Pacemaker

I'm sure DH was allowed to drive after a week but not allowed to lift anything or stretch up for six weeks afterwards. He's got an automatic.

If you feel it's not working as it should, phone the hospital for advice. Did they give you an information leaflet on discharge?

Yes to the leaflet. That's where it says 6 weeks no driving although consultant I saw a few weeks ago said one week and so does NHS website. Hence my puzzlement.

I had my pacemaker fitted in August 2023 after complete heart block.Since then I have developed AF and my pacemaker is now pacing 100 %. I couldn't raise my elbow much in case the leads were dislodged.No hoovering,hanging out washing,carrying anything heavy or sleeping on the left side.This was for six weeks.One tip that I learnt from GN was, that if a passenger in a car sit behind the driver so that seat belt isn't over your wound.
I am sure you will be given a booklet with bathing instructions and general advice but if not there is very good advice on the Internet.
My pacemaker is being upgraded to a three lead one in a couple of weeks so I shall be following the six week rule again.
Best wishes

Yes DH - 6 weeks being careful.

1 week driving.

I retired only last week as a Cardiac Physiologist who specialise in Pacing.
If it's an Anti AF pacemaker, they need to turn the Therapies on, normally at first check as long as you are on a Anticoagulant.

It can be set to Pace 100%, tends to be AAI, that mean pacing the Atrium only, that is fine as its a copy of Physiologically normal, helps stop AF kicking in.
Driving is after 1 week for a Normal Pacemaker, only if you have a ICD (Defibrillator) then it's first 6 months.

The reason no over the head Arm movement, you don't want the leads to move.
The Device should last about 12 - 15 years but the wires are used many times, so they have to be spot on.

You will be fine and probably after a while forget its there.

I expect you will get a Home Monitor or depending on Manufacturer use your Smart phone for transmitting data to the clinic.
You should have been sent home with information, if unsure contact your Pacing clinic
We are all a friendly bunch in Pacing. To run a clinic the team will know there subject inside out.
Take care

Whitewavemark2

Yes DH - 6 weeks being careful.

1 week driving.

👍

That's what DH was told.
Although I do hear myself saying a couple of years later "Don't stretch!"

He goes to have it checked by technicians annually.

I had my pacemaker installed 18 months ago and although I don’t drive the info I was given said a week before I could.
I found sleeping with a cushion under my left arm helped for the first few nights but it wasn’t long before I could sleep on my left side again.
My daughter is on her second pacemaker,she is 100% paced and could drive after a week.
Pain was minimal but I did find as the nerves settled twinges could be quite painful for a while but now I mainly forget it’s there and it’s a comfort to know no more passing out without warning though I still get A/F - 28% over the last year but at the moment asymptomatic.
Hope you soon feel better.

Thank you for the helpful posts.

Visgir1

I retired only last week as a Cardiac Physiologist who specialise in Pacing.
If it's an Anti AF pacemaker, they need to turn the Therapies on, normally at first check as long as you are on a Anticoagulant.

It can be set to Pace 100%, tends to be AAI, that mean pacing the Atrium only, that is fine as its a copy of Physiologically normal, helps stop AF kicking in.
Driving is after 1 week for a Normal Pacemaker, only if you have a ICD (Defibrillator) then it's first 6 months.

The reason no over the head Arm movement, you don't want the leads to move.
The Device should last about 12 - 15 years but the wires are used many times, so they have to be spot on.

You will be fine and probably after a while forget its there.

I expect you will get a Home Monitor or depending on Manufacturer use your Smart phone for transmitting data to the clinic.
You should have been sent home with information, if unsure contact your Pacing clinic
We are all a friendly bunch in Pacing. To run a clinic the team will know there subject inside out.
Take care

It is left bundle branch pacemaker ... not sure what that means exactly, but he thinks it should reduce AF.
My first check won't be for 6 weeks so I assume that everything that needs turning on us turned on as that is a long time to wait.
The info I was sent home with said no driving for a month, but consultant had said one week at original appointment ... hence my puzzlement.

lucky you will have a contact number. Ring them, always pleased to help😊

Bus and HGV drivers have to wait 6 weeks. I'm assuming you are neither. I was extremely careful not to raise my left arm too high for the first 6 weeks so the leads embedded correctly. I was uncomfortable at night for several months as my pm is close to my collar bone and can rub a little but it has eventually settled. Nearly one year on now and I'm mostly unaware that I have a pm. I do think it depends on your anatomy and being short bodied, mine seems to be a bit more intrusive than I'd like. It has meant that I can take a much higher dose of beta blocker so my atrial flutter is under control although I'm waiting for an AV node ablation which hopefully means I can come off most of my current medication.

Whitewavemark2 - I thought I might wait till I am in less pain and driving might feel even possible, before ringing them about it. It is just a blessed nuisance because of where I live (public-transport-free zone!) and I am supposed to running an arts festival on May 10th!

foxie48 - glad yours has settled down.

I bet you will make May 10th😊

Treat it as a fait accompli!

Sounds good though, what is it about?

It is an annual villages arts festival with
- a festival day in the local church where anyone of any age or skill can roll up and sing, play, recite ... all accompanied by tea, cake, lunch etc. We have 5 community choirs this year!
- a festival service with poems and songs and flowers
- a week long exhibition by local artists in the village hall
- a family ceilidh
- a harp recital
- a performance poet workshop in local primary school

So I need to be fit!!!

I love these sort of events!

My daughters village has the same. In fact DH who works in all things wood, has a stall in the village high street at the late May bank holiday.

My daughter takes part in the choir events as well. And I used to take the dog along to the dog show where he started in the best puppy and ended in the most lovable senior over the years.

Just to say before I forget. DH has had a pacemaker since 2012 - new one fitted last year. It has been entirely successful and he seems largely to forget its existence.

Early days for you but keep your eyes on the horizon and this time next year report back and see how you feel then. You will be very pleased with yourself I bet!

Luckygirl3

Just out of hospital after having pacemaker op. It is supposed to deal with my AF, but here I am in racing AF.
They have said I cannot drive for 6 weeks ... NHS website says 1 week and ai had planned for that. And left arm ... no lifting up, lifting anything, leaning on it etc etc for 6 weeks!
Did anyone else gave a pacemaker and have these rules for so long?

I have had the word Pacemaker mentioned to me at cardio follow-ups. I have always been under the impression that pacemakers are fitted for those, who like me, have bradycardia, a slow heartbeat. Research is going on for pacemakers to right tachycardia, a racing heartbeat, but they are only in the early stages. I was in Resus lately with atrial flutter and pulse of 150 but it was beta blockers that sorted it out. I had no idea of the rules you are having to live by. The very best of luck and I sincerely hope you feel better very soon.

I have the pacemaker because of sinus node disease which results in a bit of bradycardia which they think is triggering the AF. We wait and see .... I hope the beta blockers work for you.

Sarnia there's a procedure called pace and ablate which can be used when AF or Aflutter is difficult to treat with medication. A pacemaker takes over the role of the AV Node, which is the heart's pacemaker and the AV Node is ablated so it is over ridden by the pacemaker. The pacemaker is then set to allow the heart to respond to activity but with a minimum and maximum HR. Pacemakers are pretty sophisticated these days and aren't just used for bradycardia.

Had the op on Weds. Had expected to bounce back but I am totally wiped out by it. I am doing stuff in small bursts then flaking out. Did anyone else experience this?

Blimey lucky you are not giving yourself a chance!

DH came home and took it easy for a week-10 days, then gradually began to get back to normal. Remember 6 weeks to heal - so of course your body will be knackered for a while.

Things always take longer than you want, but you really have to go with the flow.

Thank you for your kind words - I was optimistic that I might feel better quicker, but you are of course right that I need to give myself time - so frustrating! I am not a patient patient!

😊