Learning you need a pacemaker can bring up many questions. You might worry about the surgery itself or wonder how it will change your daily life.
At Northwest Houston Heart Center, we understand these concerns. Our experienced cardiology team is here to support you. We perform pacemaker surgery and provide complete follow-up care for our patients from our offices in Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia, and The Woodlands, Texas.
Pacemaker surgery is a highly standardized and common outpatient procedure. During a standard implantation, you are typically kept awake or lightly sedated. We use a local anesthetic to numb the area near your collarbone where the device goes. This means you do not need general anesthesia or a breathing tube.
The surgeon makes a small incision to create a pocket under the skin for the pacemaker. Then, we thread thin wires through a vein and secure them to your heart.
If you receive a leadless pacemaker, the process is even simpler because these devices are implanted in your heart, with no separate battery required. Our team walks you through every step of the preparation so you feel completely ready on the day of your procedure.
Your recovery timeline depends on the type of pacemaker you receive. If you have a traditional pacemaker with a battery, you will need to limit how you move your arm on the device side for a few weeks. This gives the wires time to secure themselves in your heart. If you receive a leadless device, you will not have these upper-arm-movement restrictions.
Many patients also wonder when they can get back on the road. Fortunately, driving restrictions are usually very mild. Your doctor will tell you when you can drive, but most pacemaker recipients can do so after about a week.
At Northwest Houston Heart Center, we customize your recovery plan to your lifestyle. We make sure you know exactly what activities are safe as you heal.
Living with a modern pacemaker is very safe, and you can easily return to your normal routine. Modern devices are highly shielded against everyday electronics. The American Heart Association offers guidelines for use around devices such as microwaves and cellphones.
You can also still get an MRI or other type of medical imaging as long as some precautions are taken. We provide ongoing cardiac care and routine device monitoring at all of our offices. We check your pacemaker regularly to ensure it is working correctly, keeping your heart beating as it should.
If you have been diagnosed with a slow heart rate or another rhythm issue, we can help. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized, high-quality care. Call or message us today to schedule a visit with our specialists to discuss your heart health.