Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Not being able to sleep

Jus wondering if any of you that have had a pacemaker placed if you have or had any sleeping trouble afterwards? Before the doctor caught my problem I was sleeping like a baby at night but that could have been because my heart was not getting the blood flow and not send out enough to my body. So basically what I am asking is if you have any hints or tricks to getting a good night rest? Anything over the counter given? 

Not having to go to your cardiologist to really have a good ove...

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Feeling weak

I had my pacemaker implant on November 1 2017 have not felt well since. My placement was for bradycardia. I've had to be admitted to the hospital 3 times since my pacemaker implant. the last two times was for Afib. I have had the flu twice since my implant, I think I got from one the aids in the hospital. wondering could these flu symptoms be related to the pacemaker implant. I've had the hardest time trying to adjust to antiarithmetic drugs, I've took rythomol, sotalol. I am now...

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Glad to be here!

Hello, my name is Maria. I had my PM surgery Dec. 5, 2017.

I was so anxious and worried about the whole thing. I was surfing the web to find any information I could and came up on this site. I want to thank everyone out there for all the imformation and posts. I dont feel so alone and scared anymore. 

Sincerely,

Maria

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Pacemaker

I had a PM put in 10days ago for Bradycardia. The Dr set my rate at 60 ( I was in the 40’s) Yesterday while sitting my heart started racing. I checked my pulse HR 120. Went to the ER per the Suggestion of a paramedic and the doctor downloaded my information and said there was no VTEC or a fib. So I asked him how did my heart rate go from 60 to double to 120 he said I don’t know I’m not a cardiologist. I’m horrified and scared of course. I did call my cardiologist and t...

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Post surgery recovery

Hi all,

I just wanted to give an update with regards to my pending operation in July - which I wrote a post and had a lot of encouraging advice and support from the members here.

Just a recap - I had a dual chamber pacemaker installation in July post a failed catheter ablation done 1.5 years ago which results in a third degree heart block.

Post surgery wound pain - 9/10; the pain was around for 1 week or so, i rated it 9 out of 10 as i have a low threshold to pain in general...

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Changing Device Location

Going in on Tuesday to get my ICD out and a lead changed. My ICD is on the surface of the muscle and I hate the location.

If I ask them to relocate the new PM under the muscle is that an easy task or does it take longer to install?
At the pre-op appointment, the nurse said I could ask for the relocation on the day of surgery. Is this standard?
Final question. Does the existing surface pocket heal shut inside or is there always a pocket 'void' leftover under the skin la...

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Interference from Marine Radios and engines

I am 3 weeks out from implanting of my pacemaker and have serious concerns about electical interference from Marine band radios and the marine engine in our 34 foot sailboat.  Does anyone have any expereince with sailing?

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5 1/2 months post surgery... still painful

Hi all,

     I’m sure some of you have seem my posts before. I️ was born with a complete heart block and have had a pacemaker my whole life... last year when I️ was 20, I️ started having pain around the pacemaker site. Doctors didn’t really know why but after I️ came back from studying abroad we decided to do surgery. They took the battery out, removed the pocket, cut my pec, made a new pocket, and finally put a new battery in there. I’m coming up on 6mo...

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Nervous

Got my pacemaker Tuesday, Friday had extreme pain and a rib muscle pulsing to the beat of my heart. It's because of this forum that I knew what it was, but sadly it didn't change the outcome; the ventricular lead perforated the wall of my heart.

I've had to spend the weekend in the hospital waiting for the revision surgery that's hopefully tomorrow. If all goes well they back out the lead and replace it with a smaller one. If things go poorly they have crack my chest, an...

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Lead replacement

Hello everyone,

I have my pacemaker inserted December 2015 when I was 21. I have had problems since I was 15 having cardioversions and ablations. I was told 6 months or so after my surgery that I was having a lead malfuntion, it is getting interference and skipping part of the process, my pacemaker works about 40% of the time now. I just recently moved and the new doctor wants to take it out and replaced it. I have been told that I have scar tissue on my heart already and quite a bit. I...

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PMT

Has anyone ever been diagnosed with  PMT- pacemaker mediAted tachycardia? My pm implantation was Nov2-3 for exact opposite reason! Low heart rate. Is PMT dangerous? And why is this PM causing me other issues? Thought it was supposed to be helping me. I understand it is actually helping because Im pacing about 68% of the time, but why the high heart rate? Still feel like crap too! Even after they turned voltage down from

5 to 2.5. said I was having diaphramatic sensitivity? Jus...

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Travel two weeks after pacemaker implantation?

Hi Everybody,

I'm a 21 y/o student getting a pacemaker implanted in a week, and our university is traveling for a football game by plane two and a half weeks after my surgery. At the game, I would be physically exerting myself due to the activity I'm involved in. Is it nieve of me to think I will be recovered enough to travel 17 days later? Also, I've been told I will not be able to lift my arm past shoulder height, and...

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Not feeling great

I am one week after having my PM implanted after a diagnosis of heart block and bradycardia. I’m a 55 year old female and although I had episodes over the years my cardiologist could not find the issue until the severe onset of symptoms a week ago and I was hospitalized. I have good days and bad days. Today is a bad day with dizzyness and being very tired. Did I expect too much to be feeling back to normal now?  I really need to go back to work Monday. Will that be possib...

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Feeling stressed

Hi everyone. I am 28 day's post pacemaker, I feel so tired all the time completely exhausted. Wondering is anyone else experience this. Am I expecting to much to soon. can anyone tell me  what I can do to feel better. I want my life back. I am still having shortness of breath. Very depressed can't do my work. I am so thankful for the pacemaker club. good to have people out there that knows what you are going through. Maybe it's where I was already in poor health, I have been...

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I feel 50:50 about my new ICD

Hi all, 

Ive just returned home from hospital after a 6 week stay....I'm a 36yr old female & last month I suffered a cardiac arrest at home. My girls (aged 13 &11yrs) immediately got me help from a neighbour who performed my CPR until ambulance arrived. Long story short: I spent 2 weeks in CCU in local hospital (during which time I had a recorded sinus arrest of 15.2sec, requiring CPR before self-reverting). I was then transfered by ambulance to specialist hos...

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biotronik edora 8 dr-t

I had this device installed last week Wednesday to treat bradycardia. I am 51 years old and have had four heart attacks treated with multiple stents. I have an underlying genetic muscle disease known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy and am wheelchair-bound. It is my first device and I do not know much about its functionality and what programming/pacing options are available.

My heart rate was averaging 42 bpm and the device is set to 72 bpm. I do not know if that setting is a constant 24...

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How did I get here?

Hey guys... really great forum.  Nice to get some support.  

Anyhow, I am a 40 yr old male, generally pretty healthy including exercising 3-4 times a week and eating a decently balanced diet.

Got a pacemaker 2 days ago after repeated visits to my family doc for 3-4 years, presenting symptoms of near fainting, dizziness, numbness, etc.  I was told repeatedly it was anxiety ( which I didn’t believe) and finally got a holter monitor thanks to her intern.

so...

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numbness and pain

i am about 6 1/2 weeks from getting my first PM. It is on the left side.  I was wondering if anyone has experienced discomfort like pain in the under arm area towards the front and soreness.  

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Broken leads

Hi, just found this forum.  I was wondering if anyone has had an issue with broken leads?  My son is 7 and will be having surgery for his 3rd set of leads!  They are Medtronic and the cardiologist told me they were the only ones that make these exterior leads.  Is that true?  Something is wrong, why would they keep breaking if not?  

Thanks 

Dave

 

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Pacemaker

Hello guys, had a pacemaker installed 10 days ago and had to return to emergency room because of swelling of my left arm from shoulder to hand with a dark red color of entire arm.  I was diagnosed with a blood clot and put on blood thinner for a week. I was told not to worry that this happens offen. Also I'm having dizzy spells when I stand up quickly. Still weak. I guess it just takes time to adjust. My history of 4 heart attacks with only stints is a long going history of 30 years....

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