I had forgotten
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
July 18, 2021 7:18pm CST
A couple of things I had forgotten since Hubby had a pacemaker put in.
Now my sister is experiencing it.
For two weeks or so you must keep your arm down, generally it is the left arm. It is the side where the device is implanted.
You are not just trusted to keep your arm down, but you have a strap around your chest holding the upper arm down. It has a wrist cuff to hold your wrist in the right place as well.
When I realized this, I began worrying that she lives alone and that she needs a home health nurse. It turns out the hospital or her doctor had arranged one. Whew, she lives too far away for me to be there a lot to help her.
The other thing I remembered is that you get a card to carry in your billfold with your ID. The card has information about the type of device you have and a serial number, plus you add the date it was installed. I helped her find that card in her paperwork and got it ready. She put it right into her billfold.
15 people like this
13 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
She has medicare, medicaid and "extra help" so I think it is covered.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
You keep it down while the incision heals up. You also cannot wear lotion, makeup, or topical lotions and creams for the first two weeks so that nothing gets in that incision.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Jul 21
Just for two weeks, she said.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jul 21
I hope I never reach a time in my life when I would need one. I'm left-handed, and can barely use my right.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jul 21
Glad she has a nurse looking after her, I wish her the best and will keep her in my prayers that she gets to feeling well again,
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
I can tell she definitely has more energy.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
19 Jul 21
@GardenGerty
Does not sound like much fun at all. I am glad her doctor made sure she had someone to help her. You are a good sister to worry about her.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
Both of her daughters are nurses, but they just do not live near by.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
20 Jul 21
@GardenGerty
That is a shame that her daughters live far from her and cannot take care of her instead of another nurse.
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Jul 21
How does that strap thing work with getting dressed?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
She has someone help her and they undo the strap and she still keeps her arm down and has the sleeve gently pulled over her arm.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
I think this will give her a "new lease on life" so to speak.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
Yes. I am glad she has a good team looking out for her.She has good neighbors but it is much better she gets seen by a nurse since she lives alone.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
20 Jul 21
@GardenGerty Good neighbors are a good help, but until she does not feel well, a nurse going to see her is a lot better.
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Jul 21
That would be a big pain for me as I use my left arm a lot.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
It makes you realize how much you do use that left arm.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Jul 21
@GardenGerty I use both fairly equally. Hubby thought I would not be too bad off when I had my right arm in a cast one time as I am left handed. He seen then that I use both, just different things with them. Like I cant use scissors left handed. But I cant write right handed
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
Enough of her neighbors stop in that she is never bored.
1 person likes this
@janethwayne (5191)
• Philippines
19 Jul 21
I know it is never easy but hope she get well soon.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Jul 21
I believe she will feel much better as she heals from this.
