Pacemakers- I´m scared

[Freyja]

My grandmother had severe heart palpatations today and wasn´t feeling well. This is very unlike her, as she is a very fit 79 year old lady, who still works 4 days a week and is very active in every aspect of her life. She went to the ER to get checked out and they admitted her immediately to do further tests on her. As it turns out, her heart is skipping beats and they want to give her a pacemaker. This really freaks me out

Can anyone tell me how this surgery is done and how risky it is?

My grandmother means the world to me. She has been like a second mother to me all my life, especially after my mom died at the age of 9 years ago (at the age of 50). I hate to think about her having surgery tomorrow.

 

[Liberty Belle]

My granny had a pacemaker for years. The implantation was pretty uneventful, from what I remember. The only problem she had with it was that the area itched a lot.

 

[John VN]

Very helpful info...http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/abnormal-rhythyms-pacemaker

 

[Beachbumpirates]

Grandma will do well. Our DU (82 yr old uncle) had this done in Phoenix on Thursday due to shortness of breath and palpitations, was discharged on Sunday and is flying to Chicago to stay with his daughter tomorrow. Saying prayers for you and her.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't know any details about the surgery, but my dh's grandmother had one put in in her mid/late 80's and was fine through the surgery and after. I'm sure your grandmother will be fine

 

[Freyja]

Thank you everyone. I feel a lot better already!

 

[minkydog]

DH has had a pacemaker for about 5-6 years. He suffered heart failure (different from a heart attack) when he was about 48 and his heart rate was about 25 beats/min. Normal for a man is 60-80. They didn't need to put him to sleep for it, just deep sedation. He doesn't remember a thing. His is in his left upper chest near the shoulder. They just opened up a small pocket, snaked the wires over to the heart and attached them.. Then sewed him back up. It took about 90 min because they also did a cardiac cath at the same time. He slept through it all. The thing I remember most about it is how much better his color was. He went into the procedure gray and confused from oxygen deprivation and came out pink and alert, asking "What's for lunch? i'm starving!" He has to have his pacemaker checked every 6 months. That is really interesting. They do an EKG first, which shows them exactly how often the pacemaker is ticking. Then they put a big magnet over the skin to deactivate the pacer and continue the EKG. That shows them how the heart is doing without the pacemaker. When they're done they just remove the magnet and the pacer starts up right away. In DH's case, his pacer is pacing about 45% of the time. That upset me at first, but then I realized that hey! it's prolonging his life and it doesn't cause any pain. They change the battery about every 7-10 years and they can also check that when they are checking the other stuff. Isn't modern medicine a miracle?

I'll bet your grandma will do well after the pacemaker. and I'll bet she feels better afterward, too.

 

[charming23]

My dad had one done in 2001 about six months after his heart surgery and it was fairly easy. He did have to stay in the hospital longer than normal due to blood thinners and getting the adjusted but it was easy. He was up and walking around a few hours after the procedure. I even remember him walking me to the gift shop and buying me a pair of earrings I had mentioned liking.

She will be fine and back to normal in no time.

 

[minniecarousel]

My Mom had one. She had hers so long that she finally needed a new one (the batteries last for several years). She did well with the second one too.

The pacer checks are done in the doctor's office and are usually done every 3 or 6 months. They're painless.

Best wishes to your GMa.

 

[crz4mm2]

My grandmother had severe heart palpatations today and wasn´t feeling well. This is very unlike her, as she is a very fit 79 year old lady, who still works 4 days a week and is very active in every aspect of her life. She went to the ER to get checked out and they admitted her immediately to do further tests on her. As it turns out, her heart is skipping beats and they want to give her a pacemaker. This really freaks me out

Can anyone tell me how this surgery is done and how risky it is?

My grandmother means the world to me. She has been like a second mother to me all my life, especially after my mom died at the age of 9 years ago (at the age of 50). I hate to think about her having surgery tomorrow.

The pacemaker is put in, in the Operating Room under xray (fluro).
It usually only takes a few minutes. The pt then goes to recovery for awhile and maybe to the Cardiac Care unit afterwards(been a few years since I have worked OR).
She will be fine.

Good luck and many prayers.

 

[SarahLou382]

A friend just had this done (he's in his 30s) and it took a little over an hour. He went home that night, and felt good the next day. He's already back at work less than two weeks later (and he'd have gone back the next day had his boss allowed it.)

She'll be fine!! Lots of pixie dust and positive thoughts for you and your grandmother!!

 

[manning]

She'll be ok. I had open heart surgery last year and was a candidate for a pace maker/defib. Fortunately the heart recovered enough to not need it. If I needed it, it would have been an over night deal.

One thing in her favor is being active. The doctor said one mistake people make is to baby the heart. That doesn't mean going out and running. Just keep active and go for walks.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

My nephew has a heart condition that requires a pace maker. He had his first one put in at 5. He had no problem with the surgery or with doing little boy things at all. I am sure your grandmother will do fine. In fact, you will see how much better she feels once her heart has a regular rhythm again.

 

[MIGrandma]

My Mom is 73, she got her first pacemaker 10 years ago. In December she had it replaced with a new one. I don't remember how long it took to put the first one in, but to replace it she was only in the hospital 3-1/2 hours total. They didn't have to replace the lead wires, so it didn't take long at all. She was out, back into the day surgery room eating toast with peanut butter and they let us take her home. She felt fine. She had many, many near black-out periods before she got the first one. She has done very well with her pacemaker. My DH's Dad got one a couple years ago, and is doing fine with his too. Try not to worry, they're pretty common. She has it read monthly over the phone, and goes in once a year to have it read in the office.

 

[tar heel]

My FIL is about to turn 92 and has had one for maybe 15 years.

My 74-year-old mom got one last summer and feels better than she has in years. She came home the day after she got it, and her hospital admission had been emergency.