt with fingers ( or my grandsons head when he’s on my knee) but it honestly does not bother me , though I probably won’t be a model 🤣. If I go near any strong magnets I can feel changes but it goes back to normal as soon as I move away. I always mention to security at the airport that I have a pace maker and they often take me through alternative routes, once I have been asked to show my card, I think that was in America ? Other than that life goes on as normal. Ps you have to tell DVLA . It didn’t cause me any problems. Good luck with your procedure. I had sedation with both of mine and it was fine
Once you informed DVLA are you good to go or do you need them to come back to you with the ok ? I sent my completed medical form for basic pacemaker A couple of weeks back and don’t know whether to expect a response or not. Thank you
I think I got a reply eventually . But I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that as long as you have not blacked out and have informed them you have pace maker you can drive once the pace clinic says ok. But you need to check that out.
I had a pacemaker fitted last year as an emergency. It is all very straightforward and painless. They will give you all the info you need for recovery period and any lifestyle changes that may affect you. There is a fabulous site on Facebook called Pacemaker UK. It is private and is a great place to ask questions yoy get a response from people who have gone through the same as you and no question is too "silly" My advice is take it a bit carefully when you first have it in, to make sure it beds in properly. There are lots of myths about what you can/cannot do.. so stick to the info you are given, most people find the pacemaker itself doesn't interfer much with their life.. unless you are into combat sports. Good luck.
Hi,I had my pacemaker fitted 6 months ago as an emergency. If my heart rate drops below 50 it will kick in and bring me back up to speed. At first I would notice it happening (usually when asleep/in bed), but now I don't even notice. I do wear a Swatch and can see when my HR went down to the limit. Overall I can only say that the pacemaker has greatly improved my daily life and taken away the worry of fainting etc. The installation was painless, slightly uncomfortable and done within an hour. In relation to use of induction hob, I use one and as long as you don't actually stand over it you shouldn't have any problems. Suggest you take advice from team when you go for fitting. Overall I don't notice it is there . Best wishes.
My ability to walk my dog and up stairs etc improved dramatically having had similar problems as yours. Follow ups in the pacing clinic enabled my Pacemaker to be tweaked to better function for my needs.
I have had a pacemaker since July 2022. I have always walked and do 10 mile walks over various terrain every week. I also have a personal trainer once a week, do all my own housework etc. Full recovery does take a few weeks so be patient and just build up activity gradually. Hope this helps.
I am almost two years into my pacemaker journey. It was fitted for bradycardia and heart block. I keep fit but have noticed little difference after the placement and now back to original fitness level. They set my device at 50 bpm for the day and 45 bpm for the night so settings can be adjusted to meet your requirements. I never feel the device kicking in. Remember the prime job of the pacemaker is to prevent the heart rate going too low and the problems that causes.
I am a very slim male. The pacemaker was fitted in a pocket under the skin, near my left shoulder. It really protrudes and is very visible when my shirt is off. I also feel a rubbing against the device when wearing a rucksack. They can place the pacemaker behind a muscle in the area. This is cosmetically better but causes greater difficulty when the pacemaker is due to be replaced. Discuss this with your surgeon.
I was told to inform the DVLA and insurance company but could drive after one week. I had a response from both which basically said do what the hospital says.
The advice I received was not to raise my arms above shoulder level for a period of time but to move the shoulder area to prevent muscular problems.
Hope this helps with some of your questions and just to say my surgery lasted for about an hour and was painless after the anaesthetic (rather like the dentist).
Hi, I had a PM fitted about one year ago, I would suggest for your op. you make sure they give sedation and plenty anaesthetic. My reason for PM was similar to yours, physical condition of heart good, problem with electrical connections. After the six weeks period I gradually increased activity to pre PM level, Pilates, Sailing, usual garden and house stuff, walking at pace. I did take the precaution following op. of having and taking Arnica for any bruising, and comfrey oil to aid wound healing. They will give info about any things to avoid, but in addition to other things, mobile phones, do not keep in left jacket pocket (where they always seem to be), and use your right ear. All the best, I am sure all will be well.
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