EireCara
Well-known member
How scary for you both. Sending best wishes to your hubby that all goes smoothly. x
Hubby getting a pacemaker
- Thread starter Adrienne
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Adrienne
Well-known member
Hubby had both his echo and the pacemaker insertion this afternoon. The doctor that did it was a young woman who was probably a resident (scary). It was only on my husband's insistance that she look at the file, etc. that he had it done the way the first doctor had explained, i.e. a cephalic vein insertion rather than a subclavian vein insertion. That is because he swims with the Master's and even does some competitive swimming. Apparently, by inserting it this way, he will be able to extend his arms without worry (I sure hope so). I find it somewhat alarming that this young doctor would have gone ahead and done it the more usualy way if my husband hadn't spoken up and insisted.
I was in his room at the time because he missed getting TV conncection yesterday and absolutely wanted it today. I had to be there to pay the woman that passed by.
Anyhow, we'll see if he actually gets out tomorrow evening or whether it will be Thursday morning.
I was in his room at the time because he missed getting TV conncection yesterday and absolutely wanted it today. I had to be there to pay the woman that passed by.
Anyhow, we'll see if he actually gets out tomorrow evening or whether it will be Thursday morning.
Hopefully everything is going well today. 
Adrienne
Well-known member
Hubby is home!
Hubby is home!
Hubby was released this afternoon, and I drove him home. He has to be careful about raising his left arm for a while, but other than that he is fine.
By the way, I realize that in the booklet of instructions they gave him, they don't say how long he is not supposed to drive. If there are people out there with a pacemaker, I'd like to know.
Hubby is home!
Hubby was released this afternoon, and I drove him home. He has to be careful about raising his left arm for a while, but other than that he is fine.
By the way, I realize that in the booklet of instructions they gave him, they don't say how long he is not supposed to drive. If there are people out there with a pacemaker, I'd like to know.
wow Adrienne,
somehow, i missed this thread.
Hope all is going well and that hubby is well into recovery, sounds like scary situation when it happened.
for the Canadian "free" medical care, of course it is not free, our taxes are through the roof our but generally there is one level or heath care for all....as an example Canadian revenue taxes hit the ceiling pf about 55% from about $70K yearly, whereas believe the US max taxation was at about 27% and is now at about 34%
It does have a strong penchant for corrective vs. preventative and many that can do go US for paying care, because they can.
We are also seeing a sprouting of private clinics where many can pay for tests and get immediate attention vs. wait it out for general care
IE: colonoscopy wait 1 year + in general care, wait is about 2 weeks and about a $500 procedure at paying clinic
Good and bad to be said for Canadian heath system, but am not aware of any Canadian declaring bankruptcy from medical fees
anyways, off subject and ranting...probably worth a separate thread
Adrienne, wishing speedy recovery for hubby and you from recent scare
Gil
somehow, i missed this thread.
Hope all is going well and that hubby is well into recovery, sounds like scary situation when it happened.
for the Canadian "free" medical care, of course it is not free, our taxes are through the roof our but generally there is one level or heath care for all....as an example Canadian revenue taxes hit the ceiling pf about 55% from about $70K yearly, whereas believe the US max taxation was at about 27% and is now at about 34%
It does have a strong penchant for corrective vs. preventative and many that can do go US for paying care, because they can.
We are also seeing a sprouting of private clinics where many can pay for tests and get immediate attention vs. wait it out for general care
IE: colonoscopy wait 1 year + in general care, wait is about 2 weeks and about a $500 procedure at paying clinic
Good and bad to be said for Canadian heath system, but am not aware of any Canadian declaring bankruptcy from medical fees
anyways, off subject and ranting...probably worth a separate thread
Adrienne, wishing speedy recovery for hubby and you from recent scare
Gil
Hope all is well Adrienne and hubby is having a smooth recovery.
Adrienne, I'm sorry to read of the terrible scare you had but it did bring his heart problem to immediate attention and a resolution. I hope all will go well with his pacemaker. You didn't mention the brand he was given. Don't be surprised if they have to do some tweaking to the settings at first.
I have had a St Jude model since 2002 and yesterday I went in and got a replacement which has a lot more bells and whistles than the first. They will send me a small instrument to set next to my bedside and every 24 hours it will take a reading and if there is an abnormality happening that should be brought to my electrophysiologist's attention it will send it to her. I'm excited to see just how this will work. I got mine for bradycardia and it is set so it will keep my heartbeat from going below 55; they used to have my old one set to 60 so we'll just see how I feel with this setting.
With my first pacer they didn't want me to drive for 6 weeks, nor raise my left arm above my shoulder height for that same period so that the leads could get properly seated in the heart tissue. With the replacement I only have to wait for 1 week for driving and being careful with lifting my arm too high because the original leads were kept in place. So you may have to be the primary driver in the family for awhile. I've had to do all the driving for 10 years since my husband developed macular degeneration.
I wish you both well. I had the same repair on my mitral valve about the same time you did, I think, but my maze procedure didn't work and yours did which is just great.
I have had a St Jude model since 2002 and yesterday I went in and got a replacement which has a lot more bells and whistles than the first. They will send me a small instrument to set next to my bedside and every 24 hours it will take a reading and if there is an abnormality happening that should be brought to my electrophysiologist's attention it will send it to her. I'm excited to see just how this will work. I got mine for bradycardia and it is set so it will keep my heartbeat from going below 55; they used to have my old one set to 60 so we'll just see how I feel with this setting.
With my first pacer they didn't want me to drive for 6 weeks, nor raise my left arm above my shoulder height for that same period so that the leads could get properly seated in the heart tissue. With the replacement I only have to wait for 1 week for driving and being careful with lifting my arm too high because the original leads were kept in place. So you may have to be the primary driver in the family for awhile. I've had to do all the driving for 10 years since my husband developed macular degeneration.
I wish you both well. I had the same repair on my mitral valve about the same time you did, I think, but my maze procedure didn't work and yours did which is just great.
Adrienne
Well-known member
Thanks everyone. Barb, he got a Sorin (I would have to look up the model number), but it is a two-lead type. He just called the number that was given to him to ask about different wait times. He was told 2 weeks for driving and 6 weeks for going back to swimming. They said they would contact him with a date for a follow-up appointment in about 2 months (we'll be on vacation in 2 months, but will tell them).
Gotta go! We are going to the CLSC (local clinic) to have the stitches on his face taken out!!!
Gotta go! We are going to the CLSC (local clinic) to have the stitches on his face taken out!!!
Sorry I haven't responded sooner, but keeping you and hubby in my prayers.
Nancy
Well-known member
sounds like all went very well. Pacemakers are real life savers. Joe had one. He was passing out prior to getting it, never passed out again after implantation.
That's good news about the pacer, and I hope his face heals nicely and quickly.
