Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Second pm, first post

had my second pm installed 5 days ago and just found this site. Still sore and having trouble finding comfy sleep position, but overall the experience is MUCH easier second time around. Now just watching for signs of infection and waiting to be able to have a REAL shower :)

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Conscious Endocardial Ablation

So, just had my 4th ablation performed Thursday. EP told me good news and bad news. They had seen these vtach's before, but didn't fix them because they only occur when I was awake. So, this ablation was done fully awake, only pain control was local at the catheter sites and Tylenol.

Got me on the table and prepped me for the first test. Then they hit me with Isoprenaline to stimulate vtach. First started low, 1 Mcg, ramped it to 4 mcg, 170 bpm vtach started and ICD paced me out. Now...

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Pacemaker

Hi!
Im getting a pacemaker implanted next week and I am beyond scared. I am 22 years old and had a cardiac ablation done two years ago that went terribly wrong. I ended up in cardiac ICU for six days. Needless to say I feel like I have a reason to be worried and scared. I also have POTS.
I would love to know if there is anyone out there that might have some words of kindness or reassurance. I keep reading things online and its scaring me. Im the "one in a million" chance that something...

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During surgery?

Hi there,

I'm a writer for TV (in Australia) and currently working on a project where the lead character - a doctor - gets a pacemaker. Trying to do as much research as I can to be authentic...

Right now I'm really interested in what it felt like during your pacemaker surgery - especially if it was done under local anaesthetic? Could you feel your heart rate being dialled up and done to the right settings?

And in the day afterwards, were there any interesting e...

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Removal & replacement

Looks like I'm faced with having my pacemaker removed due to infection and a new one inserted on the right hand side. Just wondering if anyone else has had this and if the surgery/recovery is different with it being on the right side.

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3rd Day After Implantation-pain?

Implanted below my pectoral muscle. More pain than I expected.

Pacing 100% and nothing below 80 bpm.

Any suggestions?

bb

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reposition lead

Now I have new swelling over the pacemaker. Has anyone on here had to have a lead repositioned? Of course it had to be the Ventrical lead :( I spent last night in CCU/Telemetry and only slept maybe 2 -3 hours. When the surgeon came to my room this morning it was a bit of a shock to hear why he kept me overnight for observation. He said that I am much more sensitive than the average person and it seems that yesterday while he was operating... In the middle of the procedure, I moved my shoulder! I...

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Surgery 2

Wow! Coming Home never felt SO good! ^_^ I spent last night in CCU/Telemetry and only slept maybe 2 -3 hours. It was the classic "I finally fell asleep and they woke me up to see how I was doing" :/ That plus I was in a lot of pain making it difficult to sleep.
When the surgeon came to my room this morning it was a bit of a shock to hear why he kept me overnight for observation. He said that I am much more sensitive than the average person. I've always thought I was but he confirmed it usin...

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1 week Post-op Check-up :(

SO . . . Two trips to the ER 5 hrs and 3 hrs - still short of breath - Sudden intense sharp stabbing pains in chest. Turns out my lower lead isn't working so I have to go back in again for surgery tomorrow. That's the bad news. The good news is I wasn't imagining feeling worse. I actually am worse. So it's not all in my head.

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that time again

Well, I guess I failed my last Merlin test. Got a call from the cardiologist to schedule an appointment with the doctor. Knew it was coming though. People at work are all worried because I'm not very concerned about it. I work in a 5th/6th grade PDD(autism) room and it's hard to be out (and the teacher is leaving on Friday) so I change the appointment they gave me to a week later so I could go after school. I told them (and will tell the doctor) that I'm scheduling it until schools out anyway....

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sinbad

i had a pacemaker put in a month ago and have beed given unrestricted permission to drive a school bus in oregon from my dr. is there an official time you have to wait before going back to work or is dr certificate good enough?

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Post Pacemaker Surgery Arm Restriction

My cardiologist said that when my pacemaker is installed I cannot lift my left arm above shoulder height for 6 weeks.
Are there any devices that I can use to restrict my arm to meet this restriction?

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Did anyone have deep but quick sharp pangs?

Read online sources that make me think that it's pretty normal, and my Dr and programmer didn't sound worried. I haven't experienced them since week 6 after I tried my first attempt at more strenuous work. I'm about 10 weeks in now, so nothing for the past month.
But I swear I could feel the leads do a sharp and quick pang (that went away in seconds) if I turned the wrong way accidentally.
As if the heart as a muscle itself was twinging at the presence of the leads being screwed int...

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Day 2 Post-op Painful Breathing

I am still having immense pain when I breathe. Is this normal? I can't even take a full breath. When I came out of recovery yesterday I was in so much pain with each breath they gave me verced (basically knocked out again) and took x-rays and an ekg or echo but said everything seemed ok, then late last night the pain was so bad I went to the ER and spent 5 hours there where they took another x-ray and drew some blood. They gave me a shot for pain and sent me home with a muscle relaxer. I woke up...

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muscle spasm's

Just had a Medtronics BIVICD bi-ventricular icd installed Monday, 5/6/14. I was down to 23-4 % heart function (ejection fraction) So Tim decided it was time for the big one. Tim Kreth is my cardiologist and Tommy (Tom Williams) did the surgery. I am asking for feedback because I won't see Tom till Tuesday and I am having a lot of muscle contractions on the left side and belly (possibly the diaphram) strong enough when I lay on my stomach or right or left side Karen can feel it through the ma...

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New Member

First post, and a bit of an introduction.

I had a pacemaker fitted on 6th May, 3 days ago, having been found to have AV block (Mobitz type 2). This came as a bit of a shock, as I am fitter and feel better than I ever have (50 years old). I had no symptoms at all, and was only caught by a pulse rate check at a blood donation session. In UK, they have a threshold of 50bpm, and they found my resting rate was below and irregular. Initial thoughts from the docs were that this was just due...

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Unbelievably LONG day!

Surgery Update • • • Really REALLY Long Day! :/ My son, Joseph, brought me to OMC bright and early at 7:30 am. My procedure was scheduled to begin at 9:00 but I believe it was more like 10:00. Not sure because I fell asleep waiting :) Anyway as I was coming out of the anesthesia every single breath in or out caused me immense pain (I vauguely remember moaning with each breath). Well I heard them say they were going to give me verced and the next thing I remember is waking up a while later...

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The final countdown

I know, I know, I really need to go to bed because I have to be at the hospital by 7:30 am. I guess I am just trying to pretend I don't need to have this done but I'm alone and I'm scared and I wish I didn't have to have my heart worked on :( I couldn't sleep last night either; maybe two or three hours. But before I fell asleep I thought to myself... I have lived for 56 years and NEVER gave a thought to my heart at all, not ever. When I watched the echo of my very own heart and watched the valve...

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pacer infection

Pacemaker implanted 2010 is now infected. It appears my body is rejecting the device. I met with cardiologist yesterday and he said the device and leads must be removed. So i will have surgery May 09, 2014 to remove old pacemaker and leads on my right side. Then a new pacer will be implanted on my left side. Whew this will be my fourth device since 2004!

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Joining the Club Soon!

I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum section. I just wanted to just introduce myself.

My name is David. I am 41 years old and I am happily married and the proud father of three children (ages 8, 7, & 3).

When I was 4 I had open heart surgery to for sub aortic stenosis. During this surgery there was some damage done which created a left bundle branch block. Since that time I have lead a very active lifestyle. Probably more active than the doctors would have liked. I...

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.