Pace Yourself: Surgical Intervention
The day had finally arrived; it was time to meet the new addition to my medical family; the pacemaker. It joins my collection of medical technologies, including a permanent ileostomy, insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor, and implanted loop recorder.
My stress level swung from low to high in the days leading up to having the device implanted. While minor, all surgeries carry risk and the idea that wires would run from my heart to a small computer implanted in my body was exciting and at the same time a bit scary. We had weighed the risks and determined the benefits outweighed all of them.
My report time was 6am. Partly to get the day going, but mostly so I could manage my blood sugar overnight while fasting as opposed to going through an entire day. Some days it’s exhausting try to manage multiple chronic illnesses; it’s a daily puzzle I thankfully enjoy working on, however I realize it will never be solved.
As with most surgeries, after you report it was a lot of hurry up and wait. The team reviews medical history, medications, and gets an IV (this time two) started. Then you get to meet the doctor that will keep you resting and comfortable throughout the procedure. The anesthesiologist was well versed on the functionality of my insulin pump, and they were very easy to work with. Once a plan was discussed, my surgeon arrived to again discuss risks and expectations of the procedure. All of the visits put me at ease and reinforced our decision to move forward with the procedure.
By the time I finally made it to the operating room it was 8:30. A few things to know:
It’s cold in the operating room. The team will keep you as comfortable as possible, however until they give you a dose of medication to doze off, you may be a bit chilly.
There are a lot of people in the room and they move with purpose, like a well rehearsed play. I always enjoy chatting with the team and observing the coordinated pre-surgery production.
The operating table is narrow. Usually, the team will slide you from the bed you had in the prep area to the surgical table. While the beds are function over comfort, before long the meds will kick-in and the bed will feel like a luxury as you drift to sleep.
I say funny things. Due to a mix of stress and meds, I get chatty with the team and sometimes recall providing some entertainment for the team. I’m pretty sure they’ve heard and seen it all, and yes, I still think my jokes are funny even when sedated.
The procedure lasted an hour and then it was back to the recovery room for a few hours. It was painless and I did wake up with my arm in a sling. In order for the leads to anchor in place, there are a number of restrictions in place for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Overall, it was a smooth experience and the surgical team was great to work with.
Because we were traveling for care and due to my surgeon’s preference, I remained in the hospital overnight for observation. Overall, we were pleased with the experience, and remained hopeful the device would provide some type of benefit.
