Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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phew!

Just got home from having my new little buddy fitted - I'm fortunate in that all trace of aprehension has now gone and now I just need to get used to it!

My scar is aching a bit and my shoulder is a bit stiff but I find I can type with both hands easily enough and I'm not stretching my left arm too far (gotta keep those leads in place!)

Not ashamed to say my wife and I both wept tears of relief and joy today when it was all over - it's been a hard month waiting for the op...

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Pacemaker Removal

My name is Milton Hill. In 2007 I had a defibrillator implant. Now that it's 2011 I've been pondering on whether or not the pacemaker can come out. It's been four years and I haven't had any problems. I feel like I shouldn't have had it to start with but it wasn't my choice. Even if the doctor doesn't recommend it, isn't it still up to me to decide if I want it?

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shoulder and fats finger in pain

Hello everyone how are you doing i am heaven just got a pm put in may 19 2011 was back in hospital may 23 for 2 day do to chest pain but the heart was good every since i got out i been hving shoulder and fats finger for 2 month hurt very bad told doctor about this and nothing went to other doctor of the shoulder told me i hv a froezen shoulder hv to go get a cat scanof the cervccord shoulder and go to physcial thy for 3 week to see if i can get the shoulder like b4 anyone has this after pm surge...

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Day Five

Well after considering taking my doctor's advice regarding a pacemaker I finally bit the proverbial bullet. I have had atrial fibrillation for about 10 years and have had four cardioversions during that time. In addition to the atrial fibrillation atrial flutter I have SSS, first degree heart block as well as Bradycardia.

I had been in atrial fibrillation/flutter for about a week and last Thursday felt very poorly. I visited my cardiologist and an EKG confirmed I was in afib/flutter....

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Post PM Questions

HI all and thank you to all who have written and called me.  I’m home now feeling really tired and very lightheaded, the Dr said it could take up to a week to get rid of the sedation head, of course my shoulder is in pain.

Can someone tell me how long it took for them to shake the soreness and wound pain?

Also, has anyone here have any experience with the Pace-Alert, I saw it and was wondering if it really works.

thanks to all

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10 Hours Later Post PM Inplant

Wwll finally got my PM don't know what to think yet, was a Brady pt who lived in the 30's was at 33 when I went it they sey me HR at 50 - 139.with rate response on Well did a few trips down the hall and felt this kind of tightness in my chest towards the end of the hall do I need to give it time to adjust the rep is coming tonorrow tocheck me b4 they send me off... Like to hear others 1 st dsys experience.

Sittin in the Philly VA cardio ward but they didn't put a monitor on so I ca...

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Sittin at Hosp waiting for PM

Well I'm sitting in the procedure room at the Philadelphia VA waiting for my PM to be put in should prob be called soon. I'm encouraged by the many positive post so I'm hoping for the best.

Wish me luck see ya all soon.

John

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1 week post PM implant

I must tell everyone, that I never knew how bad I actually felt until yesterday! I had my PM put in 1 week ago and I feel great! After 31 years of not knowing what was wrong and being incorrectly diagnosed with Syncopy, Seizures, and whatever else it's a blessing!
I worked out yesterday, TWICE, and feel great! Only downside has been that I'm allergic to adhesive and my skin is raw and the 7 staples that I still have! Other than that I can't wait until I can get back into my full worko...

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?'s

Good Morning all, 6 days into my new PM. I go up and then have a tough day like today. My arm hurts and tingles. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

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postop 3 weeks

Just a few ?? I had PM after ablation unexpectedly. In hosptial 5 days then home for 2 then back in with CHF. I am 50 and no heart hx. Had a few episodes of SVT and enc to have ablation. My ??? 1- my arm gets stiff easily and slightly swollen when i wake up. is this nl? When can u normally drive again? they said ? at 4 weeks. My Pm is set 60-110 and when i hit 105's and up i am sob and dizzy. Will this go away? On Bblocker to bring pulse down, works ^ok. Will i get used to the beating when i la...

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Trapped Air

So, i Had my pm nearly 2 weeks ago and feel great. Had a mini thoracotomy just under my pectoral so have some bruising there but all is well. The only thing that is really hurting is that I have some trapped air resulting from the surgery. Its so obvious that it is that, plus my doctors and nurse say it is too. Problem is I want it out. Has anyone else had this ?

It moves around when i lie down to my back and hurts my rig when i breath, sat up its not so bad. Its so precise that If I...

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Electrophysiologist or Cardiologist

Does it matter whether a cardiologist or electrophysiologist does the surgery? The doctor I saw is a certified cardiologist, but not an electrophysiologist. He said he was grandfathered into doing pacemakers and has done 9,000 of them. Should I go with only someone who is certified as electrophysiologist?

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Swimming...how soon

I had my device put in 3 weeks ago... would like to get back in the pool even to just float...how soon did others "get back in the water"?

thanks

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5 Days Pre PM Anxiety Setting In

Well I’m 5 Days Pre my PM implant, and I have a few concerns.  I am a recording and mixing engineer for 35 years and I’m scared about the PM because I work around a lot of electrical equipment and speakers.  I am worried about the interference with the PM unit.

I’m also concerned about how it’s going to feel to have a higher heart rate than I’m accustomed to.  I have lived in the 30-40’s (beats per minute) for almost 10 yea...

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I got a pacemaker due to 3rd degree block.

Hello everyone... I had a tricuspid valve replacement heart surgery on May 18th and ended up getting a pacemaker on May 24th due to 3rd degree block as doctors has some testings done on my heart during my stay in hospital. but i had no symptoms of feeling faint or passed our or dizzy or anything during my time in hospital before i got a pacemaker, i was doing alot of walking around the nursing station and felt fine, one thing i dont understand? is 3rd degree block possible without any symptom...

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One Week Till PM Implant

Hello to all.  I have quietly been coming here to read for a while and as the time approaches for my PM, my anxiety level keeps rising to a feverish pitch; so now it is time to ask some questions.

I’m a 58 year old male in ok health, but have had problems with various arrhythmia since 91 many ablations later, and I mean many, I have sinus node dysfunction because of the many burns I have had.  I have lived with a HR in the 35-45 rang...

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New to this

I'm new here. Had Biotronik pm implanted 2 weeks ago for SSS. I started feeling Tired yesterday and noticed my bp going down today it was 98/58 but heart rate good 76. I'm also irritable which isn't my norm. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

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Scared

Hello All,

Tomorrow (7/13/2011) is my procedure and I appreciate the comments I received. I feel somewhat better now. I will let you know how everything went when I return home. Thank you!

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Had pacer replacement

Hello All, I had a pacemaker replacement on June 13th and I was just curious to know how many people had been cut in the same spot for their replacement as the first implant. My doctor cut me in the same place as my first pacer but this time around my scar looks horrible and my new pacer is much bigger and visible.

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Jaw pain

Hi, I received a PM on July 5, 2011 at age 62. I have been experiencing pain along my right jawbone and teeth since the implant. Is this normal? & Will it go away eventually?
Additionally, my husband and & will be driving from the west coast to the east coast in less than two weeks. Do I need to worry about blood clots, etc.? Any input would be helpful. I see the PM doc on Wednesday & the CardioMD the following week. Thanking you in advance.

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I feel so blessed to have this little gem implanted in me. When I think of the alternative it is quite overwhelming sometimes.