If they tell you it is safe to have an MRI with it , it’s only at certain facilities and under certain conditions. Not every MRI center will do it and very few do.
The procedure is quite simple and placement of the unit varies, but usually just under the clavicle on the chest with a small incision. Pretty painless stuff.
The leads or electrodes going to the heart are placed in the catheter lab under fluoroscopy (live imaging) . They will (or should) inform you of all the do’s and don’t , and if they don’t, find someone else. There are few restrictions, but there are some you need to know about. DON’T be afraid to ask questions!!!
Slammer!!!

Good advice from Slammer..
Good on you for asking folks who dealt with them..
I had one..no real problems with it as it never needed to do it's thing..

I have broken me clavicles a few times...

So i knew it was there.. n it was not always..cumphy..

The one I had was about the size of a small deck of cards..

They are probly alot smaller now..

Ask if that is so..
N ..good luck on you new venture.. :0)

Best wishes on this one Sherry.

Best wishes and you will likely feel better after the procedure. It added a number of years to my brother’s life. It’s amazing how long the batteries work. Brad

My sister has one and she went in for her 5 year check up and was told the battery looked good for anothe 10 years. If she makes it that long, she'll be 98!

My best friend's father was one of the first people to have an original pacemaker. She was still a young girl at the time and was famous for saying, "Daddy! Stop making that noise!" And he would say, "I can't." Apparently, the early ones were audible. Anyway, he lived to be 72, which, considering he wasn't expected to make it out of childhood is pretty amazing.

Folks are pretty slack about them nowadays, but you're still in our prayers Sherry!

Be thankful it is 2026. My dad had one installed in 1977. It did buy him several more good years. At that time there was a risk if you got too close to a microwave oven. The batteries required a physical change about every 2 years. Today the batteries are good for many years and I have not heard of anyone running afoul of a microwave oven. Fortunately they do not need to go near the actual heart.

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Originally posted by donc

Be thankful it is 2026. My dad had one installed in 1977. It did buy him several more good years. At that time there was a risk if you got too close to a microwave oven. The batteries required a physical change about every 2 years. Today the batteries are good for many years and I have not heard of anyone running afoul of a microwave oven. Fortunately they do not need to go near the actual heart.

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I've already asked questions about MRIs, microwaves and anything else that might interfere with the pacemaker and am pretty sure I won't have any problems there.

My grandmother had one put in when she was 80…and she just died last year at 103.

Her’s was probably the circumference of a golfball…round…but a flat back and front. You could see it under her skin…but it never bothered her.

She wouldn’t have made it that long without it.

An easy, common, and very worthy procedure. You’ll be fine.

Best wishes , Sherry

good luck sherry.. we will be praying for you... as many as they do and as far advanced as they are now i wouldn't worry too much....

Update: Well, I go for preop Monday morning and get the operation Tuesday. Wish me luck!

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

Update: Well, I go for preop Monday morning and get the operation Tuesday. Wish me luck!

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Good luck, from a cardiologist far far away ;-). You'll be fine!

dV

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Originally posted by deVisee

quote:

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

Update: Well, I go for preop Monday morning and get the operation Tuesday. Wish me luck!

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Good luck, from a cardiologist far far away ;-). You'll be fine!

dV

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Thank you.  Will be glad when it's over.

Easy as pie!

We’ll be thinkin’ ‘bout ya! :)

Wishing you the best, if you are still hanging out online with us today. Back about ten years ago I was the oldest active lifeguard in the state, and the reason for that was I sat every Monday through Tursday, 10:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon watching lap swimmers at the indoor pool swim laps. There was a group of people who either had some kind of heart surgeries or had peacemakers, and they would come in regularly to swim laps. And they were all strong swimmers. So the pacemaker wasn't slowing them down. One in particular was a multi instrumentalist and teacher. I saw him last month at the downtown music walk and he was going strong. So here's to a happy and healthy future.

BG Banjo

Thanks for the best wishes. Preop is over and now it's just wait until morning and go to the hospital and get it over with.

Hopefully, I'll be back on tomorrow afternoon and can let everyone know I'm fine.

Good luck!

Well, it wasn't near as bad as I anticipated. Went in at 8 and got home by noon. I do hope, however, that I never see another operating room or watch everyone bustling around getting ready for surgery. The entire thing was very unnerving and stressful.

They're got me trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey and I can hardly move my right side. Between the pressure bandage and all the tape on my chest, it is very uncomfortable and has to stay that way for 5 long, long days.

I want to thank all of you for your well wishes and your caring.

Glad you are doing well. It’s almost always not as bad as you anticipate. I actually don’t mind bringing in an operating room ……. especially when they administer propofol (sp).

Quick healing is me wish for you... :0)

It was a rough night, between a thunderstorm and aches and pains, I didn't get a lot of sleep. Tonight will be better.... I hope!

Heal up fast, Sherry! Prayers to that effect going up.