pacemaker and sedation

[Freestork]

hello I’m due to have a pacemaker fitted in 2 weeks time and am very nervous. I suffer with anxiety and it’s bad at the moment. I have asked about having sedation to help, has anyone here had this before having a pacemaker? Thanks

[Wodney1966]

First time I was sedated when I had my icd fitted but 2nd time they just numbed it all n I was awake

[Minogue in reply to Wodney1966]

hi I had a pacemaker fitted in 2016 following cardiac arrest /heart block. Was sedated and half aware . I felt virtually nothing . Staff were fantastic . Site was sore for a while so took painkillers . Now take medication . Best thing that ever happened. I have not been readmitted to A and E since hope this helps

[Freestork in reply to Minogue]

Thanks for your reply Minogue. It does help. I’m so so scared. I had a loop recorder fitted in June and had a sincope episode during the fitting. The doctor doing it had to stop. I then had to be monitored for a couple of hours and a consultant then did the fitting. The whole episode really frightened me. The same consultant is fitting the pacemaker.

[Freestork in reply to Wodney1966]

Thanks Wodney, I can’t bare the thought of being awake the whole process terrifies me sending my anxiety through the roof.

[Wodney1966 in reply to Freestork]

Your awake but it's just like having 10 whiskys you don't feel anything just feel a bit of tugging but no pain lol

[Freestork in reply to Wodney1966]

Thank you

[Crystal614]

When I had my pacemaker fitted I was given a tiny dose of something to take the edge off having it done. To be honest I didn't need it. The area is numbed so I didn't feel anything. The staff were lovely. Sore after the local anaesthetic wore off. But by morning I was ok.

[Freestork in reply to Crystal614]

Thank you Crystal. I’m so so frightened my nerves are getting the better of me, I really need to be asleep

[Crystal614 in reply to Freestork]

Speak to them when you have the opportunity and tell them how frightened you are and ask for some sedation. See what they can come up with.

[Freestork in reply to Crystal614]

Thanks. I have spoken to the team and they say they will let the consultant know and he should prescribe a light sedation. I’m concerned this won’t be enough though

[Crystal614 in reply to Freestork]

You will be able to discuss it further on the day.

[nilmonisikdar40]

Hi Freestork, I can understand your anxiet y but you need reassurance. I had my first pacemaker fitted at St Thomas Hospital in Feb.2000 . I requred light sedation and local anaesthetic and I came home pretty pleased after the procdure. The technology has vastly improved since then. I hope that would reassure you. Regards.

[Freestork in reply to nilmonisikdar40]

Thank you so much I appreciate that

[Marlwood]

Hi there. I had an ICD fitted earlier this year. Although the consultant didn’t want to fully sedate (I had a very low heart rate), he did give me a little sedative to help calm me.

[Freestork in reply to Marlwood]

Thank you Marlwood did the little sedation help? I would really prefer to be asleep. I have spoken to a member of the team and expressed my concerns

[Marlwood in reply to Freestork]

Yes. I think it did. It was only a little. The injection into the area removes any pain. I am of lean build so the main sensation is the pushing of the device into the area (obviously they don’t remove anything, so try and make space). But it wasn’t painful. The sedation just made me feel more distant to what was going on and calmed my nerves. Best wishes, Andrew.

[Freestork in reply to Marlwood]

Thanks Andrew, that does help me, appreciate it

[Gfern]

You will look back on this when it’s done and wonder why was I so worried. I had an ICD fitted last June and it was very straightforward. The area is well numbed and so no pain, add in a bit of sedation and you will feel calmer. Try to concentrate on the positive benefit when your pacemaker is working for you. Talk to the team and let them know you are nervous, it’s natural to feel anxiety with the unknown and they are well used to helping people through this. Please try not to worry and best of luck on the day. Let us know how it went for you.

[Freestork in reply to Gfern]

Thank you so much Gfern