Having heart pacemaker fitted
Discussion
Went to the cardiologist last week and he said that I need a pacemaker ,which I am having fitted next week. He knows I spend my life keeping old cars on the road and his parting shot as I left his office was " no more welding " That looks like a big part of my life will disappear just wonder what other things I will have to give up.
I have an ICD/Pacemaker - fitted at 40.
I’m not a welder but there have been a few things I can’t do anymore - winter sports, theme parks, getting cheap travel insurance, few other bits.
Anything that might involve impacting your implant or risking damaging the lead connection to your heart.
If you get a Medtronic unit, it’ll beep if you get too close to a magnet - unfortunately the field generated by welding is the biggest no no my cardiologist mentioned.
It’s gonna be a PITA to adapt considering your hobby but compared to the fact you have one and it’s doing its job - very worth it.
Mines been in 4 years now and after initial getting used to it - life just carries on and you adapt to what you can and can’t do.
Slightly vague I know but ask any questions you have.
I’m not a welder but there have been a few things I can’t do anymore - winter sports, theme parks, getting cheap travel insurance, few other bits.
Anything that might involve impacting your implant or risking damaging the lead connection to your heart.
If you get a Medtronic unit, it’ll beep if you get too close to a magnet - unfortunately the field generated by welding is the biggest no no my cardiologist mentioned.
It’s gonna be a PITA to adapt considering your hobby but compared to the fact you have one and it’s doing its job - very worth it.
Mines been in 4 years now and after initial getting used to it - life just carries on and you adapt to what you can and can’t do.
Slightly vague I know but ask any questions you have.
I have one with a defibrillator, the pacemaker bit is turned down to the minimum.
No-one mentioned welding (but it's not something I do anyway)
Apart from a little discomfort post fitting, an odd lump in my chest and 4 weeks off driving I've not noticed any problems. I was concerned the straps on my day pack may rub when hill walking but that seems okay too (It's pretty light)
Considering the expense to the NHS (£15k was mentioned) they do seem to hand them out like confetti.
No-one mentioned welding (but it's not something I do anyway)
Apart from a little discomfort post fitting, an odd lump in my chest and 4 weeks off driving I've not noticed any problems. I was concerned the straps on my day pack may rub when hill walking but that seems okay too (It's pretty light)
Considering the expense to the NHS (£15k was mentioned) they do seem to hand them out like confetti.
I had a pacemaker fitted as a matter of urgency in December 2022, then aged 79. I can say I don't notice my pacemaker at all!
I was in hospital for maybe 10 hours for prep, the procedure, recovery and check ups and supervision. You need transportation to get you back home.
I was told to go easy for the first 6 weeks or so and be cautious about lifting my arms higher than level to the ground. At about 6 weeks I saw the cardiologist and got the all clear. 6 months later I saw the heart pacing team at my local chosen hospital and again after another 6 months, and now go yearly.
You'll get a home monitoring device as part of the kit. Mine is by my bedside. Easy to set up, needs an electricity connection. Mine reports my heart condition etc to the heart pacing team every so often, and also to the manufacturer every 3 months. I have the phone app that goes with it so that I can monitor the pacemaker...note that this app monitors the pacemaker, not my heart.
I was told not to go too near an induction kitchen hob, which we do have at home. Initially I was careful but nowadays not so.. I do the home cooking and it's not an issue.
At airport security you need to tell the staff that you have a pacemaker. Those wand like things they typically use are to be avoided. Some body scanners are OK. Otherwise you'll be taken aside and fully searched the old fashion way. I've always found airport security staff well trained and good mannered about all of this.
Anytime you need medical attention you need to tell the staff. You can have an MRI but not a CT scan, although I have heard a CT scan is possible with supervision of some kind. I got myself a dog tag, via Amazon UK, which I wear permanently which has a globally recognised medical alert symbol, plus I got it inscribed to state my name "pacemaker", my blood group, and a number to call.
BTW, my equipment is manufactured by Boston Scientific.
So, overall, I can understand any concerns you may have ahead of the fitting procedure, and in my experience, there's nothing to be worried about before and after fitting etc.
Come back here if you need any more info/advice etc.
R.
I was in hospital for maybe 10 hours for prep, the procedure, recovery and check ups and supervision. You need transportation to get you back home.
I was told to go easy for the first 6 weeks or so and be cautious about lifting my arms higher than level to the ground. At about 6 weeks I saw the cardiologist and got the all clear. 6 months later I saw the heart pacing team at my local chosen hospital and again after another 6 months, and now go yearly.
You'll get a home monitoring device as part of the kit. Mine is by my bedside. Easy to set up, needs an electricity connection. Mine reports my heart condition etc to the heart pacing team every so often, and also to the manufacturer every 3 months. I have the phone app that goes with it so that I can monitor the pacemaker...note that this app monitors the pacemaker, not my heart.
I was told not to go too near an induction kitchen hob, which we do have at home. Initially I was careful but nowadays not so.. I do the home cooking and it's not an issue.
At airport security you need to tell the staff that you have a pacemaker. Those wand like things they typically use are to be avoided. Some body scanners are OK. Otherwise you'll be taken aside and fully searched the old fashion way. I've always found airport security staff well trained and good mannered about all of this.
Anytime you need medical attention you need to tell the staff. You can have an MRI but not a CT scan, although I have heard a CT scan is possible with supervision of some kind. I got myself a dog tag, via Amazon UK, which I wear permanently which has a globally recognised medical alert symbol, plus I got it inscribed to state my name "pacemaker", my blood group, and a number to call.
BTW, my equipment is manufactured by Boston Scientific.
So, overall, I can understand any concerns you may have ahead of the fitting procedure, and in my experience, there's nothing to be worried about before and after fitting etc.
Come back here if you need any more info/advice etc.
R.
Good Luck chap. You'll be fine I'm sure.
During my recent stay on an acute cardiac ward, there was a regular flow of folk having pacemakers done, including some quite elderly, demented patients so the medics clearly thought it wasn't going to be too much for people to stand.
I got the impression it was a relatively routine procedure these days and much less invasive than it used to be with pretty much an 'out same day' for many.
And just think, you won't need to carry a jumpstart pack around with you anymore, just hook the car up to your nipples with a set of jump leads and you'll be able to start anything!
During my recent stay on an acute cardiac ward, there was a regular flow of folk having pacemakers done, including some quite elderly, demented patients so the medics clearly thought it wasn't going to be too much for people to stand.
I got the impression it was a relatively routine procedure these days and much less invasive than it used to be with pretty much an 'out same day' for many.
And just think, you won't need to carry a jumpstart pack around with you anymore, just hook the car up to your nipples with a set of jump leads and you'll be able to start anything!
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