Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Two Weeks With My PM/1st Post Op Mtg w/Doctors

Today marks 2 weeks since I got my PM/2 stents and I have my first post op meeting with the doctors tomorrow. I have a lot of questions but not sure I have the right questions. Here are a few I have - any other suggestions?

What the hell happened to me and why?

     Did I do something to bring it on?

     Just genetics?

     Was my heart damaged?

What can't I do going forward?

What should...

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New PM recipient

Hi, all!

This is my first post.

On 1/4/17 I had an incident while wearing a LINQ monitor, that turned out to be a 13-second heart pause. We decided this had been my fifth such incident in 4 years, and we went ahead and implanted a Boston Scientific Accolade MRI EL on the 6th..

I was worried about my recovery, as it took almost 9 days for the arm to feel better, but after two weeks, it was back to normal - mobile, no longer itching, no longer being babied.

My probl...

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After surgery

Hi, I had my pacemaker fitted on the 6th January 2017.  All went well.

It is now 2 weeks and I still ache a bit and also still sore . How long does it take to wear off.

Or is it mind over matter, because its a new thing i am concious of it.

Thanks  Jillygirl.

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Upcoming surgery

Hello- I am Sandra and I am scheduled for pacemaker surgery next Wednesday as an out patient.  I will go to the center in the morning and be dismissed that afternoon.  On one hand I will be glad to be in my own bed that evening but on the other hand a little concerned.  I think I would be more comfortable being monitored 24 hours after having a surgery that involves my heart.  Is this becoming more common?  I am so glad I found this site - have learned so many good ti...

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Using arm

I am having a hard time not using my left arm.  I wore the sling a couple of days and that helped.  However since the site has quit hurting I forget and find myself doing things with my left arm I should not be doing!  Any suggestions on how to remind myself not to do this?  I can wear the sling again I suppose!  Has anyone on this forum had their leads come loose from overusing their arm?  Apparently that is the risk I am taking....

diana

 

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Swelling got a bit worse

Hi

So I had surgery 5 weeks ago. Afterwards I HD a bad haematoma which made the wound reopen and bleed for a week. It's healed now but the swelling which had just come down has for the past week felt bigger and tighter. Has anyone else had this? Had 3 courses of antibiotics in the time too to prevent infection of haematoma and treat a small wound infection but no redness or heat just a bit more tenderness.

 

Thank you

 

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Is 3 weeks post implant too soon to fly overseas?

My doc thinks that the chance of lead displacement 3 weeks post is not worth the risk which he puts at just 1 per cent. My pm was needed due to fainting and it is not pacing me but picks up the bottom chamber beats from the working sinus node, which is the upper pace setter.  No heart disease. I would take it easy once I got there and have family to fly with and help out. It would be a 7 hr flight and then a 3 hr bus ride.  My family will be skiing which I can't do but...

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Third day in

It is now 48 hours since my implantation.   I am not sure how much this has improved my symptoms yet (Sick Sinus Syndrome) because my symtoms have been episodic.    I feel surprisingly good otherwise.  Little sorness at the sight, little interuption with sleep.   I am planning to take the initial dressing off my wound this morning and replace it.   Has showering been a problem for many of you?   I was told to keep moisture on the site to a minimum and t...

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Post procedure

I had my pacemaker implanted on Monday and went home Tuesday morning.  The incision pain is slowly getting better.  It has lasted longer then I thought it would.  The big thing for me is that I notice every little ache and pain.  I have had some shoulder pain, back pain and even some chest pain!  it has taken everything in me to not go to the ER.  I am thinking at this point it is part of the healing process. As I work through having the need for a pacemaker...

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getting a pacemaker in 1 week

I backed out of this procedure 6 weeks ago when my cardiologist gave me an out.  I had a bad summer but after I was scheduled I began feeling much better.   I was minutes away from surgery (they prefer procedure,) sitting in my hospital gown and with an I-V in both arms and he asked if I wanted to postpone.  If the surgeon says this after all the trouble they went to, maybe the time wasn't right.  I called it off.  After another 30-day event monitor...

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Just got the news

HI!  I just got the news today that I need a pacemaker...I am still trying to recover from this news. It was totally unexpected.  Though I guess if I had really thought about my symptoms I would have figured it out!

So, I was too surprised to ask questions in the doc's office. So I have a couple.  

I am a college professor and go back to work tomorrow.  How long should I plan on being off from work?

Any brand of pacemaker I should research?  I am...

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PM surgery when pregnant

I am 33 years old and I unexpectedly had to have my PM changed when I was 17 weeks pregnant with my second child.

I really struggled to find anyone else who had been in this situation before so wanted to share my experience on this group. Obviously all involved were very concerned regarding the baby but the operation was a great success .

I had to go under general anesthetic as my PM is located under my chest muscle so as to not be so visible and so my cardiologist felt local anes...

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LOST MY POST. WRITING NEW ONE HERE.

So I tld you that I had two pauses of AV Block II, but the docs said I did not need a PM. Anyay are scheduled to do another monitoring january.
Now, I have become more aware of everything "herat".
So this is a weird one. If I check my pulse on my neck. I feel its steady and nice. If I then "pull the edge of my ribcage, and let go" (i know, sounds weird), there is an actual delay in the reythm/pulse. Like : babam -- Babam -- Babam -- (then I pull and let go) Babam...

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New here

I see several newbies here including me. Pacemaker surgery 12/16/16. I have afib and some too long pauses - the reason for the ICD. I really don't know how this is working yet. I attributed some of my symptoms to my age, I am 87, when in reality it was the afib. I see my PP tomorrow so maybe she can answer some of my questions. My question here - is were you automatically prescribed a blood thinner (eliquis) following the implant? I have gained 5lbs. in three days and couldn't sl...

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Brand New to PaceMaker

I had my pacemaker surgery last Friday, 12/16/16. I fainted for a few seconds at work earlier in the week. Went to Urgent Care and was put on a Holter monitor. I told the UC doctor that I had been told in 2003/2004, after a treadmill stress test, I had a Left Branch Bundle Block in my heart but that it would take many, many years for it to become a problem. Wore monitor for 24 hours. Finally, received a phone call from primary doctor's office to go see the cardiol...

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47 male good health suddenly told I'm getting a pacemaker next week 28.th Dec

Pretty well knocked sideways by this but trying to appreciate I'm probably pretty lucky they have diagnosed me from a general check up..

Any advice on what this is going to be like? How will it compromise my current carefree lifestyle.

 

 Cheers 

Jamie (UK)

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I just turned 50 had a PM implanted a week after my birthday

Just had a pacemaker implanted 4 days ago thank God it is MRI compatible because I suffer from back issues trying to determine how long I will feel sluggish and out of breath after a little activity I do maintenance at a apartment so both of my arms are critical to perform my job the surgeon who implanted the PM sad after 2 weeks I would be back to normal but one of his associates said it would be 6 weeks any advice from y'all would be much appreciated the surgery was performed at UAB Med...

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Scared Newbie

Hey everyone, I had pacemaker placed 9 days ago.  Still quite a bit of discomfort around the incision site, mostly feels like a searing or buring sensation.  Sometimes I feel like a warm fluid sensation in and around the pacemaker and my heart.  I was told the incision looks great and that theses are normal typs of things.

This whole things completely blindsided me.  I was perfectly healthy one day, my family history of any kind, no prior medical issues (except child...

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Painful breathing

Hi everyone! I had my pm inserted 9  days ago.  Still dealing with acceptance issues, I was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and since it is mostly seen in older people, at times I'm in denial. 

I've had pain right below the sternum only when taking deep breaths since the first day. The chest xray is normal, leads in good place, the wound is healing well with mild discomfort as expected. Has anyone had something like this? Could it be paIn from the cables?<...

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Laser lead extraction

Hi.

Has anyone ever had a laser lead extraction done before? I have a one lead PM that was due to be replaced tomorrow for a two lead PM. I had a venogram today where it was discovered that I have too much scar tissue around the current lead and the above procedure would need to take place before replacement with a two lead PM. I'd like to know the risks of this procedure, and if anyone had any complications while or after having it done. Thanks

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You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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I just had this miracle implanted two weeks ago and I’m feeling better.