Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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ablations

Hey everyone! I am 26 years old with long q-t syndrome and have an ICD. Since I gave birth to my daughter 3 months ago, I have been having awful flutters and palpitations. So much so, that my defibrillator has fired on me a few times. I have been put on verapamil and will be getting an ablation in February. My questions to you all are:
1) Have you had an ablation? Can you tell me about your experiences? What the procedure was like, how long, pain level and recovery time?
2) Has anyone...

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recovery

I'm at 4 weeks with new PM after aortic valve surgery and still am experiencing some discomfort where the PM was implanted. Feels generally uncomfortable but not really painful. I thought I'd feel better by now. I did have an initial checkup about a week after but won't see him again until the end of Jan. Is this normal?

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Removal of pacemaker

bfohj I had my pm removed after 9 yrs. leaving the wires in. Has anyone else here had the removal surgery? I'm having more pain a tugging and burning pain a month after! More pain then when it was put in? Incision is fine?

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First pacemaker

Hi,
I'm 49 years old and recently had a duel lead pacemaker fitted for atrial fibrillation.
Have previously had three ablations with little response so am now into my second week with a pm! very scary and my left arm is still really painful? is this normal?

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The Big Day!

So in a few hour I will have a pacemaker...I'm keeping my faith and I'm ready you guys! Wish me luck I just hope when the surgery is over I won't be in a lot of pain!

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New to here

I am 54 an was told today by my cardiologist I have to have a pacemaker. Would like to know how the surgery was with anyone. They tell me I will be somewhat awake. Did anyone feel anything during this surgery? I am a big baby am quite nervous. Thanks lu

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Simple questions

Was wondering how the recovery was after its done and can I go back to excersing right away? And how many people are there about my age have one and why? My doc sayes I have a slow heart rate . I also have sleep apnea, high blood pressure controlled with meds an I do use my Cpap an borderline diabetes. They always blame your weight tho.

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new

Well, I did it. 26 Nov got my 1st pm. A bit rough the first week.i was having a lot of pinching in my heat. About every 5 minutes accompanied with some angina in left arm. I should back up a bit a fill in some blanks I'm 62 yr old male in poor health.i got 5 Stent and some smaller blockages had 2 episode of ventricular tach which was helped by 2 chemical conversions. I Also had ablation in atrium where they did 5 burns.for A fib. I've had 2 spine surgery on my lower back ., 3 knee surgery 1 s...

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OK to raise left arm?

Thanks to all of you. I've learned more from this site than the DR. When I left the hospital October 15th I had to ware a sling on my left arm. About 2 weeks later they removed the staples and sling and said not to raise my elbow above shoulder height or lift anything with my left arm. I don't see the DR. till the end of January. Tomorrow it will 8 weeks with the PM and am considering going on the roof to cover vents, etc.. My weight lifting bench is dusty and I would like to start lifting...

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What to expect.

Got a pacemaker 4 days ago because of a Type 3 block. Had bunch of tests three months ago and cardiologist said I had Right Bundle Branch Block, but should be fine indefinitely. This was after the heart cath showed nothing but 8% block of one artery. Had low pulse then, but it was dismissed.

When I went to the hospital Wednesday and told them I felt intoxicated and had a slow pulse, it was like magic. Five minutes and I was undressed and hooked up to tons of stuff. The next day they p...

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New member & PM packer

October 14 had a St. Jude PM2240 installed in Las Vegas, NV. I was very active, walking and bicycling 5 or 6 days a week. Now I'm tired every afternoon. Occasional chest discomfort. I'm 71 years young. I want to get back on my Polaris rzr atv but not sure how soon I can go bouncing around out in the desert with wires in my hart. I get 0 returned calls from the Dr. They can't send a prescription to the pharmacy correctly. If I walk over 1/2 mile I get chest discomfort so I holding it dow...

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Pain

Hi I joined the site tonight! Exciting forum! had a St Jude Biventricular with a defibrillator implanted 3 weeks ago. I am quite a slight woman, but I broke my left shoulder 8 months ago and obviously they must have had to pull and push around my collarbone and shoulder to get it in. The actual scar looks like a little cat scratch and doesn't hurt but the shoulder is very sore. Any advice?

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New to Pacemaker Club and General Questions

Hello

Towards the last part of September I had got up out of bed to use the restroom and could have sworn my left knee gave out as my Knee joints are bone to bone. Well I woke up three hours later on the the floor with a dent in my head and Carpet Rash. Dent in my head was from the chair leg I struck on the way down. Well after that I threwup and went back to bed. I was pretty sure I had a concussion. Well got up went to church, run sound board, folks in booth said I was acting weird...

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Going in to get PM in two days

Ok here I am a 39 yr old woman who went for a tilt table test just to rule it out. Dr said he expected nothing from the test. after 20 minutes I passed out and when I came to the Dr told me that my blood pressure never dropped but my heart just stopped several times and the one where I passed out I had stopped for 7 seconds and because of lack of oxygen I went into a seizure. Now in two days I am scheduled to go in and get a pacemaker. I am terrified. I don't know a lot about all of this an...

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Recommend cardiologist

Hi group,

3 weeks before the insertion of my pacemaker my cardiologist has decided to become a private doctor and no longer accept health insurance. He was my 5th electro cardiologist.

I am at my whits end, we finally found a doctor who didn't write of a 25 year old with hypoxic seizures, syncope, extreme fatigue and lethargy and then we hit another barrier. We tried medication, stockings, salts, and have had every test in the book. Alas, still symptomatic on pretty much a...

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Burning pain

Ok I'm 37 years old and have just had a ICD put in two wks ago. I am experiencing severe burning pain coming from the site. Is that normal? It travels from the incision down my arm and feels like a burned myself. It's a really sharp burning pain that takes ur breath away. Is this normal? Compared to all my surgeries, this is a minor one for me. Any assistance is appreciated. Besides the burning pain, the pain is minimal. I figure if I can deal with cancer as a kid and then being pregnant and ge...

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Heart palpitations after PM replacement

I just had a replacement of my pacemaker a week ago after 7 years. Now I am told I am completely pacemaker dependent. I had to have a temporary pacemaker inserted from the femoral vein during the surgery. Since the surgery I have been having many episodes each day of 4 to 8 hard pounding heart beats in a row, then 2 normal, and then 2 more hard ones. I have more of these episodes soon after going to bed continuing for at least an hour. I don't have any SOB with them but they are not comfo...

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Accidentally hit pacemaker 5 days post implantatio

Five days after my first submuschular implantation of a pacemaker. So far I've been pedantic about following the doctor's instructions concerning not raising my left hand or carrying stuff in it, but an hour ago I'm pulling up the left sleeve of my sweater with my right hand to do some dishes. BAM!, I slip and right hand goes up and hits right over where the pacemaker is placed, pretty much from below, at perhaps a 45 degree angle. It's nowhere near the incision site, which is a good bit further...

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Bra's

Hi all,
Was looking for a bra that would work with my pacemaker which was inserted June 2014. Low and behold there are bra strap cushions that are silicone that you can insert your bra strap into. Works wonderful!!!! Still prefer to use strapless bras but sometimes they are tight and hurt so this is perfect. Google "bra strap cushions". The package I bought was from Maidenform but there are others. I like the silicone ones since they don't show under most clothes. I am so much happie...

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Waterproof bandage

Hello!

I am a new member who was scheduled for an ablation on 11/17/14 but needed a pacemaker instead. The pacemaker was inserted on 11/18 and a waterproof bandage was used. Until this morning, the bandage remained the same color but after my shower today, parts of it seemed darker. My incision itself doesn't feel any different but I am concerned about the bandage which doesn't come off until 11/28. Should I be concerned?

Thanks!

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You know you're wired when...

You invested in the Energizer battery company.

Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.