My Holter monitor

[Barbara Stewart]

I turned in my Holter monitor yesterday and heard from the cardio that afternoon. My lowest heart rate was 40 at 5:30 in the morning while I was sleeping and my highest was 86 while I was repotting plants and hauling them up and down steps. He conceded (that's what it sounded like) that the likelihood of my needing a pacemaker in the future was high and told me he'd have the electrophysiologist call me for an appointment. I'm seeing him Nov. 6th. My feeling about it is to get it over with. I'd like to have it implanted before Thanksgiving so I will be up to snuff for dinner. I'm having it at my house this year and I'm very excited. I haven't made Tgiving dinner is several years. Am I being realistic that I will be recovered enough to make dinner? I will have some help.

Are there any questions I should be asking? Will I have to be on the pump again? My poor husband is beside himself. He seems more upset and worried about this than I am. I can't let myself dwell on this too long or I'd be so angry, which is deadly , and I intend to live a long and useful life, heart problems or no heart problems......So there!

Thanks everyone.
Barbara

 

[pipersmith]

Although I am sure that another procedure is not something you look forward to - I would also imagine some concrete answers help to put your mind at ease a little bit.
I can offer no medical advice - but I'm sending prayers and warm wishes your way for successful resolution - and some peace of mind for you and your husband.

What time should we arrive for that yummy supper ?

 

[Nancy]

I've heard women mention that their doctor implanted the pacemaker in an inconvenient place for women's bra straps. So you might ask about that. THAT would be a very annoying problem.

 

[bvdr]

I turned in my Holter monitor yesterday and heard from the cardio that afternoon. My lowest heart rate was 40 at 5:30 in the morning while I was sleeping and my highest was 86 while I was repotting plants and hauling them up and down steps. He conceded (that's what it sounded like) that the likelihood of my needing a pacemaker in the future was high and told me he'd have the electrophysiologist call me for an appointment. I'm seeing him Nov. 6th. My feeling about it is to get it over with. I'd like to have it implanted before Thanksgiving so I will be up to snuff for dinner. I'm having it at my house this year and I'm very excited. I haven't made Tgiving dinner is several years. Am I being realistic that I will be recovered enough to make dinner? I will have some help.

Are there any questions I should be asking? Will I have to be on the pump again? My poor husband is beside himself. He seems more upset and worried about this than I am. I can't let myself dwell on this too long or I'd be so angry, which is deadly , and I intend to live a long and useful life, heart problems or no heart problems......So there!

Thanks everyone.
Barbara

Barabara, I'm glad to report to you that the implantation of a pacemaker is not in the same class as open heart surgery at all. I'm sure it is something you would rather not have to have but it is more like a cardiac cath than OHS. Let us know what the electrophysiologist says OK?

 

[Nancy]

Joe told me that he talked with the surgeon throughout the procedure, talking sports, etc. I'm not sure what they gave him, but he was not uncomfortable at all.

 

[barbwil]

Barbara, I have had my St Jude pacemaker for nearly 4 years now. The implantation is nothing; I felt some pressure when the EP was inserting it but that is all.

BUT, even though the procedure is easy, there is still a period of weeks when you have to exercise caution and not raise the arm on that side of your body any higher than your shoulder. This is so the leads can become firmly implanted in your heart and tissue will hold them in place. You would be surprised at how often you reach to open a cupboard door using your left hand (even though you are right handed). There is a restriction on the amount of weight you can lift so forget about handling that turkey yourself! The incision is 2 to 3 inches wide and it will take a time to heal.

If you are not seeing the EP until Nov 6th I cannot see that he will do it immediately unless he/she has a very small practice; in which case I would shop around and find someone who does this a LOT. So the time element doesn't look too favorable to getting it done in time to feel like entertaining at Thanksgiving.

Some people have real hangups about having a pacer inserted in their bodies but I consider it a blessing; unless you are a really well trained athlete you're not feeling well with a 40 heart rate. Occasionally When the sales rep. interrogates my pacer with a computer and sets it down to 30 I get real woozy in the head and she sets it right up to my low rate of 60 before she has to pick me up off the floor!

If you must entertain for Thanksgiving I would try to schedule it for right after the holiday and you should be "good to go" for the Christmas holiday.

You might want to take a look in http://www.pacemakerclub.com. There is another forum that used to be good but right now it has turned very political and rather nasty!

Let us know when you are scheduled for the procedure.

 

[Barbara Stewart]

Barb

Barb

Thanks for your response. I went to the pacemakerclub website and found it to be very informative. I registered so now I'm a member of this website and that one. I'm VERY picky about the company I keep.

Thanks everyone. I'll keep you all updated.
Barbara

 

[Kathleen]

Barbara
If you do get a pacemaker please join the Wired 4 Life group. It was founded by a friend of mine. It is just for women with pacemakers. I had a pacer when I joined and now have a pacer/defib (ICD). It is a great group of women to chat with.
Kathleen