Tackling the Airport Scanners

As the holiday approached the apprehension about travelling increased. I have never had any problems with flying but suddenly I was faced with having to deal with airport security and a pacemaker. I kept telling myself that it must be simple, many people travel with pacemakers fitted but it didn't make any difference, when travelling day arrived I could feel the tension building.

We were flying from East Midlands Airport, a small airport about an hour from home. We set off in plenty of time and I knew I had my pacemaker card (well A4 sheet of paper printed and folded into a little plastic wallet) in with my passport. This, I was told, would be all I needed.

I don't suppose it helped that we didn't check out journey to the airport before we set off as we had both flown from there many times and believed we knew how to get there. It didn't help that we both thought we came off at Junction 28 and only when we had travelled some 15 minutes along the road with no airport symbols showing on the road signs that we accepted we were on the wrong road and would need to retrace ours steps back to the motorway and carry on. Having lost half an hour of our journey time, we were now going to be close to check in time instead of having time to spare so we could arrive relaxed for the new challenge ahead.

Finally we realised our mistake in thinking we needed the Derby exit when it was actually the Leicester one and we began to see the signs for the airport. We parked up without any problems and arrived the departures section of the airport with a couple of hours to spare. The check-in desks were really quiet and in minutes our case was on its way and we had our boarding cards.

"What do I need to do about going through security with a pacemaker?" I asked. "Just speak to the security officer and they'll tell you what to do," came the answer.

On reaching security we asked the question again and was advised to tell the member of staff where we put our personal possession in the trays to go through the scanner.

I started to fill a tray with my bits and pieces and when the chap came over I showed him my pacemaker card and asked what I needed to do. He called across to one of the security officers and told me to go around the large walk through scanner to the farside and the officer would let me through the perspex gate and frisk search me.

On the other side of the gate I was asked for my card and passport to make sure the name matched on both pieces of identification and happy that they did, they frisked me and told me I could go and collect my personal belongings. 

And it was as simple as that. 

The return journey was no different even with an officer who spoke little English. I showed my pacemaker card, the called an officer over and they took me through the same procedure.

So, travelling is really no more complicated with a pacemaker than travelling before the implant. It's just important to make sure you show your pacemaker card before you reach any body scanner.

One Year on from the Implant

I vividly remember the feelings I had when I was told that I had a degenerative heart condition and needed an implant. I vividly remember the weeks of worry about the implant in the run up to the procedure (even I have stopped calling it an operation 12 months on) and I vividly remember the biggest concern I had in those weeks before the procedure...

How would I do my hair?

As many women will understand, if my hair isn't right I can't settle to going out, whether to work, shopping or simply walking the dogs.

I discussed options with my hairdresser on how Neil would best be able to help me. My work colleagues even offered to do whatever was necessary when I got to work to make my hair as I would want it.

Looking back 12 months later, I smile when I think of this. After the procedure, doing my hair was well down my list of concerns. 

In the first few days all I could think about was not moving my arm too much so I didn't dislodge my pacing wire, on managing the pain and in working out how to get dressed. My hair really had become a low priority.

Over the first few weeks I was focused on getting my routine back to normal and watching the progress of my wound healing.

3 months on and I was pretty much back to normal.

6 months on and I was no longer checking out my scar every time I got dressed, it wasn't that obvious.

12 months on, it all seems a long time ago. 

I have a lump to remind me it's there, but I often forget about it. I have times when I think I can feel it working , but generally when I am in bed at night and everything around me is calm and quiet. I get an odd sensation and a whooshing feeling, but it may be the night time playing tricks on me because I know that the problem occurs at night time.

12 months on and I am exactly where I was told i would be, but at the time found it difficult to believe. I consider myself fortunate that they found the problem early, I consider myself fortunate that what they found could be treated and then I could get on with my life.

I do take the health warning seriously and have started to get on with plans I had previously only thought about. It has made me realise that I shouldn't put things off until tomorrow,  need to get on with them today.

For anyone just at the beginning of this process it can be a very frightening thing so hopefully you can take my story as a positive. In the meantime I await my check up in February 2014 which will give me an idea of the amount of work the unit is having to do which will give me an idea of how many years I have to go before I need the unit changing.

Playing Golf with a Pacemaker

Having played golf for a number of years, and while in Spain I was on the course 3 times a week, I had already stopped playing on a regular basis due to painful arthritic joints in my feet that objected to 4 hours walking, but I always knew I could play if I wanted to. I had been out on the Par 3 course a few times last summer before being told I needed a pacemaker fitting, and as golf was no longer a major interest to me (much to the disappointment of my husband) it wasn't high on my list of priorities to get back to after my implant.

However, I know that for many people it is a key concern: can they play after having an implant and how soon.

Today, I have swung a club for the first time since my operation. A friend has just started having lessons and we went out on the Par 3 course with her.

Before going onto the course, I went onto the driving range, just to make sure I could still hit the ball. I started off with a gentle swing to see what I could or couldn't feel. My pacemaker unit sits quite high in my shoulder, according to my consultant, a result of my youthful age meaning my muscle is still quite firm and therefore the pocket is not as deep as some. It has caused a few problems previously and it didn't surprise me that at the top of my back swing I could feel it pressing in to my clavicle. I'm right handed and my unit is in my left shoulder. After hitting a practice few balls I could tell that it was going to get painful after a while if I wasn't too careful and that I needed to restrict my back swing. 

Onto the first tee and I suddenly felt very unsure on how to hit the ball, as now I was going to have to re-learn how to swing a club. Over 9 holes I had a variety of successes, but overall enjoyed it. 

I realised I could now let other pacemaker wearers know about golfing after an implant.

The main question is normally how soon after the implant can someone resume playing golf. In all honesty I don't think I would have been able to swing a club for a couple of months even if I'd wanted to, as my muscle was very tender and the wound was not healing as well as I would have liked. The biggest risk is dislodging the pacing wires and, as my procedure had not been straight forward, I was definitely in no mood to being opened up again to have them re-sited. 

Until your doctor or clinical technician says it's okay to start raising your arm above your head golf is a definite no-no, this is normally 4-6 weeks. There is plenty of cable inside you to allow the movement necessary for a full golf swing, (I was told there's about half a metre coiled up behind the unit) but it is important that the pacing wires have had time to gain a permanent hold to the inside of your heart. The leads have little hooks on them and are hooked into the ridges on the inside of your heart. Heart tissue then grows around them and forms a good hold. Those that are chomping at the bit to get back on the golf course could probably get back after about 6 weeks, with doctors agreement,  but depending on the healing process, your wound or muscle damage may mean you need to wait a little longer as the stretching and pressure may be too uncomfortable. For me, if I had been keen to get out there I think it would have been nearer 3 months for my wound and muscle to allow me to play. 

After the first couple of weeks from the implant you feel quite well in yourself and keen golfers will start to want to get their clubs out, especially if the weather is decent, and the next few weeks will be frustrating, but it's only a few weeks out of the rest of your life, so it's worth being sensible and waiting until your doctor says you can play again.

As far as actually playing, for many people a pacemaker will make very little difference to their game. Some, like me, may need to adapt their swing a little but as I found today, everything else works as it did before. In the first 6 months after my implant I was very aware of my unit all the time, I still had some tenderness in the muscle and the skin over the top of it felt tight at times, but gradually I found I noticed it less and less, so the earlier you start to play golf again, the more aware you will be of your unit. Over time I think it will become less apparent while golfing, as it becomes in other aspects of your life. 

It's surprising when you talk to people on the course, the number of other people you come across that have a pacemaker, so for the majority of golfers an implant will mean a few weeks away from the course and then carry on as before. And a few weeks to recover and make sure the pacing leads have a good hold is worth waiting for, for the sake of your health.

Happy golfing.

A year on from the accident that started the path to the pacemaker.

When I first got my calendar for 2013 and marked off Saturday 8th June as a day I would be leaving the car on the drive. This was the anniversary of the accident last year where I crashed my car into a wall. An odd accident that I couldn't explain & that led to a series of tests that resulted in the doctors diagnosing my heart condition.

I know deep down that if my condition was the cause of the accident it couldn't happen again as my pacemaker would prevent any possible loss of consciousness, but I really didn't want to take any chances.

It's remarkable to think how much the whole incident shook me up; how difficult I found it to accept that I had this problem when I felt so well.

Now, one year on I feel incredibly fortunate that I had the accident. After all, no-one (including myself) was injured, all the damage has been put right both to my car and the office block where I work and the condition that will continue to get worse and would start to make me feel unwell, if not by now certainly in the future, will continue to worsen without affecting my health and lifestyle.

My biggest issue this summer is not exposing my scar to direct sunshine, with the recent British summers that's not such a massive problem. Fortunately I do not wear tops and dresses with very strappy straps and the majority of vest tops I do wear, when the sun is out, cover the scar quite nicely.

Several people told me how I would feel like a new woman after having my pacemaker implant, but in actual fact I don't feel any different. I have more energy this year than I did last, but I think that has more to do with the weight I have lost while getting my cholesterol under control rather than any effect from my pacemaker.

You may notice I now refer to it as 'my pacemaker' not 'the' pacemaker or 'a' pacemaker. This is a deliberate decision I have taken. It helps me accept it as part of me rather than an alien object.  One year on, I can look back on the whole experience and accept the highs and lows it brought with it. I realise it put our lives on hold for a good 6 months, that it put both physical and emotional stress on me, my family and friends and their support was crucial in dealing with the whole situation.

One year on I can look back and be grateful that the accident highlighted a problem before it became a problem, that the condition is controlled and I have regular medical checks. One year on there is relief that the outcome of the tests didn't result in anything worse. One year on I am probably healthier than I have been for several years.

It's a shock to anyone when they are diagnosed with a condition or illness that requires surgery, a life change or some major shift to the normal life style, but I am now able to take the positives from the last 12 months. 

A lot can happen in a year, now I'm looking forward to a year where not a lot happens. 

Does a mammogram hurt with a pacemaker?

Due to work colleagues being on holiday and work changes I deferred my hospital appointment until last week. It wasn't through any concerns, it just wasn't convenient. I have had a mammogram within the last 3 years which was clear so I didn't feel delaying this check for a few weeks would cause any issues.

As suggested, I told the technician that I'd had a pacemaker fitted last September and that while it had healed well, it was still tender when I pressed on the area and so it may be that the scanner machine may be uncomfortable. She said she would be guided by me and if it got too uncomfortable she would stop. We decided to start with the right breast as this would give me an indication of the pressure that would be felt and where the potential problems may be.

The process is not particularly painfully, more uncomfortable but as the plate presses down it pulls the skin from the shoulder downwards and the edge of the machine presses into the shoulder. The right hand side was done quite quickly and I explained where the discomfort had been relative to where the pacemaker is. We swapped sides and she was very careful as she fitted me into the machine, making sure I was in the correct place to get the best image. I managed to get comfortable and she said I was to tell her when it got too uncomfortable or if there was too much pain and that as soon as she took the image the machine would release the pressure.

I tried to keep as still as possible and let the pressure build but it did become too painful to continue and I asked her to stop, she took the image at that point and immediately released the pressure. The relief on the skin over the pacemaker was instantaneous and, I stood back while she checked the images.

She said she thought the image, while not as clear as the right side, was perfectly good for the check they needed to do, and so I got dressed.

It was uncomfortable at the time, but left no lasting pain or discomfort and has certainly not given me any concerns about having to go through it again.

All I have to do now is wait for the results and hope,as they were last time, they come back clear.

Mammogram with a Pacemaker... is it safe?

It was always going to happen and today it did. I received a letter from the hospital asking me to go for a mammogram as, being a lady of a certain age, I am entitled to free check-ups. I would be daft not to go, but immediately wondered if it was safe. 

I called the Cardio-respiratory department at the hospital to ask the question and the receptionist went off to find out. A few minutes later she returned and told me the process is completely safe to have but because of the way they have to manipulate me on to the scanner plate it may cause some discomfort.

Somehow, that didn't surprise me as it seems the placing of the unit, being quite high, means I am prone to discomfort anyway, but I may  be pleasantly surprised... maybe sitting high it may take the unit out of the way more and be ok.

I was advised to discuss the fact I have a pacemaker and any issues this may cause with the technician when I get there.

So, in a couple of weeks I will know how much discomfort the pacemaker will add to the process.

Little by little I learn more as the weeks go by.

6 months on from a Pacemaker implant.

Having my pacemaker implanted in September was probably a good time of year to have the procedure. Living in the UK where we have cold, wet, snowy winters, I have a tendency to go into semi-hibernation through winter and this has meant my activity levels are less than through the summer. Once the warmth of spring arrives I am more often to be found out in the garden doing little jobs, or in the greenhouse with my plants. I take longer walks with the dogs and go visiting more places.

So, as March came and went still under the grips of winter I have had a good 6 months of rest and recovery and I'm sure this has been a great benefit to the way everything has healed. 

In November we started beginner ballroom classes, once a week for an hour. Having my left arm lifted onto my partner's should was initially a little uncomfortable but I soon found that the pain had gone. Raising my arm to do turns under my partner's arm was a little more taxing but again, I soon got used to it and found that again, with a couple of weeks it no longer bothered me.

By early March we were learning a Rock 'n' Roll routine which put a little more work on my shoulder and week one seemed to raise a few jolts and aches but by week two these were much easier and now, there is no after effect from an hour dancing.

Today's warm sunshine has awakened ideas of golfing again. I haven't picked up a golf club since the implant. I know several people who have pacemakers and play golf, so I know it shouldn't be a problem but it's still something for me to try. I also feel I will be able to get out and about on my bike, finally. I need to get a carrier for the back of the car so I can go to some of the local parks and cycle in safety, but it will be a good way to exercise and get fit. My cholesterol levels are still a key indicator of my health and I am due another blood test in the next few weeks to see whether I have managed to keep it within the 'normal' level over the comfort-eating winter months.

And so, 6 months on, the scar has healed well and is not the first thing I notice in the mirror anymore. People have stopped asking me about it and I find I forget about it for the majority of the time. There are triggers that remind me, such as walking near a working microwave and using my mobile phone with my left hand, every now and again I realise I'm closer than I should be, but it's nice that it doesn't dominate my every thought as it used to.

It's strange to think that this time last year I knew nothing about any of this. I had yet to have my accident that started the whole process. I am glad that June 8th falls on a weekend this year. It means I can avoid driving on the anniversary of the accident and avoid any repetition of events that led to a very strange 6 months. 

This summer I have to remember not to sit with direct sun on my scar. Knowing British summers, this may not be such an issue. If we travel abroad I will need to use factor 50 sun screen on my scar at all times and keep out of direct sun as much as possible. Other than that, bring on summer...

I'm ready to meet it head on.

Setting the Pace

It's 5 months since the unit was implanted and apart from occasional odd pains and twinges, it's settled relatively well. The last week has been uncomfortable and required painkillers for a while, but I had an appointment booked for Friday for my routine check, so I could chat it through with them then. 

They had a good look at the site of the pacemaker, and were happy that there was no swelling, redness or any other signs for concern. The unit itself was checked to make sure the wires felt right and nothing seemed out of place. I expressed concern that the unit has moved about an inch to one side, in comparison to the scar. They confirmed that this is possible while it's all settling and as said before, my unit is sitting quite high and so it may cause discomfort, especially if knocked or if I lay on my left side. I have noticed recently that I seem to be sleeping more often on my left side and they agreed this could be the reason for my recent discomfort.

Then they attached the leads to my arms and legs and popped the 'mouse-like' unit on top of my pacemaker so they could check how it was working. I asked  if they could tell how often it worked, being an on-demand pacemaker and they could. It seems it's the bottom half of my heart that needs help most often, and the pacing wire in the bottom half is working 22% of the time, however, after a few more tests they agreed this was more than necessary and that they would fine tune the pacing rate so that my natural heart beat could be allowed to happen more often without help, but the unit will always work when needed. 

They also told me that on current levels of usage, the battery life is currently showing at 11-13 years, which is great. Means a long time before I need to go back in to surgery for it to be changed. Obviously, as my condition gets worse it will need to work more often, but now they have fine tuned it to work more effectively with my own heart beat it still looks good for a good number of years before I need a change. 

So, that's it for a year. No more hospital appointments for 12 months. 

The challenge for the year is to continue with my low saturated fat diet to control my cholesterol and to continue to ride my bike to keep my heart as healthy as possible.

This whole issue has been a real kick up the butt that I need to be more aware of what I eat and the exercise I do, so hopefully I have learned my lesson.

Keeping a Healthy Heart

The aim for 2013 is to make sure my heart stays as healthy as possible going forward.

Now my pacemaker is settled and my cholesterol is normal, it's time to increase my fitness and lose a little more weight. I work less than a mile from home and I can take a scenic route by the canal rather than on petrol fumed roads. Although I can walk it in half an hour it is perfect for cycling which is a great way for getting fit and once I have a bike I will be able to go for bike rides in the various country parks nearby.

So, making use of the after-Christmas sales, I've been and bought myself a hybrid bike. Not having ridden a bike for 30 years, I am working on the premise that once you can ride a bike you never forget... hope it's true.

Tomorrow I go and collect my new bike and see whether I can still ride it or whether I should've bought elbow & knee-pads as well as a helmet.