One year from surgery and I am doing fine!

I noticed that my blog is getting more hits so I thought I should let you know what it is like one year from surgery.  I feel good.  I feel like 90% of my old self.  I am not afraid to drive anymore and I feel like the pace maker really did save my life.  I remember a friend of mine saying that 2015 started off so bad, with me having to get pacemaker surgery.  I disagree, because I was finally diagnosed and had the answer to my situation.   So, for me 2015 was a very good year because it was the year I got my life back. 

I recently had a reader contact me and want to know how I am doing 3 years after surgery.  I am doing great!  If you want to see what I have been doing since the surgery check out my other blog called - theladystilltravels.com

In the past year, I have taken over 10 airplane rides and 8 have been out of the country.  I did have two instances with dizziness 60 days after my pace maker surgery. I have not had any dizziness since that time. I accidentally walked through the wrong security screening in Cayman Islands airport and did not even realize it.  I had a little panic attack but no damage to the pacemaker, 

We even went to Cuba and they have signs that say no heart regulators though this machine in the airport.  They did a manual check.  I do get tired and sleep more but other than that, I am fine and rarely think about my pacemaker any more. 

My pacemaker scar is almost nonexistent.  I can wear 99.9% of all my clothes without it showing.  I have to thank my surgeon for that.  Although he had a little trouble getting my monitor out and that scar is more noticeable.  Overall, you would never even notice I had surgery. 

Embrace this surgery because it will save your life! The scar is not that noticeable (when you get the right surgeon), and no more fainting!

Make sure to scroll down to the beginning of my blog so you can see my journey and fears.  It was a crazy time and I was afraid of so many things that did not happen.

Two months from surgery!

This is my pacemaker next to a dollar bill.

This is the pacemaker I have inside my chest.  It is about  as thick as a dime and made of titanium. 

A dollar bill is exactly 6 inches in width.  You can always use it for a ruler if needed.  

Three days after surgery.

Day 3 with outer bandage still on and getting redder around the bandage. I find out later I do not like latex bandages . You can see the irritation. 

Day 6 bandage comes off but the 8 little strips stay on until they fall off.  I still do not know what it looks like. Although I think the location will not interfere with most of my clothes.

 Day 20  The strips were starting to come off so I decided to peel them off and here is my scar!  You can still see the redness from having those strips on for 3 weeks. It really looks pretty good.  I can live with this scar.  

Two months since Pacemaker

Day 60  My scar is perfectly placed.  

Flying and Crying and Airport Scanners!

Magnetic Airport scanner
try to avoid this machine.

I traveled by myself for 20 years for business.  I am no stranger to airports around the world, yet this little flight to West Palm Beach frightened me.  It would be the first time I would fly with my pacemaker.

 As soon as I got in the line for security, I panicked.  I became the little girl with monsters under her bed. I had to tell someone.  I know fear is illogical.  I just wish it were not so emotional.  When you have to tell someone that you have a pacemaker, it is like having to admit you are a bit of a cyborg or part machine. You are now different and have to go a different line.

I get all teary eyed as I tell the TSA agent at the beginning of the security line that I have a pacemaker. The TSA agent looks at me and says (“Oh so you can’t even say hello.  Really, that it is too much information. I do not want to know that about you.  Tell them not me.”) The next TSA agent puts me in a round machine where you lift your hands over your head and radio wave surrounds you. 

Just make sure you do not walk through the rectangular shaped detector because that works with magnetic fields.  So, that is my non-technical advice from the first time I flew with the pacemaker.  Do not expect any sympathy. 

This is now my 8^th week since pacemaker surgery.  I was hoping I would never have another dizzy spell but they still show up.  I had one on vacation where I was very dizzy as I was sitting at a table in a restaurant.  I just crossed my legs (as they say to do) and squeezed all my private areas and it went away.   I do not like them. They rob me of my confidence.

Here is what Medtronic says about airport scanners on their website:

“Given the short duration of security screening, it is unlikely that your Medtronic heart device will be affected by metal detectors (walk-through archways and hand-held wands) or full-body imaging scanners (also called millimeter wave scanners and 3D imaging scanners) such as those found in airports, courthouses, and jails. 

The metal case of your heart device could set off a metal detector. To minimize the risk of temporary interference with your heart device while going through the security screening process, avoid touching metal surfaces around any screening equipment. Do not stop or linger in a walk-through archway; simply walk through the archway at a normal pace. If a hand-held wand is used, ask the security operator not to hold it over your heart device and not to wave it back and forth over your heart device. 

You may also request a hand search as an alternative. If you have concerns about these security screening methods, show your device ID card, request alternative screening, and then follow the instructions of the security personnel. “                        

  

This is the scanner that works on Radio waves.
This is the one that people with pacemakers are
supposed to use.
You just have to be able to lift your
hands over your head.

Ask your Doctor for the swimsuit model pacemaker!

OK, I am a far cry from a swimsuit model.  I am in my 50’s and a size 10.  When I first learned that I needed a pacemaker I went into Microsoft office clip art and found these horrible pictures.   I do not think the first one is a pacemaker, but it and many other photos did scare me.

I talked to my doctor and asked him for a pacemaker that was smaller because women’s hearts are supposedly smaller.  I read an article about a pacemaker that was the size of a watch battery and asked him could I get that one? He told me no, because you need a dual chamber pacemaker.  

I told him I do not want to sound vain but is there anything you can do to make this less noticeable?  I live in the south.  We wear sleeveless just to survive in the summer.  I am active and Zumba, practice yoga and walk on the beach.  I do not want to look like I have a stab wound.    

He said "well if you were a swimsuit model I might do it a little different and put it sub pectoral.  (Under the muscle)."  I told him well think of me as a swimsuit model then.  I am sure he thought this old woman is nuts, but I do not care.  I will have this pacemaker for at least 10 years before it is replaced and I did not want it sitting on top of my collarbone. 

Tell your doctor what you want and what your fears are about this operation.  Of course, our main goal is to keep our heart going strong.  Our other goal as women is to feel good about ourselves.  

Thank goodness -My heart has stopped trying to kill me! One month after surgery!

I feel good.  I sleep better.  I feel much more confident.  I finally drive again.  I went 6 months with no driving because I had a faint at the wheel.  My scar does not look too bad.

I am using my arm for just about everything except lifting way above my head or sleeping on it.  I still have a little bruising and two tiny little stitches that have not dissolved.  I have attached pictures from today one month after surgery.

I can just about wear everything I wore before surgery.  I wish I could have heard these words when I was searching the internet.  It is not so bad or disfiguring as you might think.  Today I feel like it was a piece of cake, once I stopped eating all that fear.  

Notice how the scar is right at your strap area-  a lacy bra would irritate.
 I still have a little bruising 

This is where the Heart monitor was inserted and the bottom dot is where they took it out.
The bottom dot still has a black stitch that has not dissolved. 

My Top 14 Tips for women who are about to have pacemaker surgery!

1.  Do not let that breast dangle girlfriend!

If you have a B cub or larger than you will need to wear a bra.  The weight of your breast will pull on the incision.  Make sure to support the breast. You are not going to want to lift that elbow above your shoulder or reach around to the back to clasp your bra.  Go out and buy a couple new bras.  Try to find ones with front closure.  I found a great Vanity Fair bra that clasp in the front (Not magnetic just a slide in clasp, Vanity Fair item # 75339) This bra made my life a whole lot easier.    

Also, find a bra that has a flat non-lacy strap so it does not irritate the incision.   You do not want a metal ring in the front or the adjustable straps to be in the front.  You are going to be very sensitive in that whole area for 8 weeks at least, so get a bra that feels comfortable and is easy to put on. 

2.      Do not let that arm dangle either!

I went shopping about 4-5 days after surgery.  I did not want to wear my sling so I had trained myself not to use that arm.  I spent 5 hours shopping and eating out with friends and never used my arm but it was so sore that night.  Reason is that you have to support the arm just like the breast or it drags on the incision. 

                                  
3.  Zip up tops with front pockets are your new

friend!

Best tops for after
pacemaker surgery.

I learned to wear zip up tops with pocket on the front.  That way I would just always put my hand in my pocket and it would take the weight off my shoulder.    Always slide the bad arm in first and then pull the other arm in second and zip it up.

 You can also use button up tops but that first week it felt a whole lot easier using a zipper.  You can do a pull over if the arms are very big and loose.  That way you pull the bad arm into the top and pull the whole thing over your head toward the good arm. I have been wearing my husband’s V-neck  pull over t shirts to bed.  They are big enough for me to get in and out of easily. 

 4.  Dig that elbow into your side and do not move it!

The first week or two I made sure to always keep my elbow at my waist at all times.  In order to roll my hair, I would bend my head down to the bad hand and never raise that arm up, this kind of works but I could not roll my hair in the back.  

After two weeks, the Doctors really want you to move the arm more so you do not get frozen shoulder syndrome.  I started to feel like my armpit was growing together from lack of movement.  The first week I would roll up a small wet washcloth and stick it under the bad armpit to get a little relief. 

     

 5. Downsize that purse!

Go through your purse thoroughly.   All you need for the next few weeks is driver’s license, insurance cards, a little money and 1-2 credit cards.  You are not really going anywhere for a few weeks, so get rid of that big wallet.  Find a cute little one.  Also, get rid of anything not needed in your purse as this is going to drag on your shoulder and feel lots heavier than usual.

6.       Layout a weeks’ worth of clothes ahead of time.  

My closet has everything at eye level making it difficult to look through with one arm.  I laid out all my zip up tops and new bras and pants for a week.

7.     Pull up pants for the first week- like yoga pants!

The first week you are sore so watch yourself when you pull up jeans.  Your shoulder goes up pretty high when you have to button the top button.  I liked my yoga pants as I can pull those up with one arm if needed.

8.   Come Home from surgery to clean sheets and if you can afford one hire a maid for day 7 and 14!

The hardest household job for me to do was clean the floors.  Sweeping really hurt and moping was no better.  I did it but I should not have done that kind of housework so early.  

Make sure to do all the hard cleaning before surgery.  Clean the floors, tubs, toilets, change the sheets so you can have clean sheets when you get home from surgery.  Do all the laundry and make that house spotless because it will not be that way again for weeks.

 9.     No hairy underarms before surgery

Shave under your arms before surgery.  It will be at least 1-2 weeks before you will be able to do this without discomfort.

10.       If you have long hair, you can forget the scrunchies! 

I could not get my hair into a scrunchies without lifting my shoulder so I just used great big banana clips to get it off my shoulders or when I was taking a shower. 

11.  Prepare for the new friend that does not give during the first week- constipation

After surgery, most of us have constipation.  You might be thinking that that is so little to worry about when I am worried about my heart.  Get medicine  before surgery like fleet or prune juice or milk of magnesia or ask your doctor for recommendation.  It took me over 6 days to get over this condition.

12.    You cannot lift anything over 10 pounds for a month!

I made sure I had smaller containers for laundry soap so I could lift them.  My husband texted me while I was at the grocery store and said to bring him a case of beer.  Without thinking, I went to get it and then realized that was too heavy to carry. That night he just got a six pack. 

13.  Buy some big band aides to cover the wound  and keep it dry in the beginning.

Use these big band aides to cover the scar when out in the sun for the first year.  Keep that wound covered if you want it to disappear.

14.   Find something new to learn or do!

I signed up for a blogging class on line to start one week after my surgery.  It has been a wonderful diversion for me.  Ask friends to visit or give you ideas about great books they have read or the best vacation destinations for you to research. Start planning for a wonderful life!

Embrace the fact that you are on the road to getting better and now is the time to discover what the next chapter holds for you.

Yes my heart is broken both physically and emotionally!

     I have Bradycardia. My heart just stops beating.  I have been fainting for 6 months.  I have taken every test imaginable and finally the heart monitor proved that on Christmas Eve my heart stopped for 5 seconds.  I thought it was a hot flash.

     I always knew I had heart disease in my family because I watched my father have a heart attack in our car when I was 17 years old.  My father was 45 years old at the time.  He died three weeks later right after we brought him a Big Mac into his hospital room.  He was so tired of hospital food.  This was almost 40 years ago.  We did not know much about heart disease then.  

Daddy's Little girl

     So on January 15, 2015 I received a pacemaker and my life is finally back.  My journey is going very well.  I am two weeks past surgery as I start this Blog.

     It is quite ironic that my heart stops beating the same year I bury three close loves of mine.  All deaths were hands on deaths that took many months of 2014. They call it the Broken Heart syndrome. It can be fatal in some people and especially post menopausal  women.  
     So I think I had the perfect trifecta.  Genetics, Post Menopausal and Broken Heart Syndrome. Yes, my heart is broken both physically and emotionally.  

     I am not a doctor or have any medical insight.  This is just my 2015 journey through the whole pacemaker process.  Just a 50-year-old women’s tips, preparations, fears and accomplishments.

     The reason I named it Pacemaker Princess is for two reasons. I want to attract women to this blog and I am hoping for a happy ending.  It is just a journey down a road that does not have that many younger women on its path.   I had 10 days notice before getting a pacemaker and  it gave me a little time to prepare my clothes, my house and my life for recovery. My goal is to document my experiences for just one year. Pacemakers have come a long way and if you are like me then you will be back to most of your old life within a week or two.  

Pacemaker

Pacemaker, pacemaker give me the dance!

Sixty beats a minute is the minimum stance

Please little pacemaker –help me some more

Stop all the crashing and smashing my face to the floor,

Stop the black eyes, damaged cars and Broken bridges

That I‘ve added to my lore.

No more fear and lack of driving to the store.

No more Uber drivers showing up regularly to my door,

No more housebound and pity parties galore

Pacemaker, Pacemaker give me back my heart

There is a whole lot more dancing to do on my part.