If you’re preparing for a pacemaker to be fitted, you will be full of questions.

Instead of feeling daunted about what’s ahead, read our guide to what to expect when you have your pacemaker fitted. Once you’re armed with information, you can start looking forward to the improved lifestyle your pacemaker will bring.

Read on to know more about pacemakers, why they are needed and the essentials for life after pacemaker surgery.

What is a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is an electrical device that is fitted inside your chest. Its purpose is to send electrical signals to stimulate your heart so that it beats regularly.

Its parts include a pulse generator with a circuit and battery, with wires called pacing leads. These leads attach to your heart.

Electrical impulses are emitted by the pulse generator and transmitted via the pacing leads to your heart.

The pacemaker will pick up if your heart is beating too slowly or if it misses a beat. It then sends signals to correct this.

The battery in your pacemaker will last between five and 15 years. When your pacemaker’s battery is running low, you can have a new pacemaker fitted.

Why do people need pacemakers?

There are various reasons why you may need a pacemaker. Heart conditions that can benefit from a pacemaker include:

  • Bradycardia (when your heartbeat is too slow)
  • Tachycardia (when your heartbeat is too fast)
  • Atrial fibrillation (an irregular and rapid heart rhythm)
  • Heart block (when your heart beats to an irregular rhythm because the electrical signals aren’t being transmitted correctly)
  • If you have had a cardiac arrest (this can happen when issues with your heart’s electrical signals mean the heart stops beating) previously or if you are at higher risk of having one

You can find out more about heart conditions and treatment on the Heart Foundation website.

What do I need to know about pacemaker surgery?

You may be surprised to know that pacemaker surgery is relatively quick and straightforward.

In most cases, the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, so you will be awake but pain-free during the operation.

The surgeon will make a small incision near your collarbone. This creates a pocket where the pacemaker battery will sit. Then the pacing leads will be threaded inside a vein to the right side of your heart.

Next, the pacemaker is programmed and tested to ensure it’s working correctly for you.

The pacemaker battery is then placed inside the pocket, and the skin is stitched up.

The whole procedure takes around one hour, and you should be free to go home the same day or the day after.

What do I need to know about life after pacemaker surgery?

Your medical team will give you specific advice on your recovery. These are some general guidelines for self-care after pacemaker surgery:

  • Keep your dressing on for 10 days. It can get wet, but don’t soak it in a bath or swimming pool.
  • Don’t lift heavy items using your arm on the same side as the pacemaker for one month.
  • Don’t do activities that involve pushing or pulling (for example, vacuuming or mowing the lawn) for one month.
  • Don’t take part in activities that involve lots of stretching or moving for two months.
  • Sleep on your back or the opposite side to the pacemaker for a couple of days after surgery.
  • You may also be advised not to drive for a period of time.

You are likely to have a follow-up appointment a few weeks after surgery to check your progress. Once your medical team is happy with your recovery, you should be free to enjoy an active and healthy life.

For your own peace of mind, you may wish to wear a medical ID that says you have a pacemaker fitted. Med alerts can often be worn as bracelets so that information can be easily seen in the event of an emergency.

You can wear a Mediband pre-printed pacemaker medical alert or have a write-on wristband customised with your own choice of words.

Or if medic alert necklaces are more your thing, take your pick from our wide range of stainless steel and gold-coloured designs.

A new chapter in your life

Now that you know what to expect, pacemaker surgery shouldn’t be as overwhelming as you first thought. In fact, you could see it as the start of a new, more active chapter in your life!

And by ordering a medical alert wristband before your procedure, you can rest assured that you have done everything you can to prepare.

Take a look at our online collection of medical IDs, available in a range of materials and designs to suit your unique style. It’s the first step to the peace of mind that life after your pacemaker will bring.