I am sure there are some that want to bash me for this - but I have a 97 year old grandmother - she needs another pace maker.
I personally think she's too old to survive the procedure. it's not that I want her to die - before someone thinks that way. But really...she's 97 years old. She can walk (with a cane) and talk - but she can't see (I think they just declared her legally blind) and hear!! (she refuses to use her hearing aid that my dad paid over $4K for!!!) LOVELY!! :) I love my grandmother. Don't get me wrong....but really....she's a hypochondriac - not kidding there. that's a WHOLE 'nother post!!! LOL!!
So has anyone known anyone who had a pace maker put in after age 85 or 90? I don't know about the procedure. I'll be honest. She's frail (in my opinion) but stubborn as all get out. Still has her wits about her. I talked to her and she sounded a tad nervous. I told her she could say no. She said she's thought about it....
I don't want to be bashed for this. So if you don't have anything nice to say - please, skip it. If you personally know someone who has undergone having a pace maker in their older years, any insight you could give me would be nice. I live in VA - she lives in CA with my parents. So it's not like I can rush out there.
Thanks!!
According to my dad - due to her age - she would be in the hospital for 2 to 3 days. They said she needed a NEW one - not a new battery. She was taken to the ER on the 6th - light headed - her BP was 89 over 45. Yeah - really low. One of her valves doesn't work. And due to her age, they will not repair that as it's an invasive surgery.
What does her doctor say? I would think she/he would have good insight on what would be best for her. I don't have any experience with it myself.
The procedure is not that big of a deal. What she probably needs is a new battery. I don't think they are put out. I believe it is a local. A friend of mine has one and she is getting her "tune up" in May. Every 8 to 10 years she will need a new battery.
Personally, this isn't your call. If your grandmother has the faculties to make her own medical decisions then it is up to her.
She should have the proceedure.
She has her wits and is stubborn enough to keep on going this long. Who knows how much longer she might go? Perhaps you could talk her into wearing the hearing aid? Send her videos.
I was legally blind for 19 years of my life. I wore glasses. REALLY thick ones (I've since had surgery).
Pray that she is give the opportunity to do what she wants to do in this matter.
Well, she MUST have the procedure, of course. She needs just 3 more years before she can be on the Smucker's jar and have her name announced by Willard Scott! That ALONE is worth living for!
:)
Why would people bash you for this question?
Talk to your dad and grandmother again. If she's nervous about the surgery. Ask why. If she doesn't think she's strong enough to make it through it. Tell your dad what she said and then have him talk to her doctor.
If she makes it a few more years - she'll get to TRIPLE DIGITS!!! How awesome would that be?
No offense but you are sounding like Obama. Before you know it you'll be telling your grannie to take a pill, lol. What does she want?
My grandmother had one put in a few months ago and it has made all the difference. If she is still getting around for the most part and her Doctor feels that it is worth the risk then she should have it done. Yes she could die during the procedure but without a new pacemaker she could die as well. I think that the risks should be weight against the benefits. Overall the procedure is definitely not as invasive as repairing a heart valve and if it will give her a few more years I think she should go for it. My grandmother had one put in after several moments with extremely low blood pressure and feeling ill. It is her first one and now she can keep up with my two little ones that run me ragged.
Hi cheryl!-
Hugs to your grannie!
For 'most' folks...a pacemaker is a reasonably 'non invasive' procedure...and a 'battery' replacement... (every 5 years or so...even less so...)
I wish you...(and granny) peace with whatever choice she makes!!
best luck!
michele/cat
My only experience has been with my daughter...and 'hers' was invasive (thoracotomy) due to her prior heart surgeries...
I don't have any direct experience with the procedure. However, I would make sure everyone involved knows exactly what the procedure entails, what the recovery therapy needs will be and what the expected recovery time frame will be. Do her doctors anticipate a full recovery or not? I would have someone ask those types of direct questions. My grandmother has undergone several intensive therapies within the last year and while being mulishly stubborn about having the procedures done, she was not committed to the recovery regimen. As such she has not done as well post surgery as expected. Finally I think your family needs to consider the implications of a pace maker in an end of life scenario. Ethically and legally my understanding is a pace maker can be deactivated if the patient has reached the point she or he no longer wishes to no longer receive medical interventions. However, I am not entirely sure I would want to test that theory in a hospital setting with a near dead relative and a reluctant, afraid of being sued medical staff. If the person is dead except the battery operated machinery known as the heart has not given up (which it won’t), then your family will have the grim reality of watching her waste away without being able to move forward quickly. I have read a few articles and I don’t remember all the details. Suffice it to say the articles stuck with me as an issue to ponder if I ever find myself or my loved ones in this position. I trust my final concern makes sense. Either way at her age I think your concerns are valid but I am not sure there is much you can do if your grandmother insists on moving forward. Good luck to your family.
If the pace maker is in the procedure isn't that major to change the battery or put a new one in. I would think it would be worth it for even a few days. Life is life no matter the quality.
Hi Cheryl! I'm so sorry to hear that your grandmother is having to endure this. You as well. As a former employee of a hospital and in the medical field for over 17 years, I have never heard of an elderly at that age come out of surgery. Especially when it comes to their heart. It is a higher risk for elderly at that age to withstand the anesthesia and be able to come out of it. My dad has an ICD...basically that's 'jumper cables' for the heart. It has done its job for sure. Pace Maker is definitely a different situation. If it were me, I wouldn't put her through that. Sounds like she doesn't want to endure it either. I don't blame her. It's much harder for people her age to recover from such a surgery. I would ponder on this a while longer. Keep talking to her, and have your parents keep talking to the doctor about this too. I wonder if an ICD would work for a pace maker? Couldn't hurt to ask. It will be less invasive for sure if it is a possible procedure.
Just to clarify Geri M.'s post. An ICD is very similar to a pacemaker, the procedure to implant one is nearly identical. ICD stands for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. It's basically a pacemaker with the added bonus of detecting dysrhythmias that are not compatible with life. It then delivers a shock (think ER-Clear!) from the inside rather than the external paddles to try to restart a normal rhythm. A traditional pacemaker kickstarts the heart to beat (either on demand or every beat). Both are implanted in the upper chest wall. As a nurse working in Med/Surg, I have seen patients that age coming through surgery. Are the risks greater? You bet. Is it possible that she will survive and live another 5 years with the new pacemaker? Sure. If she is still able to make competent decisions, make sure she knows the risks, all the pros and cons, and support her. It's a hard decision, but one hopefully she will be able to make with you and your family's help. The loss of my grandmother was what inspired me to go to nursing school, to try to help other people's beloved grandmothers. Best of luck to you and yours.
Inserting a pacemaker/changing out a pacemaker is actually not that big of a deal. It's minimally invasive.
Physicians generally don't recommend procedures for patients that they feel can't survive them. Matter of fact, they'll refuse to do them.
Have you been designated to make medical decisions for your grandmother? If not, then I think it's her decision.
I had a great aunt that lived to the age of 102 as an independent W..
