Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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dilmar

Hi, I live in the UK, where my pacemaker was fitted almost 5 weeks ago. The medication I've been given, Clopidogrel, seems to be upsetting my intestinal tract very badly. Is it essential to take a blood thinner like this if fitted with a pacemaker? I know people with stents need to take it, but I am wondering if this is unnecessary with a pacemaker, as I'd like to stop taking it. Thanks, dilmar

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In and out of hospital again

Hi everyone,
Since I last checked in, I have been in and out of the hospital again. I went to see my cardiologist for a coumadin count and to check my ICD and he took one look at me and said "you're going back to the hospital." My leg was still swollen and I was still very weak. He sent me to a different hospital where I was treated for congestive heart failure. I've been taking lasix once a day since I've been out and some days it drains the swelling well; today, however, my foot and leg w...

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Its less than 3 weeks away

I am 19 years old and will be getting my first pacemaker Feb 11th. I have a complete heart block and just found out in october. My only symptoms were extreme tiredness and getting dizzy and a average resting heart rate of 54-65. I decided to get the pacemaker because I have a 15 month old and i hate being too tired for her at times. I am worried about the recovery and after its placed. My boyfriend will be home for over a week to care for me and our daughter but she sleeps with me at night and s...

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New pm

Hello all,

I have a medtronic pm and will have a new one in about a year or so. What do they excactly do. Just replace the pm? The leads will stay in wright? How did you experience this operation. Any tips? What should i ask for, since i am getting a new one?

Thanks for your resonse in advance

Nienke
The Netherlands

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AV Node Ablation

In Oct. 2010 I had an AV Node Ablation.  It was the last resort after no meds worked. A-Fib for 10 years plus. I’m 59 years old. Since the Ablation I have had shortness of breath and fatigue just like when you are in A-Fib. Was wondering if anyone experiences this and is there anything you can do about it.

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muscle twitching

Starting in December of 1991 I had open heart surgery, then once again in 1997. I have four stints which were installed in 2005. In March of 2010 I had another heart attack and they installed a pacemaker/defibrillator. I haven’t been able to sleep very well because of twitching mainly on my left side. I have been back to my Dr. and they haven’t been any help. They seem like they don’t want to talk about it. It doesn’t hurt, but it is a big nuisance. I would like some...

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Still feeling tired

I just joined the group and am so impressed with all of the helpful information. I had my PM implant on Dec. 28 and the procedure went well. Also, my 10 day followup visit was good. I go back on Feb 17 for an ekg and appt at pacer clinic. I teach high school Spanish and went back to school 2 weeks after surgery. The first two days I felt great but then I started to feel tired the third day. Is it normal to continue to feel tired for a few weeks after the implant? I also feel like my body...

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WED 1/12/11 Replacement St Judes

GOT 4 YEARS OUT OF MY OLD ST JUDES ICD.....WED 1/12/11 THEY PUT IN A NEW SMALLER ST JUDE...I DIDNT FEEL A THING...WOKE UP IN RECOVERY FEELING OK AND WAS RELEASED THE SAME DAY.WENT IN AT 10:30AM AND LEFT AT 4PM. THE PROCEDURE TOOK ABOUT 1 HOUR IN MARTIN MEMORIAL HOSP STUART FLORIDA. THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED ME AT THIS GREAT SITE

MIKE

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feelings

i feel sad is that part of recovery.can i use power tools or is my life over.

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PACEMAKER

My dad had a PM fitted June 2009. No other appointments to have it checked, had a cold, chest pains .. doctors said just got a cold ..  He wasn’t feeling well, still taking all the pills given.

18th April 2010 - He passed away in his sleep - he was 62.

999 came and with the monitors, it did not pick up his PM at all.....I have read different things on here about PMs ... how they work and don’t, switch off from a PC. What I would like to know is :

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what to expect

I received my PM on January 3, 2011. I had heart block and was taken to ER then was taken by helicopter to a larger hospital. I found myself with a heart problem and did not even know it was as bad as it turned out to be. The doctors decided I had to have a PM.

It is just a matter of adjusting to the tinkling sensations and soreness. I have stayed pretty calm through all that happened to me since December 31, 2010. Not sure what to expect but I am hoping for a speedy recovery and to s...

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surgeries

Question 1. Does any one have experience with surgeries after a pacemaker has been implanted. I was told by a doctor that they just place a magnet on the pacemaker in order to do surgery?
Question 2. Also, my check up on the pacemaker scared me as they lowered the pacemaker to see if my heart was working as well and they said that I was 100% dependent on it that day and I also felt a big thump as the pacemaker was lowered in rate and felt dizzy and told the person to stop as it was too inte...

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Recuperation Time?!

My husband just had a pm inplanted on 1/04/11 and his doc. told him no golf for 6 to 8 weeks to allow time for the leads to become firmly inplanted in his heart....sounds reasonable! Now, I just spoke with a Canadian friend who said her brother-in-law had an implant and was playing golf within a week!  What’s everyone’s opinion?!  Frankly, I tend to agree with our doc and allow adequate time but my husband is going to be a raving loonie without his "golf fix"!

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I think I'm having a setback

Hi all,

For the first week after getting my ICD on Xmas Eve, I was feeling pretty good. Planned to go back to work on Jan. 11. Then around New Year's Eve, I started getting some mild nausea in the morning and the extreme fatigue began to return. I managed to get an emergency appt. today with my cardiologist, who listened to my heart and said everything sounded like it should at this stage of my recovery. He ordered me off work for an additional two weeks, however. He said it's possibl...

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Surgical checklists

This a good interview of a Harvard Surgeon on what goes on in the operating room and what is being done (checklists) to reduce errors. It's quite amusing because he addresses the hubris of the medical profession head on. He makes it clear that the lack of humility in claiming that the high and mighty surgeon does not need a checklist is ridiculous because, with today's modern technology, no human can keep it all in their head. Just like pilots, surgeons need checklists. The UK has adopted them a...

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Scared

Hello All,

I am a newbie here and would love to pick your brain with some questions. I am 31 years old and just found out that I have a heart condition. This has scared me to death. Three weeks ago I wore a Holter Monitor and they said that I would brady down to the 30's then go into SVT. I was in the ER last week with chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, and near fainting episode. The ER dr informed me that I would probably need a pacemaker. I see my cardiologist who special...

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Lead Replacement

Hi everyone,
Can anyone tell me how long I should take to recover after lead replacements? Can I drive? What about returning to work - I'm a school teacher.

I really appreciate any advice that you can offer.

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Leads wearing out

Hi all,
I've just found out that both my leads need replacing (was suffering strange heart twisting sensations) . I'm a little worried to have the surgery again...will it be under a general?
Grateful for any info

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Replacement in 2 weeks

I have my PM replacement on 11th January which is only a couple of weeks away. I don't have the same knowledge as a lot of guys on here, but I think I'm single lead paced 70% (up from 40% 10 years ago) - Is it likely they'd want to put in another lead?

It's my first replacement (I thought they were replacing it a year ago but didn't) and I know things have come a long way since I had my first one in 1999. I can't get my head round the whole being awake during surgery thing. It just fr...

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sleeping on my side

When can I sleep on the left side or do I always now have to sleep on my right side?

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You know you're wired when...

“Batteries not included” takes on a new meaning.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.