Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Back from my appointment

Hi,

I just got back from my doctor's appointment. I'm very lucky to have a great cardiologist. He is very patient and answered all my questions.

Many thanks to all the support I got from this club here. Just want to leave this post to let the new comers know that you've come to the right place!

Michelle

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Questions to ask my doc before surgery

Hi, it's me again. :)

The more I read the posts here, the more I think I overlook the whole thing. All I knew before was that I am to get a device and I won't be afraid of fainting when driving ever again. It seems I should have been more prepared but I'm not.

I'm going to have a pre-op consultation when my surgery date approaches, but I managed to squeeze in another appointment with my cardiologist tomorrow. Any suggestions on what questions I should ask my doctor?

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Incisions, incisions.

I've read several posts regarding the manner in which the surgeon made the incision on his patient when implanting the pacemaker. Many people have disclosed their scar is either horizontal or vertical. My PM scar is diagonal on the left side of my chest. If I were to draw a line from my left armpit to the left side of my neck, the scar would be parallel with that. I was just wondering if it really matters which way the incision is made, or maybe it's just the surgeon's "signature" move.

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How soon can I get back to work?

Hi,

I posted my worry and immediately I got support that warms my heart. Thank you. Thanks for everyone that read my post.

As I read more, I noticed that most people took quite some time off work. I don't think I'm pacemaker dependent as most of the time I am energetic. I plan to have it done on a Thursday, take a rest on Friday and go back to work on the next Monday. I can't afford to lose more days at work. I'm an in-house translator so I work literally at my d...

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I'd like to get some info.

Hi, I just joined this club. I'm 48 years old. Female. Overweight. Well-controlled diabetes and hypertension. Exercise 30 minutes/2 to 3 times a week. (I know it's not enough.)

After wearing a monitor for a month, my doctor told me I need a pacemaker. I was on Metoprolol when I was first wearing the monitor. After stopping the medication for 2 weeks, my heart still showed symptoms. I was diagnosed with high grade AV block. In some of the daily report recorded by the monito...

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need some reassurance

I am 5 weeks post op for defib/pacemaker implant and having a uncomfortable pulling when I rise from a laying position. Also am going for first setting of device in10 days and am scared I will feel worse and live 2 hours from clinic. Also feel pinching upon movement, will that go away?

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Elective Replacement Indicator

I'm 31 with a Medtronic 1 lead pacemaker. I drop my PWaves.
Went in today she said I have 8 months left of battery but replacement might not be in 8 months they have to wait for the Elective Replacement Indicator. Kind of annoying because she couldn't give me a time frame.

Does anyone have experience with knowing when and what the time frame is?

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Burning sensation in left forearm and wrist

Hi there, I'm a 34 year old female.
I had a PM inserted sub Pec 1 month ago and for the last 3 weeks I've had a burning pain when stretching out my arm or abducting it away from my body. Could it be nerve damage? Could it be inflammation in the shoulder joint?

I have since returned to crossfit starting at 50% capacity and no lifting as yet just cardio. I am concerned this wont approve. Is it to early to start Physio?

I find that picking something up off the ground sen...

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Shoulder pain

Hi I am Melinda New to the pacemaker world
.I am one month out from surgery.Still trying to figure how much or how little to use arm with implant. Any input on this would be helpful.Trying do what doctor says but several months of little use is a challenge. Thanks

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Skin still open

I have installed my PM at 06/12/2012, everything in order, except that my wound, occasionally opened, or rather the skin opens and closes. on 06/11/2014 I made another operation to set better PM. but the problem persists. I was visited to dermatologist and He gave a remedy , no result. and today my skin is 50% open, no infections or pain.

I have tried all, I never held tight clothes, I held the arm without moving for months, hang a month closed and then opened again. the skin is very...

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ILR and pacemaker

Has anyone had to have a pacemaker after having an ILR (loop recorder) implanted ? I know there will be movement restrictions and it will take langer to fully heal. I had an ILR in July of last year. The first night was pretty bad. Now is just an annoyance sometimes if I sleep wrong or hit it somehow. I am going in January 23rd for the pacemaker procedure and am a wondering about the recovery process differences. If anyone is willing to share who has had both done I would really appreciate it!...

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Recovery Time

The doctor said recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks, and I am now at 6 weeks. How do you know how long the recovery is supposed to take? I am 33 and usually heal quickly, but I don't know what it feels like to know I'm good to go. Any incite would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

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Scars

My scars are red, swollen, and recently more painful
I had my dual lead pacer removed and an new one implanted in September. It didn't work . So in late September it was revised.
This is about the 8th time since 2006 going into the same scar and it's sore
Yes I lnow its been 3 months, but the pain is becoming in bearable. Today it feels warm.
It appears the one scar (I have 3) is becoming a keloid scar and it's the one that hurts the most. It is also the one they ente...

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3 weeks tomorrow amd heart is pounding

My pacemaker was adjusted just last week at my 2 week check. Today I could fell my heart pounding and was a little uncomfortable while sitting. I put my heart rate monitor on and watched the rate stay between 72 to88t while sitting and up to 90 when I walked around. The pounding is concerning me.
I was told at my first check that I am pacing approx. 33% of the time. MY nurse shorted the response time of the PM. I have felt great up until this third week. I seem to tire easily again...

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pacemaker change

Hi everyone, I joined your site this morning and wanted to say hello. I am having my 1 lead pacemaker changed to a two lead one this coming Jan. I wanted to ask if their was anything I should ask before I have this done, that you wish someone had told you before the change?
Thanks, and I look forward to making some new friends from this site.

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Difficult procedure: why?

Hi folks, just joined club and finding it so helpful.
Quick background: very shocked 1 month ago to discover I had an acquired Heart Block. One day I felt a bit breathless, tired & dizzy; 3 days later in Coronary Care Unit (UK) with Level 2 heart block awaiting a PM; 3 days after that I was an emergency because I'd gone to Complete heart block.
Had very little briefing before procedure, and was utterly shocked at the physicality of it. Felt like Doc jumping up and down on chest and I w...

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Surgery Tomorrow

Hi All!
I'm a 23 year old, fit, female. I am scheduled for dual chamber pacemaker implantation tomorrow. For the past 4 years I've had an extrememly fast heartbeat, contrary to most members here. Normal resting range for me is 120-130 bpm. Recently I was diagnosed with episodes of SVT. I underwent an aggressive cardiac ablation procedure of the sinus node. The first 4 days post procedure were fine, but on the 5th day I was having skipped beats - I later found out my heart was also stopping...

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Yeast rash

Has anyone developed a yeast rash after surgery? I had my pacemaker put in friday dec 19. Any suggestions?

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New to pm

Hi my name is Lu. I just had my pacemaker installed on Friday, dec 19' I'm still nervous and today I was walkin around Walmart with my daughter an my left hand started swelling, began to get shaky. So we went to the ER an Bp was 206/86! By the time I left it was normal. Very strange. I'm still feeling some palpitations Other than that all seems to be going well. They said my hand was swollen cuz of being in the sling. Anyone have similar experiences? They put 2 leads in me. I am diabetic an h...

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3wks post op moved wrong

Yesterday I twisted to put my seatbelt on and got a sharp stabbing pain in my chest and arm. Hurt for about 2 minutes and then subsided for a couple minutes and then kept coming back. Over the next hour I had periodic pain and then pain and tingling down my arm and then numbness followed. During the next few hours was having very frequent palpitations and so when I got home I put my sling on and went to bed to try and not move it too much. Just woke up and have a lot of soreness in neck , sho...

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You know you're wired when...

The mortgage on your device is more than your house.

Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!