Things went well on Tuesday and I am feeling good, all things considered. I was told the procedure would take 20 minutes and it ended up at around 2 hours, but they were just being careful and I am grateful for that!
They did it under a local and I got to stay aware and fell them tugging and pushing.
I am not wearing a sling, but I am not supposed to raise my arm or drive for two days. Also they said don't lift anything over 5 pounds for two days.
I went to my regularly scheduled visit with my electrophysiologist last week with a big routine mind set as that is one thing related to my Heart Failure that has been working.
In fact, I was really focused on asking permission to get a hip replacement operation as the day before I was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in both hips by an orthopedic specialist at Emory.
Before we got to that conversation I was told by my doctor that I may be the only patient he has ever treated who has three separate recalls on their pacemaker. The first recall was in 2005, the second recall was in 2006 and I had to go in at that time to be re-programmed and turn a safety feature off.
This third notice came on January 4, 2008. This one says the pacemaker could quit working if certain factors occurred, and I meet several of those criteria.
For those interested, I have a Guidant Contak Renewal bi-ventricular pacemaker with an ICD. Model number H177.
The decision to replace came from my doctor because I am 100 per cent paced. I have something called Heart Block that preceded the Heart Failure and my Heart Block is what they call Third Degree Heart Block or Complete Heart Block.
Using this would be no big deal and it is still expected to be such. They don’t anticipate having to put in more leads, but will test them when they get in there.
The Tricky part is they have to undo the old pacemaker one lead at a time and then hook up to the new pacemaker and then repeat because I can’t be off the pacemaker at any time because with out it I don’t have a heartbeat.
Anyway, I thought it was time to break my silence.
