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.