Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Ablation longevity

Does anyone know what the longevity is for ablation surgery? This is slightly off topic but several members have talked about having an ablation for afib in addition to having a pacemaker.

I'm trying to find out how long the ablation surgery keeps the heart from going into afib. Does the procedure keep afib away for a year, five years, indefinitely?

On a second note, APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) was turned on on my pacemaker. APP is supposed to help with afib. My...

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Hi

Hi
I am new. Getting a PM on 01/04/2014 and very very very scared

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Strange sensations when healing??

Hello all,

I just got my first pacemaker exactly 1 week ago. I am 22 and got surgery because I have a low heart rate (high 40s) and fainted from time to time, when apparently I would flat line for a few seconds. My pacer is set to kick in only when my rate goes below 40.

The first weekend I had my pacer, I had impulses in my left chest frequently throughout the day that I assumed was the pacemaker pacing. When I went to the doctor on Monday they checked my pacer and it had...

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PM implemented and on the mend

I had my Medtronics Advisa dual lead PM installed Monday morning with no complications. My cardiologist and EP were fantastic and the staff and facilities at Centennial Heart were great I came home yesterday and am have hardly any pain or problems (knock on wood...don't want to jinx myself). Starting to feel much better! I do have a couple questions that some of you may have experience with...

Yesterday when they interrogated my PM, they dropped my pacing out to allow my heart to b...

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Swollen Itchy armpit

Had a pacemaker put in December 10th. Since then things are better ( finally, it was a slow recovery for me). However the skin area between and just inside my left armpit right next to the pacer site is still somewhat swollen and it gets pretty itchy from time to time. It seems to get worse after there is friction, say from tighter fitting arm holes in my tops. The itching is more surface itch on the skin. There's no bump and not really any pain but it does feel a little tighter and more tender...

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fearful

I had few episodes of arrythmia a week ago and in hospital awaiting defib implant in 4 days. Having 2nd thoughts, fearful of shocks, dont think i can go thru with this. Would pacemaker suffice? Do not qualify fo like vest because episodes not ling enough.

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9 days post-surgery

I had my PM put in 9 days ago. I recently turned 40 and never dreamed I would need a PM at this stage in my life, but ended up in the ER with Total Heartblock and after 5-days of testing agreed to the PM. I was told I would have more energy, instead, I have none. Since the surgery, I feel like I only get energy in two-hour increments, then I am exhausted and need to lie down. Is this normal? I also had dizzy spells which when I called my surgeon about, he told me I shouldn't worry about. S...

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getting there

hi had my pacemaker installed on feb 18 on discharge got a real bad coughe brought up small amount of flem doctor said it was with medicine change should go away in couple days went to get pacemaker checked 3days later nurse was concerned about cough had doc change med straight away two days later cough was worse and my breathing was laboured lots of gurgling souds but nothing coming off went to emergency clinic they found i had a chest infection got antibiotics bringing lots...

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Surgery Scheduled

I have 3rd degree AV Node block and have since birth. I have been feeling run down lately and starting to feel odd when I am in physical exercise situations. I posted in December requesting opinions on the decision to get a pacemaker now...before it became an emergency situation and the decisions are taken out of my hands.

I have scheduled my procedure for March 10th to receive a 2 lead Medtronics device. I have been reading many posts here in preparing myself on what to expect....

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Pacemaker/Defibrillator

A month ago had a Medtronic Pacemaker/Defibrillator implanted. Have noticed that since then I have had a problem being out of breath with the smallest activity. And find the unit is very uncomfortable. I am not new to implants. I had my first Medtronic device implanted in 2003 and the second in 2012. Never had trouble of any kind with either of them. Was walking up to 5 miles a day and was unaware of any problem until my checkup in December. Then a month later, after a cardiopsyiology stu...

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My Brother

So I am here on the behalf of my brother who is far from internet savy. He had a pace maker/ difib put in about a month ago. His recovery has been up and down and from what I have read that seems to be the norm. My question is about his feet, which is the reason they installed the device. He had been having major issue for about a year from losing a lot of weight to being tired all the time, then in November he noticed that his feet were off color. They looked a little blue and then in Dece...

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DDDR Mode Switching Pacemaker

Hi there, I have only joined today and am hoping to learn all about my up and coming Pacemaker implant because of 12 years living with Atrial Fibrilitation. I have no idea what to expect and have no idea what the intended Pacemaker is likely to do. There is a waiting list of 10 to 16 weeks here in Truro so I have plenty of time to prepare for this op.
As I am 77 years old, my cardiologist/EP told me that after all the different medications I have been on over the years which do not seem to...

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increased blood pressure

6 weeks ago my Pacemaker was implanted. Prior to the implant I had (in the past) taken Lisinopril 2.5 m with great success. My EP Cardio prescribed 5 ml Lisinopril but my BP has started to be higher than normal.
Is this a side effect of the Pacemaker?
When will the site discomfort and "bump" go away?
Help
Thanks

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Going in for my first Pacemaker

Hi there

I'm going in for my first pacemaker in 2 days time. I'm 20 years old and have been fainting regularly for about 7 years now. I've been to so many doctors over the many years, had MRI's (they found an arterial venous malformation and thought it could be the cause but no such luck), EEGs, ECGs and all sorts of tests. In the last 4 months, my resting heart rate has dropped noticeably. It's now in the low 40s and whilst i'm young, I am by no means extremely fit. So finally the on...

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New Pacemaker

Hello, I am a new pacemaker recipient, two leads. I had my surgery three weeks ago. How long is the recovery process and what are some restrictions on exercise?

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Surgery Set!

My surgery to replace my PM is finally set! Thank you especially to TracyE, Theknotguy, BillMFl, and everyone else that has given me advice or answered questions I've had.

I was able to finally get the 4 surgeons to agree on a date to change out this PM. It is currently in my abdomen and I need a cardiothoracic to open and take it out, I have a specialist cardiothoracic to make a side incision, my EP to assist with placement/put in new leads, and plastics to sew up my 3 incisions. <...

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Stasbbing Feeling on RS of Pacemaker?

On Nov. 23, I had surgery and a Biotronix Pacemaker was put in after me practically dying on the morning of the 18th. I feel so much better after going back for a checkup for the second time but, "on and off", I feel this stabbing sharp pain on the RS of the pacemaker, center chest, and it comes and goes for about 5 sec. It is not pleasant, it catches me and makes me feel worry. The last visit at the doctor's office was a success since she shut down the CLS and tone down the strength of the...

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Lead Revision Surgery

Hey guys! Just got home from an overnight stay, glad to be done! They left the original generator in (st jude accent). I'm 25 years old. My doc opened me up and discovered what they had thought, fractures in both leads under the collarbone. They were un-repairable so they took them out. Luckily I've only had them for 2.5 years, so they were able to come out without laser assistance. Felt weird as hell though guys, pretty uncomfortable when they were tugging, but a huge relief when they came...

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Bio oil for scars

Hi, I had my PM 2 weeks ago. My work Occupational Health person suggested that I should use bio oil on the scar to improve it appearance for the future. She said it was ok to use very brisk deep kneading rubbing movements on the scar. I am worried about touching the scar especially so vigorously when it is so new and tender. Does anybody else treat the scar with anything?

I did some ironing today with my right hand and my scar felt a bit painful (left side). Can you tell if you have d...

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Back Again, Issues still

Hi everyone,

Well its been two months since I had ablation that did not work, pacemaker implant rule medtronics.
After one month of short of breath went back again to EP and finally got his attention,it was a slow day for him. HR was set at 70 I was sob sweating and just pooped out by two pm, he said I was pacing at 80% so he dropped me back to 60.
This time I waited thirty min in the office to see if there was a immediate change before I left the office. I felt better.. At...

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Member Quotes

Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.