Page 4 - about pacemakers

Q: Can people hear and feel pacemakers “tick” participate in most
inside of them? activities, but
should check with
A: After a pacemaker is implanted, the patient their doctors, who
will probably be aware of it for a while. can advise them of
This is a normal feeling and will lessen with their limits and the
time. However, the pacemaker does not signs that appear if
make sounds; no one will be able to hear it.
they exceed them.
Q: Are there risks involved in the implant Common sense is the rule.
surgery? How long does the surgery take? Because patients’ energy levels
How long is the recovery time? may increase after the pacemaker is
implanted, they may be able to do more
A: Implanting a pacemaker is considered minor than they have been able to do for some
surgery. This common procedure is usually time. If there are special activities that a
done in an operating room or in patient would like to participate in, this
a cardiac catheterization needs to be discussed with the physician
laboratory. Generally, prior to the procedure, as it may affect both
the patient is given the device that is selected and how it is
a mild sedative implanted. One example involves hunters
(like a sleeping who use rifles. In this case, the pacemaker
pill) and a local should not be put in the upper chest area,
anesthetic is used where the recoil can permanently damage
to numb the area. the pacemaker.
While it is minor
surgery, problems Q: Do they place any limitations on patients’
®
occur in a very small sex lives? Can people take Viagra if they
percentage of implants. have a pacemaker?
Surgery generally takes 1 to 2 hours, and
A: Other than a brief stay in the hospital,
patients go home anywhere from several
followed by a short recovery period,
hours to several days later. Complete
pacemakers typically don’t
recovery can take a few weeks.
have any adverse
effects on patients’
Q: Can pacemaker patients live an active
lifestyle of jogging, tennis, skiing, etc.? What sex lives. In fact, if a
if they do something that is too strenuous patient’s sex life
for the pacemaker to handle? was limited before
the pacemaker due
A: Typically, pacemaker patients can continue to a very slow
to lead active lives. If they did it before, heart rate, it may
more likely than not, they’ll be able to be significantly
continue. In fact, they should be able to better after the