Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Pacemaker removal

Why do I want to get it removed? It has been turned off for over 7 months. I fainted only once--in the hospital--following a very strong dose of a narcotic to which I exhibited a violent negative response. I was then pressured into getting a pacemaker. I never fainted either before that day nor since. Three expert doctors have told me that it can come out. I have not had any other symptoms. Why should I keep it? It's ugly, irritating, and hasn't improved the quality of my life. There was nothing...

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are these normal feelings?

Hello, my name is Michelle and i am 29 years old. My dual PM was put in on August 8. for the past few days i have been very lightheaded, its been hard to breathe and i am very tired. is this normal? i can't remeber anything the doctor said in the hospital, probably because this was totally unexpected and my thoughts were all over the place. 2 years ago i had a heart ablation for a fast heartbeat, then approximately 2 weeks ago i had a PM put in because my heartbeat was too slow. I do have...

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Unnecessary pacemaker removal

Has anyone had a pacemaker implanted unnecessarily? Have you opted to have it removed? If so, did you have both the generator and the leads removed? D

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To have ep study or not

Is an ep study necessary when the decision to implant a pm has already been made?

I have Idiopathic Sinus Node Dysfunction and would really like to know why/how this happened at 33 years young and very physically active. Should I be worried for my children that this may be passed on genetically? What will the ep study tell me that I do not already know?

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recovery after getting a pacemaker

I will be getting a pacemaker soon. We have 3 days tickets for the US Open Tennis tournament, where it gets hot at times.. I am trying to figure if I should get the pacemaker a week before we go, or wait till after.

How long will I feel weak after I have the surgery and the pacemaker?

How long is normal recovery, when I can be active again?

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New to site

Wow, very informative site. I am 33 yrs old have Sinus Node Dysfunction. I am scheduled to get my pm Aug. 17. I am anxious because the dizziness that triggered me getting checked out in the first place, although it is everyday, is not always that "bad" if you will. I am worried that maybe the dizziness will not go away and that is really the issue I am having. The low heart rate (as low as 20's and 30's) doesn't seem to bother me in any other way.

I am an exercise junkie and run half...

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defib

hi,

i had a dual chamber pc with a defib, i am surprised at how big and ugly the scar is :(

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scar

Hi,

i had pm surgery august 9th, the scar looks like a vein is pushing out an is puffy, is this normal?

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PM 08/11/2011

My pacemaker was put in 2 days ago. I came home from the hospital yesterday evening. Have any of you been told to sleep at a 45 degree angle to keep the leads from possibly coming loose until healed? I had to do that in the hospital and have also been instructed to do this at home. Other than that and my left arm in a sling, they were very lax in explaining post op info that I needed to know. My fault for not asking.
Bren

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Feeling tired in the afternoons

Hi

I just wanted to ask if it is normal to feel tired in the afternoon. I usually feel great in the morning and begin to get light headed and fatigued by the afternoon which comes and goes (lasting only a couple of mins). Some days are not as bad as others but I feel this most days. I have had the PM interrogated 3 times in two weeks and it all comes back normal. I had my sinus rhythm and O2 levels checked while this was going on for one time and that was normal. I am thinking it is...

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10 days post PPM implant

After a SA node ablation 12 years ago, I knew I would need a PPM eventually. Sinus node dysfunction, long pauses, HR in the 20's, and recent near syncopal episode would lead to my new PPM. After having it placed 8/2/11 I immediately felt better. I was encouraged by other posts I read on this site & hope other newbies will be encouraged by my experience. The hardest part is staying compliant with not raising my left arm & not lifting anything over 5 pounds. (My dogs are not happy.)
Liz

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I'm sore.

I had my first pacemaker inserted on August 8th. No more tachy-brady arrythmias. Now, I can take lots of sotalol to keep A fib in check. The incision is healing well. My internist removed the staples. My questions are, how long will the insertion site feel so sore?

Also I will be seeing my dentist soon. If dental drilling speeds up the pacemaker, how much? And will it stay this way? Will I need to have it readjusted? Will it adjust itself?

So far, I love the darn thing! It is...

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time for a new pacemaker

Hello everyone,

SO i went today to schedule getting my new pacemaker. I think I am more nervous now then I was for the first one. Anything I should be concerned about or am I being a big sissy? Thanks for the help

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Today

I am leaving in one hour to have a dual chamber pacemaker put in.
I am a big baby & I am Scared!

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what should I expect?

I just got a pacemaker yesterday. This problem started in February when I fainted twice in two weeks. Went to emergency room, 3 days in hospital ran many test, stress test, echocardiogram, etc. Doctors were concerned because I had 5 stents in 2006/2007. I never had a heart attack. They could never find a reason in February but were concerned. Nevertheless, I went from February till this past Saturday night with no fainting. When I went in this time they found my pulse at 28. In short or...

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Scared

I am 39 yo female and only had a PM (just pacer) put in last Monday. I felt like I was in the prime of my life - single mother of three and had an awesome career ahead of me and really fit. I had been retraining for a career in the air force and still have my application submitted. I was going in as a scientist officer and I feel as this is over. Even though my doctor said he will clear me I have been grieving as all I felt like I lost this dream. I am also really scared for my future.

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Improvement

Hello,

I'm a 47 year-old male and I just had a Bi-val/ICD in July 2011 The process was somewhat complicated by the fact that I contracted Lyme disease two weeks before my surgery. My EF had previously been 15%, but dropped to 10%. My QRS was 180. Two weeks after surgery my EF was up to 25% and my QRS was 142. Can I expect more improvement in time, or is that more or less it? I don't really feel any better yet but I'm sure that's because of the Lyme disease.

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LVAD (left ventricle assist device)

does anyone on here have a LVAD? looks like - it this last round of meds don't work and my weight don't drasticly reduce some more - I am on my way to getting one. I have researched this and just have some questions for anyone who has one or knows about them - anything would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
~Tina

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pacemaker questions

i just got a pacemaker two days ago. today my hands feel tingly along with my face, i get a sudden hot sweat that makes me feel like i ran a mile, and my heart rate is 148 over 80. Is this normal?

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just wondering

I just had my PM put in July 15, Had stitches taken out yesterday. I still have this feeling that there is something on my chest, feels like a rubber band pulling against my chest. When I walk it still hurts. Nurse practitioner said this is normal and will subside. Is this normal? I don't want to feel like this all the time. does the feeling of having something tight around chest ever go away?

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Member Quotes

Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.