Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Car ride after placement

Hello all. I will be receiving my pacemaker this Tuesday. I will be staying one night in the hospital, and then will have a 4 hour drive home. My question is, do you think the 4 hour drive is a good idea the day after placement? Or should we plan on staying one more night in a hotel before we head home? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. 

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swollen ankles and feet post op

Good evening all. My mom had a pacemaker surgery 4 days ago. She has been home for 3 days and the swelling around her ankles and feet have not gone down. On fact they look worse. She is on metformin and enapril as well. Has anyone had similar swelling as well. Mon is 59. I'm quite worried. 

 

 

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Recovery from Implantation

I had my device implanted just over two weeks ago.  I was expecting to feel pretty good my now, but I still get very tired from very limited activity.  My followup visit suggested everything is working properly.  Perhaps I am just being impatient.  What is a reasonable expectation for how I should be feeling after two weeks and how long before I can expect to start feeling like getting after some exercises (walking, etc.)?

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pacemaker issues

Hi guys, I hope you all; are well. This is my first time posting here. My mom is 59 and had taken ill last tuesday. heart rate at 21, after tests docs put in a temp pace maker and a day later a perm one. she is diabetic and has high BP. since coming home, she has developed a cough and the swelling in her feet hasnt disapated. does anyone know whats going on, have you had this before.. any advice will be appreciated. excellent heath to you all.

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Preventative mastectomy with pacemaker

Help!! I need a preventative mastectomy ASAP. I haven't met with the surgeons yet but I'm worried that they won't do it bc I'm 100% pacemaker dependent. My appointment is May 4th. Has anyone else had any experience with this? Tia...Joy

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First time user!!

Hi All

My name is Chris, I'm a 57 year old lady. This time last week as far as I was concerned I was a fit (ish!) person with no health problems except for occasional rapid palpitations for which I'd had a 24 heart monitor recording on 3rd March. When the monitor was on I had not been aware of any palpitations or anything untoward at all. That all changed on Friday 31st March last week when I was food shopping in my local supermarket and I took a phone call from m...

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Sling and arm movement

I had my Pacemaker implanted five days ago. My question is regarding the sling and my arm movement.

Can I take the sling off during the day for a while and let my arm hang still or rest either on the desk or on my lap?

It feels very sore staying in the same position, specially at night.

Thank you

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Anyone have their PM in a different or alternate place?

Hi.   I'm 48 yr old recently divorced lady.  I have been putting off surgery for over a year.  I finally agreed to have the pacemaker implanted as long as I don't have to see the scar and the lump in my chest each day.   (I guess I'm just a vain whimp).  My doctor, along with a plastic surgeon, plans to place it in a pocket behind my breast. He says he has done this before.   I'm woundering if anyone has tried putting their pacemake...

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sore scar and irritant contact dermatitis

I wanted to mention this in case it helps someone else.  I noticed irritation (small red bumps) around the surgical glue on my incisions (I had an SICD removed and an ICD/pacemaker put in), almost immediately after surgery.  THis was my first time having surgical glue.  My last icd installation used steri strips.  The rash was tender and sometimes itchy and I figured I just had to wait it out until the glue came off.  WHen the glue finally came off, I had some spittin...

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One month

Hi Everyone',I just want to let you know that I check this forum every night.It has been such a blessing to me to read all of the posts and realize that I'm not alone in this.One month ago I had my PM installed.It has been a long month with lots of ups and downs but I am stronger and not as focused on "poor me" as I was.I saw my GP as soon as I got back home from FL where I had my surgery while on vacation.She told me I didn't need a cardiologist and wouldn't refer m...

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Exhausted.

Had a medtronic icd implanted feb 27th 2017.  Prior to that in oct i was 100% blocked on 9 arteries.  3 native, 3 first cabg 3 second cabg.  Doc unblocked all arteries in october with impella pump but it left me short of breath.  In jan he said ef was 20 and my signal was 128ms so he was putting a icd into me since i crossed the threshold of 114ms. 

Before i was short of breath but still got out and did the chores, watering feeding the critters and i was wo...

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Angry and Depressed

I am 3 weeks tomorrow since my pacemaker was implanted.I have barely had a sick day in my life .This happened so suddenly.I just can't wrap my head around it.I am an active 72 year old .Enjoy golf ,traveling and had a good life.What happens now?I read everything but it doesn't help me.Did anyone else have these feelings?

 

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Discomfort in pacemaker site

Hi All,

I received my pacemaker about a year and a half ago and all has been going pretty well! Here lately though, I have been noticing some discomfort and almost like a pressure type pain in the pacemaker area! This happens especially after I sleep on my left side. Also, my baby cousin pushed in on my pacemaker site by accident and it hurt A LOT!

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced discomfort a year or more after their pacemaker implantation!

Thanks! :)

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Post op

I am one week post op and can barely tie my shoes. My incision looks great, but with minimal exertion I get severe upper back pain. I am used to running 2-3 hard miles a day. I could not catch a turtle at this point. I am pacing at 60bmp,  which is way better than 30-40bpm. Why am I so short of breath and where are these back pains coming from?  Thanks! Denise 

 

 

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Re fatigue

Hi All 

thank you so much for your helpful and reassuring responses. 

Much appreciated. 

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How long before I feel less tired?

 Good morning and thank you for the welcome. This is my first visit to the site and I am so impressed by the care and help that is available by members for members. 

I am a young 77 year old lady and I had my pacemaker inserted last Monday 13th March 2017. The reason for my having it was sick sinus syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. 

 Prior to having it I was having some good days but some days when I was extremely fatigued an...

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Even more symptomatic after pm surgery

Hello all!

My name is Jen and I'm 36. I was diagnosed with Mobitz 2. I just had my pm placed a week ago. My question is, is it normal to be even more symptomatic then before pm surgery? I experienced fainting and slight feelings arrhythmia before but not anything like I feel now. There is no certain time I feel it. It's all the time. At rest. When I'm being active. It's like my heart is doing cartwheels and it takes my breath away. My pm rep said I'm pacing just...

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A V Node

Had the A V Node ablation done about 3 weeks ago. Still feel terrible. Can not explain to anyone how it feels. For those going through this, how long does it take to start feeling better?

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4 days post OP. How long does it take for your arm to become mobile

Hi all, I had a pacemaker fitted Monday(6th march 2017. I have sick sinus and complete heart block. I had it under the muscle. I still cannot really use my left arm. Struggling to dress, make food etc. I'm 33 and thought I would bounce back a lot quicker than I have. Can anyone tell me roughly when il get some movement back without the muscle pain? Thank you :) 

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Returning to a normal life with 2 young children

Hi everyone, 

This is my first post! I am a 31 year old mama to a 5yo and 2yo. I had a dual chamber PM implanted 11 days ago following an admission to hospital when I presented at A&E complaining of head pain and dizziness when moving, plus constant shortness of breathe and palpitations which I had been trying to ignore for a week or two.

 After an ECG I was told I had a total heart block and my symptoms wouldn't go away without a PM so after 20hrs of observ...

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Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.