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My 93 ( now 94) year old father with many other chronic health issues, had a pacemaker placed last late spring 2025. His surgery went very well, and his recovery was very fast (and that despite the fact that he has significant mobility issues and compensated by using his arm strength).

Know that we were told post surgery he just wouldn’t be able to raise that arm above his head for six weeks. After surgery, it was revealed that he would not be able to pull himself up with that arm, lift much using that arm, twist or raise that arm for six weeks. He would need to not sleep on his left side for six weeks. A raised potty chair that fit over the toilet and extra help getting up from a seated position for a while and he was fine.

I would suggest you ask all questions ahead of time, so you know what to expect and can provide for whatever helps in your situation. Blessings on continued good health!
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Reply to Hope21
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My 94-year-old friend had a pacemaker implanted about three weeks ago. She bounced back very quickly: within 72 hours, she was back at home, and a day or two after that, back to her normal routine. She complained a bit at first of itching and soreness, but even that has resolved. Of course, individuals vary, and my friend has a history of recovering quickly from surgery. This was one instance, though, where I think the right decision was to go ahead with the procedure.
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Reply to Carrol
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The procedure was simple for my mother at 89 but it took longer for her to recover than we expected. She wouldn’t do PT or use the walker recommended. About 3 months later she had a fall and we moved her to AL. She’s done really well since the move, but to be honest, she has said to me that she wishes she didn’t get the pacemaker because she now realizes that was when she was meant to die her natural death. She said she doesn’t want a replacement battery when this one wears out -I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the battery is supposed to last 10-15 years! She’ll be 91 soon.

FYI she had one in person follow-up appointment and all other checks are remote via the transmitter in her bedroom that came with the device.
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Reply to ShirleyDot
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Hothouseflower Jan 14, 2026
My mother was dying and had a DNR. There was no health proxy and my father as her next of kin and who has dementia overrode her DNR and gave permission for the pacemaker. My sisters and I wanted our mother to have a natural death. She was 93 at the time and we really felt it was her time to die. . She had severe arthritis and was in a lot of pain and had mobility issues, her heart could not sustain life without the pacemaker. . She wouldn’t have had to go into a nursing home for 9 months and die there like she did. instead she just lingered for two more years.
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This is a conversation with the doctor. Is dementia involved? Would the person pick at the sutures? Can you safely get the person to follow upvisits?
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Reply to MACinCT
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My mother had a pacemaker implanted at 93.

It was implanted while she was under anesthesia. She came through the procedure fine.

She went to rehab for a few weeks and came home. She lived on for two years with it. She died from heart failure a month short of her 95th birthday.

I hope it all goes well.
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