Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Sweats on day two of PC

Six weeks ago I had a Hystrectomy, when I woke up the cardio doctors were trying to decide if a PC was needed. It was decided that maybe it was temporary. It was not. Yesterday I got a PC, I am 43 on no meds other that the pain meds and antibotics for PC. Today, the St. Jude rep came in to review and said my PC was pacing 30% over night. While reading, I started sweating a lot . I got calming and had to lay back down. He then put the devise again to make sure my HR was still normal. It was...

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Panic Attack

I have a terrible time undergoing certain procedures and go into panic mode!

Twice I have had MRI procedures halted or stopped before the imaging was complete because I started going into a panic attack and felt like I was going to have cardiac failure!

For those of you that have had the implant done, do they administer sedatives prior and during the procedure? Is it similar to the sedatives you get when you undergo a colonoscopy or heart cath? I can handle that!
<...

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Owww!

I just had a pacemaker put in today, and did not expect it to hurt THIS MUCH!! I can't sleep, or find any comfortable position - my whole left arm and shoulder feels completely frozen up and any movement is agony. It's less than 24 hours since they've done the procedure, so obviously it's really recent, and I am taking the recommended painkillers but it's just not achieving anything. Is this sort of pain normal? How long can I expect it to last? And does anyone have any tips for dealing with the...

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change of pacemaker

Hi I have a dual chamber metronics pacemaker since 2005 . now my doc is recommending biotroniks. I have has a very good experience with metronics device no issues whatsoever. please give me you feedback on which company pacemakers are better, should i switch to biotroniks.

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Itchy scar

I'm into the 6th month after insertion and my scar is still tender and itchy...any suggestions?

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May Have Pacemaker Implant Soon

Hello,
I am a first-timer here. I hope that I'm posting my question within the right group.

Although I am new to Pacemakers and/or ICD's, I am not new to heart issues. I have undergone three (3) Open-Heart Surgeries and I have two mechanical heart valves.

My issues began at the age of 24; I am now 63 years old and very fortunate to be alive!

After my last OHS in 2006, I started having A-fib issues and they have progressively gotten worse. My cardiologi...

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a little discouraged by PVCs on my interrogation

So I am seven weeks post implantation with my first CRT-D. I've really had trouble sleeping since day one, as I can't get into a comfortable position with my CRT-D. I also notice that since about the first month I've been having episodes of shortness of breath, but not as bad as I used to have pre-implant. I also still get tired walking fairly short distances but not as much as I used to. I try to be reasonable and tell myself I am still adjusting to the CRT-D.

What worries me is t...

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Pain when paces

I just received an emergency pacemaker last month. I can tell when it takes control and paces It hurts and about 10 minutes later I feel light headed. Is this normal?

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advice please

Hello everybody
Im 65 with Id dilated cardiomyopath diagnosed in2010 on optimum meds. In last 6 months I have got to feel increasingly awful and I asked if a pacemaker would help anyway they did some more tests and my EF was low and last Friday the NHS gave me a Meditronic viva Quad. How soon will I start to feel any better as this is a last ditch stand,between me and having to give up work. I need to carry on but if this does not improve things i will not be able to.
Very bruised an...

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New Pacemaker Receipient

Hello all. Just had pacemaker installed one week ago and am finally back home. It all came as a shock to me as I was feeling fine with no obvious indicators leading up to my blacking out. Turns out I had a low heart rate. I am 69 years old and was an active person exercising regularly. My question is whether others have experienced discomfort after sneezing or coughing soon after implant?

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Considering 2nd Ablation Surgery

Hello,

Was wondering who has had a 2nd Ablation? I had my 1st surgery
about a year and a couple of months ago. We have been trying to get me on Medications that will keep me from going into Atrial Fib. Seems like all we have tried have failed to keep me from Fib events and the side effects are hard for me to tolerate. Am currently on Sotalol 120 mgs in am and pm. Feel like the walking dead and have back and shoulder pain. I have a Pacemaker put in around the same time and have fi...

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Weight Gain ;(


Weight gain..... I have gained 7 lbs in a month after getting my implant. I walk 7 MILES A DAY. I have been eating a lot of comfort food, but it's what I am craving. I thought the walking would balance that out. Has anyone else had problems with weight gain post-surgery?

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Decision time on getting a PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here, and recently have been diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope. I'm in my mid-30's and had a tilt table test done recently. I passed out around 13 minutes and flatlined for 10 seconds. My cardiologist is recommending I get a pacemaker very soon.

I have no history of fainting. I have been getting a slight dizzy feeling the past month or so, but never have come close to passing out. I'm going to see an EP soon, and just want to get a second op...

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Lead Extraction and Disney World

In the next two weeks, I am having a St. Jude Lead extracted. I am also going to Disney World in 8 weeks. I wanted to check to see how everyone felt after a lead extraction. My doctor gave me the green light, but I'm nervous about such a demanding trip so soon.

I had a lead capped and another lead inserted about two years ago . (Yes, second St. Jude lead to fail). I was back to work in about a week. Just wanted to get some other people's thoughts.

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Pacemaker operation

Hello.

I am a 26-year old man from Norway. I currently have my pacemaker placed under the skin. Today i was going to get an operation, to place my pacemaker under the chest-muscle, and i have been looking forward to this moment for two long years. In the last minutes though, my doctors and surgeons refused to do it, because it is too dangerous and so on. As i understood them, i was not going to get this operation anywhere in Norway, but they said that if i was still sure of doing thi...

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Getting things off my chest.

Hi Everyone,
I am so grateful this site exists and that people have shared some of their experiences. How valuable and deeply touching. I have a family history of cardiomyopathy and have felt quite lucky to have cruised through life asymptomatic with no restrictions to exercise and lifestyle compared to others in my family who have had significant challenges throughout. I recently turned 40 and spent much of my 30's pregnant/breastfeeding/in chronic back and hip pain. The kids are olde...

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Infection or Stitch Abscess?

Hi All,

I'm just 5.5 weeks post op and I had some purulent drainage from the top of my incision (it's sub pectoral, so the incision runs along my axilla). I think it was just a stitch abscess, but my EP admitted me to the hospital and now has me on 6 weeks of Vanco through a PICC line with NO positive cultures of the drainage or the blood. Lab work is 100% fine. The echo was find and he even did an ultrasound over the incision line to see if there was anything there, and there wasn...

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Pacemaker might have moved?

I'm still healing and I'm worried about everything healing well. I enitialy felt a bump where the pacemaker was placed above the incision line. Now it's almost gone and the little I can feel is directly on the incision or below it. Is this normal? Should I be worried?

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38 and wired

I has surgery 8 days ago. Just took a real shower today. I live in a rural part of Alaska and was given a st Jude model because of its remote ability to transmit info to my doctors office. So far I've seen some good signs and bad. I'm able to walk and do more without being totally out of breath and exhausted. Mst of the swelling has gone down. I have had some continued arrhythmia's and one panic attack. I'm also still waiting for Cell phone adapter that should have been given to me before I left...

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Knee replacement

Have a pm -- 77 years old - considering total knee replacement. Comments?

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You know you're wired when...

Airport security gives you free massages.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.