Getting a Pacemaker next week....questions, experiences?

[Irishgirlyc58]

I know nothing about pacemakers but want to wish you good luck with the procedure and that I hope that you can resume your regular activities like golf.

 

[swakyaby]

Will yours have an internal defibrillator (AICD) built in with the pacemaker? Not all do, but the presence of an AICD means extra planning before, during, and after any surgeries.

 

[aja8888]

Will yours have an internal defibrillator (AICD) built in with the pacemaker? Not all do, but the presence of an AICD means extra planning before, during, and after any surgeries.

That was not mentioned so I doubt it. The pacemaker will be used to correct a missed beat due to the Level 2 block.

 

[Tom57]

Had an AICD installed in 7/2016 after a cardiac arrest (VTAC and occluded aortic valve).
Problems with it were:
1. Installation surgery took 2 surgeries of 4 hours each because I am in a group of people (about 15% of the population) with weird heart anatomy meaning the lead for the AICD to the left ventricle could not be threaded through a vein so had to be laid on top of the heart and then guided to the left ventricle. The chief of cardiac surgery got personally involved and saved me from a third surgery. It was not that the original surgeon was unskilled, she was/is a medical school cardiac professor.
2. Exactly 9 months after the surgery the left ventricle lead retracted and became inoperative. This event was discovered when my AICD results were being read. An X-ray also proved the left ventricle lead had retracted. They turned down the power to both the left and right ventricle leads by about 95% which means my AICD battery will now last indefinitely.
3. I can not have an MRI because of the AICD. This has been a problem twice: first when I had a stroke and second when I fractured my Thoraic 10 vertebrae. The MRI would have provided the doctors with more detailed information than the CT scan.

Your pacemaker/AICD will record lots of cardiac event information. That information will be read about every 6 months either through an at-home black box reader that calls an 800 number or in a cardiologist's office. My cardiac events are PVCs (about 1,500 per day) and some number of short tachycardia events.

The most obvious advantage of an AICD is that I am still alive 8 years after a cardiac arrest.

If you have normal cardiac anatomy, you should expect a 30 to 45 minute pacemaker installation surgery during which you will be sedated.
Good luck and good health.

 

[swakyaby]

I have heard that most modern pacemakers are now MRI compatible.

 

[oldtrig]

Good luck next week aja8888. You will be back on the course in no time .

 

[Teacher Terry]

2 of my friends have them and haven’t had any issues and can do all their normal activities. However, neither are golfers.

 

[Tom57]

I have heard that most modern pacemakers are now MRI compatible.

As stated, I have an AICD, NOT a pacemaker. The chief Radiology person personally contacted my AICD device manufacturer (per the AICD card I always carry with me) to see if I was eligible for an MRI. My AICD device manufacturer said NO, NOPE, NADA to an MRI for me.
I agree that some newer pacemakers may be MRI-compatible. If a particular pacemaker is not MRI-compatible with the MRI device the hospital uses at the strength the hospital sets their MRI device, patient death occurs.
So I believe the correct answer is MAYBE a pacemaker is MRI-compatible.
The risk of death precludes general statements.
My information source is the Cleveland Clinic article dated June 23, 2021, which says in part:
More recently, however, manufacturers have developed some pacemakers and defibrillators that can be scanned with an MRI.

“We don’t refer to them as ‘MRI-safe’ but instead as ‘MRI-conditional’ — we can perform MRI scans on patients with these devices, though there are some limitations,” says Dr. Flamm.

He continues, “For instance, we’re careful about how much MRI ‘energy’ we use. We may therefore limit the time we spend scanning a patient and limit the kinds of images we acquire. As a result, we might acquire some images from a patient who does not have an MRI-conditional device that we won’t on a patient who has one.”

A patient will know after surgery whether they have a pacemaker or an AICD installed. Regardless of which device is installed, it is imperative for the patient to always carry the device manufacturer's card and communicate with medical personnel that they have a device installed.

 

[aja8888]

Thanks for all the great replies. All of this has been very helpful.

 

[mountainsoft]

My wife got a pacemaker a few years ago, after her heart rate started dropping into the 40's and she kept passing out. No issues other than she got a blood clot in her left arm a few weeks after the surgery. So that was a bit of an unexpected emergency. Otherwise, once everything healed up she has done all of her normal activities and doesn't act like she even notices it. One side note for women, her left breast sits just slightly lower now. We figure it must be because they cut into the upper chest to place the pacemaker. It's very minor, but noticeable. When she first got the pacemaker they said to avoid magnetic fields (don't lay on an induction cooktop for instance), but so far that hasn't been an issue. They also said to avoid repetitive movements like rowing a boat, but her recent cardiology visit said that was only needed during the months following installation to allow proper healing. He said she can do whatever she wants now. Other than the slow heart rate her heart is in great condition. She's only using her pacemaker about 5% of the time right now.

My mom also got a pacemaker when half of her heart quit working. Her heart rate was in the low 40's but she acted like she didn't even notice, other than she was low on energy. Compared to my wife, mom is using her pacemaker about 98% of the time. She wouldn't be alive without it. She had afib for many years before getting the pacemaker.

I also know a few of my aunts and uncles have pacemakers, but I'm not in contact with them to know their experiences.

 

[aja8888]

My wife got a pacemaker a few years ago, after her heart rate started dropping into the 40's and she kept passing out. No issues other than she got a blood clot in her left arm a few weeks after the surgery. So that was a bit of an unexpected emergency. Otherwise, once everything healed up she has done all of her normal activities and doesn't act like she even notices it. One side note for women, her left breast sits just slightly lower now. We figure it must be because they cut into the upper chest to place the pacemaker. It's very minor, but noticeable. When she first got the pacemaker they said to avoid magnetic fields (don't lay on an induction cooktop for instance), but so far that hasn't been an issue. They also said to avoid repetitive movements like rowing a boat, but her recent cardiology visit said that was only needed during the months following installation to allow proper healing. He said she can do whatever she wants now. Other than the slow heart rate her heart is in great condition. She's only using her pacemaker about 5% of the time right now.

My mom also got a pacemaker when half of her heart quit working. Her heart rate was in the low 40's but she acted like she didn't even notice, other than she was low on energy. Compared to my wife, mom is using her pacemaker about 98% of the time. She wouldn't be alive without it. She had afib for many years before getting the pacemaker.

I also know a few of my aunts and uncles have pacemakers, but I'm not in contact with them to know their experiences.

Thanks for the information. Great to hear the good results.

 

[Keim]

Got mine on my 40th birthday. Now on my 2nd. Only limitation I have experienced is amusement park rides. No gravitron or roller coasters for me.

 

[cmc333]

I just got a pacemaker implanted Monday. Done under twilight sleep. Went home the day after. No pain meds given, but the pain is pretty bad those first two days. (Or maybe it's just me). Much worse than they warned me. They gave me an immobilizer to keep me from moving my arm too much, especially above my head. Right now my DH has been talking to the doctor's office cause my pulse is running in the 100-120's, which is too high. They said to not worry about it till my follow up on 9/5. You do quit using the immobilizer the next day cause you need to move your arm so you don't get a frozen shoulder.

Everything I've read from the patient's standpoint is that recovery takes about 2 months to get to the point of not noticing it, unless you feel it while showering or stretching your arm too much. My suggestion is to wear sweatpants to the hospital and a button down shirt. You're not allowed to raise your arm above your head for two weeks so I went and bought button up pajamas and shirts. You're not allowed to drive till after your followup to the surgery at least. Some doctors require longer than that. Have easy to prepare food for at least the 3 days after coming home. Not that you'll feel hungry. Also if you have an electric recliner best to sleep in that for a while. Manual recliners put too much strain on your muscles when you push to lower it with your legs. Bending over feels like the pacer is going to come out of your chest.

Also go on Amazon and buy a pillow protector to wear over your seatbelt. I'm short so the seatbelt comes right across my surgery site. And just touching the skin around it (to check for oozing or blood or swelling) hurts to the lightest touch.

I had rotator cuff surgery for totally torn rotator and torn bicep and this pacer surgery hurt more than that. DH actually worked his career in companies that manufacture pacers and defibrillators as Quality Assurance/Reliability Director so he knows pacing inside and out. Which meant I didn't have to ask as many questions as some people. Make sure you know which manufacturer of pacer you're getting. Go with a name brand. I chose Medtronic because they make the best and have a great reputation. You can ask me any other questions if you have any. I don't know much about long term ramifications so can't help you with that; just the initial few days.

 

[aja8888]

I just got a pacemaker implanted Monday. Done under twilight sleep. Went home the day after. No pain meds given, but the pain is pretty bad those first two days. (Or maybe it's just me). Much worse than they warned me. They gave me an immobilizer to keep me from moving my arm too much, especially above my head. Right now my DH has been talking to the doctor's office cause my pulse is running in the 100-120's, which is too high. They said to not worry about it till my follow up on 9/5. You do quit using the immobilizer the next day cause you need to move your arm so you don't get a frozen shoulder.

Everything I've read from the patient's standpoint is that recovery takes about 2 months to get to the point of not noticing it, unless you feel it while showering or stretching your arm too much. My suggestion is to wear sweatpants to the hospital and a button down shirt. You're not allowed to raise your arm above your head for two weeks so I went and bought button up pajamas and shirts. You're not allowed to drive till after your followup to the surgery at least. Some doctors require longer than that. Have easy to prepare food for at least the 3 days after coming home. Not that you'll feel hungry. Also if you have an electric recliner best to sleep in that for a while. Manual recliners put too much strain on your muscles when you push to lower it with your legs. Bending over feels like the pacer is going to come out of your chest.

Also go on Amazon and buy a pillow protector to wear over your seatbelt. I'm short so the seatbelt comes right across my surgery site. And just touching the skin around it (to check for oozing or blood or swelling) hurts to the lightest touch.

I had rotator cuff surgery for totally torn rotator and torn bicep and this pacer surgery hurt more than that. DH actually worked his career in companies that manufacture pacers and defibrillators as Quality Assurance/Reliability Director so he knows pacing inside and out. Which meant I didn't have to ask as many questions as some people. Make sure you know which manufacturer of pacer you're getting. Go with a name brand. I chose Medtronic because they make the best and have a great reputation. You can ask me any other questions if you have any. I don't know much about long term ramifications so can't help you with that; just the initial few days.

Thanks, very helpful! I have an electric recliner and will get the pillow protector for my seatbelt. Good luck!

 

[StillFiguringItOut]

DH got a pacemaker implanted in February 2024. He’s a lefty, so requested the implant be on his right side instead of the usual left, and is back to doing everything he did before needing a pacemaker.

 

[thod]

I got mine in 2017. Mine was for vasalvagal syncope. Basically, fainting due to heart stopping its beat for 10-30 seconds a few times. I can feel it to the touch, sometimes if I am sleeping on my stomach and raise my arm above my head, I can sense a pull of something somewhere, I just move my arm a little and it is solved.

I did do something that has 'loosened' a wire at the unit. They have looked at it and it just causes a noise in the signal that sets off alerts within the device. After determining that nothing is damaged and harmful, they decided to simply adjust the settings in the device to raise the parameter used by the alert to cause an event to be recorded.

I do avoid scanners at the airport, etc. Actually, I am prone to forget and my wife 'nicely' reminds me.

I am still on schedule to get mine replaced near the 10 year mark.

 

[aja8888]

I got mine in 2017. Mine was for vasalvagal syncope. Basically, fainting due to heart stopping its beat for 10-30 seconds a few times. I can feel it to the touch, sometimes if I am sleeping on my stomach and raise my arm above my head, I can sense a pull of something somewhere, I just move my arm a little and it is solved.

I did do something that has 'loosened' a wire at the unit. They have looked at it and it just causes a noise in the signal that sets off alerts within the device. After determining that nothing is damaged and harmful, they decided to simply adjust the settings in the device to raise the parameter used by the alert to cause an event to be recorded.

I do avoid scanners at the airport, etc. Actually, I am prone to forget and my wife 'nicely' reminds me.

I am still on schedule to get mine replaced near the 10 year mark.

Thanks for the history on yours!

 

[Luvtoride]

Aja, I’ve had a pacemaker for 13 years (mine was replaced due to battery life about a year ago). There were no problems or pain during the implant procedures and recovery was very fast.
I’ve had no issues with having a Pacemaker with no restrictions for physical activity including playing golf. The pacemaker is to keep me safe from a slow heart rate as it sounds like yours will be for. It is programmed to keep me at a 60 BPM heart rate.

I am an active bike and Peloton rider and I work out with a heart rate monitor or my Apple Watch so I always see my heart rate. Obviously having a slow heart rate during exercise is never an issue.

Good luck with your implant procedure and your overall health.

 

[aja8888]

Aja, I’ve had a pacemaker for 13 years (mine was replaced due to battery life about a year ago). There were no problems or pain during the implant procedures and recovery was very fast.
I’ve had no issues with having a Pacemaker with no restrictions for physical activity including playing golf. The pacemaker is to keep me safe from a slow heart rate as it sounds like yours will be for. It is programmed to keep me at a 60 BPM heart rate.

I am an active bike and Peloton rider and I work out with a heart rate monitor or my Apple Watch so I always see my heart rate. Obviously having a slow heart rate during exercise is never an issue.

Good luck with your implant procedure and your overall health.

Thanks, reassuring news!

 

[Bruno]

My biggest complaint is every 3 months i need to have it read and they charge insurance several dollars and me a copay and i never see a report. I have asked DR. several times and told me it really only shows the battery life left. I would still like to see what it is and how much it drops.

 

[aja8888]

My biggest complaint is every 3 months i need to have it read and they charge insurance several dollars and me a copay and i never see a report. I have asked DR. several times and told me it really only shows the battery life left. I would still like to see what it is and how much it drops.

Burno, if these batteries last 7 - 10 years, do you ask the doc why the frequent checks?

 

[Keim]

My biggest complaint is every 3 months i need to have it read and they charge insurance several dollars and me a copay and i never see a report. I have asked DR. several times and told me it really only shows the battery life left. I would still like to see what it is and how much it drops.

That's interesting. My doc has an online patient portal I can download the report from. It shows battery life, skipped beats, percentage of time pacing, pvc's, etc.

 

[thod]

I also have to upload pacemaker data every three months. As I mentioned earlier I had some unusual noise in one wire. It was first discovered after one of those uploads. The Dr office had me come into the office and a technician spent awhile really interrogating and running some tests on the device.

In the end the problem was just noise in the signal, but not enough to require any action.


But the point is apparently the data uploaded does get examined.

 

[cmc333]

Also the new pacemakers are MRI proof.

 

[mountainsoft]

My biggest complaint is every 3 months i need to have it read and they charge insurance several dollars and me a copay and i never see a report. I have asked DR. several times and told me it really only shows the battery life left. I would still like to see what it is and how much it drops.

My wife has a home monitor that sits next to our bed. The pacemaker company reads the status remotely every six months and sends the results to her doctor. She also has an in-person visit with her cardiologist once or twice a year to check the pacemaker operation, battery life, and adjust any settings if needed.