Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Stinging wound.

I'm 6 weeks post op after lead and defib replacement. Woke up yesterday with stinging sensations in my wound that I'd not felt before and it was really pretty painful. Later in the day decided to have a look at said wound and saw something light coloured sticking out ... so I pulled on it and out came a piece of 'dissolvable' suture. And voila, the stinging was gone. I learn something new every day. 

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Struggling

Hi I have just joined pacemaker club as have been struggling and any questions I type into a search engine seem to take me to this club : ) I had my biotronik dual valve pacemaker put in 8 days ago and have been feeling really tearful for the last four day, still have a dizzyness and very tired, have managed to cut down painkillers during day but so painful at night, which seems to be positional and can't lie in any one position for too long. I was diagnosed with heart block and it was fe...

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Two plus years, post PM

Surgury & Recovery apply NOT !

There is nothing to report, health-wise.. The PM, its presence are are no more than a wart on a toad.. Thus, a wonderful age in which to live.

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anxiety about leads dislodging while healing and some questions

Hello everyone. I got my ICD 12 days ago. 

I have been reading that many of us get really bad anxiety after the procedure. I have GAD/panic disorder already and am concerned that it will get worse. I can say that after finding this site a few hours ago and pouring through the forum I feel more at ease with it.

One of my concerns is that the leads may dislodge before the 4 weeks healing is up and I will have to get it redone. I tend to raise my arms in my sleep; already I have...

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Incision site

I am almost 5 weeks post op.  The incision site gets itchy.  Do you know if its ok to put lotion on it.

 

Thanks 

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Av nodal ablation

Not sure where to start. I have an extensive history of svt and nothing has worked to clam it down. My doctor said he is going to do an av nodal ablation. However he said he was just going to ablate a small “piece” of it. He said this brings a risk of needing a pacemaker. He said I might need 2 ablations at separate times so my heart doesn’t end up going too slow. I’ve  searched high and low for this procedure and all I come across is the av node being a...

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Battery Replacement/ Health Insurance

Good afternoon!

My husband has had his second pacemaker (st. Jude) since 2010. Last year he had 3 years left. Last month it had depleted to 4 months- along with all the recall problems.  Our doctor was ready to schedule his surgery for our picked time frame of around thanksgiving until his nurse called St. Jude for recall questions. Now they are saying they cannot replace until it gets to a certain point. 

His home test disconnected, so we have to go in for check ups. He...

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New PM

I am almost 4 weeks since getting my pacemaker.  I did not know if anyone has experienced any fatigue within the first month of recovery.   By the end of the day I am tired.  Also my arm/shoulder of the side it was implanted is sore.  I am only 46 years old.

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Pacemaker for 3rd Degree (Complete) Heart Block

Hi all,

I am 29 and just got diagnosed with 3rd degree heart block. I will be getting a pacemaker installed in a few days. I am worried and anxious but reading these forums has reassured me that the surgery will go well and I will be able to live a healthy active life. Does anyone else have experience with pacemakers for 3rd degree heart block? Thanks.

 

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We need a little hope/ CTR+D

Good morning! My husband received his CTR D last May. However, this has represented the emergence of certain symptoms; Edema and lack of oxygen. Everyone said that this would change her life and it really is. It's 39 years after being an athlete now it's almost impossible to climb the stairs.It feels good for a few days and the symptoms return.

I wonder if any of you have gone through something similar and after a while got better results. His diagnosis is a dilated cardiomyopat...

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New PM

I am 46yo and had my pacemaker put in 3 weeks ago.   Its a dual chamber.  No history and a 2nd degree heart block with symptoms only presenting a.week prior.  Currently i am getting a feeling in my chest like a little thump or vibration that only last a second and it is putting my anxiety through the roof.  Not sure if this is normal or not.  Just started so I haven't called the doctor yet.  Has anyone else ever experienced this

 

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First Pacemaker questions

I just got my first pacemaker implanted 2 weeks ago, and to day was my follow up appointment. I had bradychardia and an RBBB before the pacemaker that was causing obvious symptoms like fatigue. I havent experianced much of a change in my energy levels like i was expecting though. I almost passed out at a football game the other day and it is still very difficult for me to shower without feeling weak. At my appointment today my chardiologist told me my blood pressure is low. I'm looki...

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Raising blood pressure

Hello all,

I had a PM fitted 6 weeks ago, so there's a lot going on in my mind and body right now.

My main question regards blood pressure - I had a tilt test a couple of days ago, and fainted. The doctor said I had no blood pressure, but I need to check that when I see my doctor in a couple of weeks (it sounds too crazy)

My question is, can I increase my blood pressure?

I've started eating savoury breakfasts, drinking lots of water, carrying salt sachets... I...

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freaking out here

I am 64 with LBBB, Dilated cardio myopathy, and A-fib, the latter diagnosed this past June, the LBBB and cardio myopathy diagnosed in 2008.  After years of an Echo and Nuclear Stress tests registering an EF of 38, with the A-fib addition Cardio Doc recommended an MRI.  MRI came back at 33.  I know 35 is the threshold, but do I really need a "three-lead CRT" device for Pace, Defib and sync right now?  Doc recommended and tried to schedule ASAP.  Aft...

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Consultant suggested PM finally

So had appointment with my consultant yesterday and he has suggested it's going to be pacemaker job. Just need mri and genetic testing first. 

How soon did you get appointment for PM surgery? I know it will differ patient to patient but how long typically would a person be signed off work for. I'm dreading that part.

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pacemaker placement

I am a 48 year old female and was just told that i need a pacemaker. I am still in a state of shock and need guidance. I am very thin and wondering if I should have it placed under skin or under muscle? Which is safer amd better long term? Please help.

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How soon can I rub oil into my scar

Hey guys, so it's been six weeks since my surgery and the purple glue is halfway peeled off. I can actually see the scar now and it isn't so bad. I was wondering how early I can begin putting vitamin e oil on it to keep it supple and to speed up its healing/fading. Thanks!

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Pain

I had a pacemaker put in 4 months ago and am having pain in the area where the leads stick out and the movement of the pacemaker when I use my arm. My doctor said it is because I am thin and have osteoarthritis.

Does anyone have any experience with repositioning the pacemaker?

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One for us girls

Hi, I am due my first CRT-D in two weeks. I have had a year of denial and buckets of tears. Then last week, I heard of a 32 year old in our village with terminal cancer and something clicked inside me...... she has no more choices; I do. I have been given a life line. Take it.

So suddenly, I am looking forward to the new me and planning my recovery. 

So tell me ladies, how do I put on my bra without too much movement from my left arm? I’ve been...

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When to be worried about swelling?

Just had a question about the swelling of my pacemaker insertion site. I'm almost two weeks out of surgery for the placement of my new CRT-P pacemaker and it is still swollen up pretty significantly. When should the swelling start to go down? It is still so swollen I can barely even feel where the pacemaker itself is at. It's that normal? How long does it take for swelling to go down? 

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You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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