Went to bed Wednesday night in great shape. When I woke up my head was swimming, disoriented. My daughter called in the morning to check on my wife and I told her how I felt. She rushed over and took my BP. 77/45 pulse of 36. Off to the VA ER. Got right in and placed in the ICU. Long story short they placed a pace maker in my chest noon Friday and home Saturday. My problem is I cannot raise my left arm higher than my chest or the wires going to my heart will come loose.

Any one have a similar experience and need helpful ideas how to handle this situation?

All I can say is that the treatment I got at the VA was great and I was surprised that the treatment was so great and the people so helpful. Never expected it with all the things I have read in the media. Three cheers for the VA.

Good to hear your VA is squared away. We love our VA here in New England. It's unfortunate that some facilities can't get their shit together. Leads me to believe that bad facilities are a local problem with bad management as opposed to a systemic problem.

No advice other than get well soon. Sounds like you may have dodged a bullet there for sure.

Wow, scary stuff! Glad you're OK.

Is that restriction on your left arm permanent or only until the operation heals?

flashguy

Get well soon sir, I'm glad you caught it before it was too late.

Flashguy, the docs said my chest would build up scar tissue around the heart and wires over a time. Cannot raise arm higher then chest now. Arm in a sling when walking, etc. Have to get used to not raising arm up and keep forgetting that and my bride keeps on my ass about forgetting. Don't know if I can fire a rifle again, pistols? Sucks big time!

Rest easy...my wife had a similar event last Sep and is doing great with no real limitations. The left arm limitation is only temporary. Expect to use the sling for a few weeks. Docs may make adjustments to pacemaker functions in a few months after leads have been secured. You will forget you have it in there. As far as shooting, this is a non-issue. She was practicing with my 45 in Jan with no issues at all. Guessing you had a right bundle branch block. Relax and just be thankful you live in these times when we have a fix for this.

If you want to keep shooting, try Bullseye. They only use one hand.

I'm glad you got taken care of pretty fast and that someone checked up on you.

I asked the company tech when he checked the pace maker before the hospital kicked me out how long the battery lasted, buy at Home Depot?, he said the company guaranteed it for 5 years. But at this usage about 7 years. So I said at 81 could he get me the 5 for sure!

A good, permanent fix. No drugs, no side effects.
I call that a win.

Glad you're ok.

Bruce

Hi ArLEOlet,

Dr. Goodheart here.
When your blood pressure is that low, your heart rate should be high, not low. You most likely had what is called "heart block" when there is no electrical connection between the upper part of the heart (the atria) where the normal pacemaker part of your heart is located, and the lower part, the ventricles; the ventricles have their own intrinsic rate in the 30's.

The restriction on movement of your left arm is only temporary, until the leads (wires) going to your heart have tissue grow around them that will fix them in place. I presume you're right-handed? Then the pacemaker will not affect your ability to shoot rifle or shotgun once the healing is over. When I was sending patients for a pacemaker I would always ask whether they were right or left-handed, and if they were shooters which shoulder they used to mount a shotgun or rifle.

Your problem is taken care of, the pacemaker will likely last about 10 years and then you'll need another operation to replace the "box", but the leads will probably not require further work.

You will likely get a home monitoring setup that will send data about your heart and your pacemaker to the pacemaker company, which will send that to your cardiologist. That will cut down on the number of visits you need to make to the cardiologist to have the pacemaker checked.

Congratulations! One big problem taken care of for good!

When I was working at the VA in Salem Virginia, I had a vet of the 101st Airborne; he was 83, and went to Mongolia every year to hunt wolves! One year we had to have him not go so he could get his pacemaker put in (there was a problem with it and he had to have it re-done, which happens occasionally). He was able to go next year. I understand he was inquiring about me after I left, but that was 9 years ago. Hope he's still hunting!

Sounds like it was caught in time.
Prayers for healing sent.

Wow, what a story! Glad you got your pacemaker!

I can only hope if it happens to me I'll be around people who care enough to get me the same treatment!

I had a pacemaker put in 5 1/2 yrs ago and have no limitations at all with how I move my left arm.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. Dr. Good heart, thank you for your detailed information. The information I received from the cardiologist was that there was a blockage between the upper and lower chambers and each was doing their own thing. Feel better today and started driving again. Operation was accomplished Friday afternoon so it's been a few days. Again thank to you and all the 'troops' for writing.

Here's offering up some prayer your way for health and healing. Good to hear that you got the attention you need, pretty scary stuff.

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