Update the Day After

All went well during my big adventure. We were gone for 11 1/2 hours overall on Tuesday (grateful thanks to my neighbor and friend Ilene Wexler, my most excellent support person for the day) but nothing about the day was very difficult, even the waiting. Generally it was easier and smoother than I expected. Even the uncooperative weather was not as bad as forecast. We stopped at Chipotle for dinner on the way home.

The staff at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester are first-rate, top-drawer, second to none. (Ilene worked there for 15 years.) Strong keeps three operating rooms going implanting cardiac devices. The Cath Lab there seems to consist entirely of cheerful, friendly, optimistic people. Special mention to Emily the nurse, a speed racer with the transport bed—I'm not saying it was as thrilling as a lap at Watkins Glen, but we dang sure didn't loiter in the hallways, I'll say that. I got to meet and talk with all the doctors including Dr. David Tsu-Chau Huang (pronounced "wong") who was the lead physician for my procedure—I was quite pleased to have the Director of the whole shebang taking care of me. He was generous with his time, answering all of my questions and then some. Dr. Huang told me he's had an intermittent interest in photography throughout his life but generally hasn't had time for it. I was told that he would have a Fellow acting as his wingman—Strong is a teaching hospital—but that turned out to be a Dr. White who is in his ninth year of training past medical school; so hardly a student. Dr. Huang explained that there are some things about the procedure where it's easier to have four hands available. I'm glad I happened to mention to Dr. White that I'm a pool player, because he immediately responded that they would be sure to give me a little extra slack in the pacemaker wires to accommodate the pool stance.

I mean, first things first, right?

After essentially three months of being in a form of heart failure, I'm really looking forward to seeing how my symptoms change as my body restores itself with adequate oxygen again. For starters, my alarmingly high rates of sleep apnea events dropped to nearly nothing last night. (According to the Holter monitor, my heart was stopping in the middle of the night for up to five seconds at a time. The CPAP can't help with that.)

I was uncommonly (for me) anxious about this procedure during the long run-up to yesterday (I suppose because I've been sick and discouraged), but I needn't have been. The wound is very small and I'm told it will heal quickly. If anyone out there ever needs a pacemaker, I would say not to worry too much. I won't jinx my recovery by making any broad, breezy claim about it (and of course every patient has different circumstances and needs) but, assuming my experience is an indication, there is little to fear. I should mention that this procedure is small potatoes compared to the seriousness of things many others are forced to bear, or must watch their loved ones endure, and such people are always in our thoughts.

The doggie will be gone till Friday, and I can't drive till then, so I think I'll wait till then to resume life as normal. Although I guess I just wrote a post of sorts for today, didn't I? I'm rather bursting with energy, and popped out of bed at 5:30 this morning. We'll see.

And thank you very much for your patience with all this nonsense! It's not what you come here for. But life is life, and sometimes gets in the way.

Mike

Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.)

Featured Comments from:

Bill Bresler: "Glad you're on the mend! I know a small crowd of people who have had this procedure. Every one reports that it improved their lives. Most say that they felt better and had more energy than they'd had in years. Hope that's your experience. Carry on."

Jim (partial comment): "I’ve had my pacemaker since 2012. The battery ran out of power last August and a newer model pacemaker was plugged in. Since the batteries last ten years, I hope to make this one run out of power as well, when I’ll be 93! We should be thankful we live in a time when this technology is available."

Mike replies: Oh boy, truer words. I'm deeply grateful for that. See you around when you're 93.

Harry B Houchins: "This is, of course, some great news. My Father had one implanted, them re-implanted as technology improved. It added 20 years to a life that nearly ended in his sixties. Keep on keepin' on, my friend."

richard.l: "I've had printing sessions that were longer...."

Comments

[Benjamin Marks]

So glad that things went well, Mike.

[Stephanie Luke]

How lovely to read your cheery post this morning. Bodes well for the future of TOP, which makes us all happy.

[Michael Newsom]

Great News! Ain't it wonderful to have a properly functioning heart. I dragged my oxygen-deprived arrhythmic body around for 8 years before my heart flutter finally changed from intermittent (as in real but nobody believed me) to persistent. After an ablation procedure I am flutterless and fanciful.

[Dave Levingston]

Very happy to read this excellent report. All the best to you for your rapid recovery.

[Rob Griffin]

Great news! A big Hooray for Mike and a big Cheer for medical science!

[Hans Muus]

Happy to hear all this, take your time, you’re under no obligation - easy does it.

[Sal Santamaura]

It's good to hear things went smoothly. While you seem to have been in the hands of top doctors, I'm not sure Strong overall deserves as much praise:

https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/h/strong-memorial-hospital?findBy=city&city=Rochester&state_prov=NY&rPos=422.3999938964844&rSort=distance

May your incision heal with no infection.

[Craig Beyers]

Nice to hear the implant surgery went well and that your intermittent sleep apnea has dropped (may it continue to drop!). I hope you regain your energy as you resume normal life. Be well.

[mike r in colorado]

glad to hear it! have a speedy recovery.

[Dennis Mook]

Great to read about the successful results of the procedure, Mike. Your news made my day!

[Jim]

Congratulations! I am glad for you it went so well! That what you expect when you go to someone who does multiple implants every work day. I’ve had my pacemaker since 2012. The battery ran out of power last August and a newer model pacemaker was plugged in. Since the batteries last ten years, I hope to make this one run out of power as well, when I’ll be 93!
We should be thankful we live in a time when this technology is available.

[Rob Spring]

Happy for you Mike. Glad all went well

[Cateto/Jose]

Congratulations Mike! I am very glad to know the whole procedure went smoothly, and I am sure you will recover quickly and return to your normal life.

[Steve Bior]

Fantastic news, Mike! We’ll be looking forward to learning how the pacemaker impacts your physical and mental well-being going forward.

[David Elesh]

As it seems both spirits and oxygen levels have been lifted, it is a an excellent outcome. All Best!

[Christopher Perez]

Congratulations! Keep up the great work.

[John]

Good to hear!

[Dan Gorman]

Congrats, Mike! I'm delighted to hear it was all smooth and easy for you.

Do whatever feels right to you, but speaking for myself only, I'd encourage you to take a few days to just enjoy feeling normal again (and having this whole episode behind you). We'll be right here as usual, whenever you get back.

Thanks for sharing the great news :-)

Cheers!
Dan

[Roger]

Great news, Mike! I'm glad the procedure went well.These little devices are pretty amazing considering they're in there for ten years or so doing such important work nonstop.

[Eric Rose]

All the best and hoping for a speedy recovery Mike.

Eric

[Moose]

Add my Hooray!

[Richard Tugwell]

Sounds good - best wishes!

[T. Edwards]

Mike

I have anxiously checked the site a couple of times hoping to see an update like this.

You are in my thoughts.

[Andrew]

Enjoy the new you!

[MikeR]

Quintuple thumbs up emojis!

The benefits show in the "tone" of your writing. Maybe I can stop feeling concerned about your well-being now?

[Patrick Dodds]

Sounding good Mike - all the best!

[Neale MacMillan]

Happy to hear the procedure went well. Best wishes for fully regaining your health.

[Howard W French]

Wishing you a full and speedy recovery, and great results with the pacemaker.

[JH]

Congrats. Now start planning on a more vigorous exercise program to build up the rejuvenated body!

[Mike Lougee]

Seconding all the good wishes above. I hope your stronger heart is a help with any snow shoveling, if this weird winter even drops more snow on your steps.

[JOHN B GILLOOLY]

Great news Mike - happy to hear you are on the mend and feeling good!

[Pete F.]

Wishing you a quick and full recovery Mike.

[darlene]

You'll have superhero powers now. I wish you the best!

[terence morrissey]

Get well soon, all the best Mike.

[Dave Jenkins]

Mike, it seriously disturbs me that you would think of age 65 as the beginning of old age. That is so self-defeating!

Somewhere around 2005, there was a discussion on the old Digital Wedding Forum about aging. I responded to someone's post by writing "Think young! Thinking old will kill you!"

He responded to that by writing "If I had gone to a psychiatrist and paid him $250,000 he couldn't have given me better advice."

I got my second pacemaker in 2022, after 11.5 years on my first one. My cardiologist checked the new one last week and said it was good until I'm 98. I'm 86 now, and I plan on wearing that thing out. Maybe I won't, but if I don't it won't be for lack of trying.

My Dad was always looking ahead, always ready for the next thing. The last day I spent with him was four weeks before he died at the age of 90 (in 2000). We spent the day shopping for a computer system so he could sell his antiques online.

My goal is to emulate my father's courage, faith, and perseverance. I would encourage you likewise to never set self-defeating limits on your lifespan. The way you think does indeed have a powerful effect on you life.

[Henning]

It all sounds very, very excellent! Keep on taking care of yourself and have a seamless recovery. Doggie will be delighted as well.

[JoeB]

Hey Sparky keep on keepin' on!

[David Drake]

Very good to hear that all went well Mike. Have been thinking of you and sending you healing vibes!

[David Dyer-Bennet]

Sounds like the procedure itself went really smoothly, and also sounds like you're already feeling some of the expected benefits! That's so excellent.

Don't hurry back; at least don't push yourself at all hard for a while!

[Elsa Louise]

Not nonsense at all. We love you, Mike, and wish for you the quickest recuperation.

[Roger Bradbury]

I'm so glad to hear that your op. went well; such an optimistic post!

[Nick Davis]

Pleased for you, Mike! Totally agree with Dave Jenkins too. There's been a big study done in Scandanavia recently that suggests that people who just carry on with their lives as normally as possible, regardless of age, live over six years longer than people who decide they are "old".

[David Lee]

So happy everything went well!

[DaveB]

Great news! Welcome BACK. Keep writing…keep delighting….

[Timothy Auger]

All the best for getting back to 'normal'. Many of us are just entering a time of life when medical issues start to feel existential, even when on the face of it they are not that serious. It can be worrying if you think too much. Greetings from London anyway.

[Don Parsons]

Very Happy to hear your procedure went so well! Take a few days off, play with butters and enjoy this time of healing. All my best Mike!

Don

[Dave]

Mike,

It sounds as if the procedure went as well as it could have. Congratulations and welcome back!

I didn't think there would be a new post so soon, so I was very pleasantly surprised to read about the doctors and the procedure.

I'm glad you feel so good with the pacemaker, but take care not to overdo anything while you're still in recovery mode. :>)

You sound like a man who has turned back the clock twenty years. This post sounded full of enthusiasm!

Take care!

[John Krumm]

Kind of makes me want one too : ) . Congratulations and here’s to many fully oxygenated days ahead.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Mike on firmware 2.0. Well done!

[And battery-powered now to boot.]

[Henry White]

Listen to Dave Jenkins. He is absolutely right. On the money. Sage. And as soon as you are ready talk to your doctor about getting back into real, daily exercise. It's the fountain of youth.

Currently 68 but with the emotional maturity of a teenager and feeling better than I did in my 40s.

[Joshua Rothman]

Great news, Mike—I’m so glad to read this! A few years ago I wrote an article about artificial-heart design, and I’m always in awe of what’s possible. It sounds like you had a really good experience. Also, excellent news about the pool stance!

[Pak]

Get well soon Mike! Hope your recovery is a speedy one!

Pak

[Mark Sampson]

Glad to hear that you're feeling better!

[robert e]

Wonderful news! Thank you for sharing it with us, Mike. I hope the rest and recuperation phase is going well, and that you're able and willing to give it as much time as it needs.

[Stan B.]

Dang- Now I'm wantin' me one of these!

[Chappy Achen]

Glad to hear your experience I wish you a speedy recovery

[Jerome]

Sometimes I miss the ubiquitous "like" button here, when I have nothing particularly insightful to say but just want to express that I'm glad that it all went well! I wish for a quick recovery, and doggie will be extremely happy to see you again!

[Jon Maxim]

Welcome back MJ. So glad to hear all went well.

[Paul Bass]

And thank you very much for your patience with all this nonsense! It's not what you come here for.

We come here for you, Mike. So glad you are feeling better already.

[Dave Karp]

Recover quickly Mike!