Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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surgery post-poned

The hematologist took a bunch of blood and tomorrow i have to get spleen pancreas and liver checked through some radioactive test. He gave me some type steroids and supplement type stuff for Mal nutrition in order to help boost platelets. I go Friday back to the hospital to review all tests and have another blood test and if platelets still down I'll have to get blood transfusion in order to do my PM surgery.

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What should I ask before hand?

I did call today and they told me the brand is Metronic?? She also said that it hasnt been recalled lately??? She did not know whether it was a 2 or 3 wire. They did say it would go under the breast tissue and the scar will be almost in my armpit. She also said once I've done the 30 day interrigation, I can get a local hospital rep to start doing them.

I just still feel like I'm not asking the right questions. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks
Andrea

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Tomorrow's the Day

Well had my appointment with the specialist today and I definitely need the pacemaker. He didn't want me to wait too much longer since I have been feeling pretty awful the last few days. I am scheduled tomorrow at 1:30 and will actually take my first taxi ride in years to get there tomorrow morning.

My sister drove us home from the appointment today because the doc didn't want me behind the wheel of the car. My sister hasn't driven since her hip surgery in 2004. We were trying to thin...

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Complications at hospital

My cardiologist came in and said my platelet count is severly low and they can not cut me open to do surgery. He is having the hemotologist come in to run tests and view options. I mAy have to get blood transfusion before they can do PM surgery.

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Subpectoral device placement

Seriously, just trying to find out all I can about subpectoral placement. I've read all of the "keyword" searches, but am just wanting to know more.

Recovery time? How much longer and detailed the surgery is? Are battery replacements any more complicated? Problems? Issues? Regrets? People who have been through "standard" placement- how much more painful is it? What to expect? Restrictions?

I'm trying to plan an overseas trip (March 5th-14th), but the doctors also are demand...

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Merlin@home Cost?

Can anybody tell me what the St. Jude Medical RF Merlin@Home transmitter cost?. Does it work well?.

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Join me in wishing him well

Please join me in wishing PaulB the best of luck during his surgery tomorrow. He is getting a pacemaker for the first time. :-)

Best of luck Paul! You will be great!

Wendy

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Post Op Anxiety

Hi All,
I am 1 week post op today. I got my PM for SSS that came on suddenly and I was symptomatic and within 5 or 6 days of diagnosis I was in for my PM. I am 41 and kind of freaking out! I feel better heart wise except for some irregular beats when I start moving around a lot but I think they could be brought on by anxiety! I was a pretty anxious person before this but now I am taking xanax once or twice a day to help calm down. Every twinge or anything I feel I am constantly checking my...

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discharge instructions

I finally read all my discharge instructions, aren't you impressed? LOL Some are standard, some are quite different from what I've heard from others here so I thought I'd share my doctor's take on follow up care...

1. Wound care- keep dry for 4 days. Shower ok after 4 days but no swimming or bathing until wound has been evaluated at follow up appointment

2. Activity
-no driving 1st month (I am soooooo discussing this one with him!)
-do not raise arm above head fo...

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ha!

Where there's a will there's a way! I just washed my hair two handed without breaking any rules LOL. If I tilt my head to the left and get my elbow up even with my shoulder, I can wash my hair pretty easily. Yay. I didn't want to keep pestering my hairdresser for a shampoo every other day indefinitely.

(happily sitting here with wet hair wrapped in a towel)

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25yrs old get pacemaker feb3rd2010

I am 25 and have been going through a lot of problems over the last year. In May I passed out and went to the E.R. I found that my heart's conduction system was not firing right. I went to a cardiologist. I had a heart echo, stress test, ekgs, and few other tests. He then had had me wear a 3 day monitor and then a 30 day monitor. From all these we found that my heart rate dropped into the 30's on a daily basis, had 3-5 second pauses, usually in 40's and 50's and is irregular. In addition I have...

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Scared

Hi. I am a 49 y/o female and I have congenital 2nd degree heart block. After wearing a Holter monitor my cardiologist wants me to have a pm installed. During sleep my heart rate goes down to 29 bpm. I am very nervous about it. I have heard a lot of complications after the installation. But my main concern is does it hurt to have it installed? Can anyone tell me about their surgery? Maybe help me ease my fears? Thanks.

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Recovery is a pain!

Hi Pacer Family,
I hope all of you are doing well and to all of you who are also struggling that I have been reading posts lately. I just wanted to tell you to stay strong you will get past all these struggles right now. Stay firm with your Dr's and get to the bottom of the way you are feeling. I am praying for each of you.
I am a week in half post op from my surgery and have been back and forth into my regular Dr twice in that time frame once for the HORRIFIC rash that I have...

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Woo Hoo! Had my first checkup!

Today was the big day...my first office visit since my Medtronic implant 8 days ago. I feel 100% better after being told that I am doing great! Got many of my questions answered and then some! I had been having some "wierd sensations" which is about the only way I can describe them and during my visit had another one. Seems like I must be one of the sensitive ones (my words) who can tell when my PM self tests. What a relief. Sure wish I would have been told that several days ago. Brought me mu...

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Advise

Hi,
I have looked at this site many times but have never, until now had the need to write anything. I have known for two months now that I need to have a pacemaker fitted and that day is arriving far too quickly! This Saturday 30th Jan.
I am so scared, I keep reading everyones comments in the hope to feel better but they only make me feel worse!
I am not looking forward to the operation, which thanks to the internet I have seen a 1000 times, or the after effects.
Please som...

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New Pacemaker

A litle bit of history: I am 59 yrs old and had been experiencing lightheaded and faintness since Dec/2009. I was Christmas shopping and started to feel faint. All I remember is waking up on the floor with a huge amount of shoppers staring at me. Transported to hospital with vital signs of BP 90/50 HR 34. I was admitted to a small hospital (not by my choice!) and the tests began. Thought I had a silent heart attack, but had no symptoms. Blood enzyme level remained normal. After an Echo Cardiogra...

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The great fall

Hi guys and ladies,

I thought some of my friends would appreciate an update on my recovery from the fall.

I am slowly getting better. The gut winching pain is getting better and I have learned how to breathe through it. I DO NOT turn my torso in any direction. If I need to turn... I turn my entire body at one time. Sleeping is very painful.... there is no comfortable position. Thank goodness I have a large hubby whom I can hold onto to try to reposition myself in bed while...

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Ablation done

Well, I had the ablation yesterday and everything went very well according to the doc. He said that he was easily able to get to everything and didn't feel like anything was left undone. Have not had an irregular beat since the ablation!! :) I am very hopeful, this is better then I have felt in forever.

Michael Mason

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How Am I Supposed To Feel?

I had my pacemaker put in December 28th and 29th (one lead moved out of position). The reason was for a slow (upper 30's to low 40's) heartbeat only. Bradycardia runs in my family.
I am stll having pain at the site (I did rub a bunched up sweatshirt down across it hard on Sunday) and I sometimes have a dull ache in the heart area. I also can feel what I describe as strong heart beats that are noticable when I arise and remain vertical - they do go away and come back. I never...

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Home

Well, I am a little out of it right now but thought I would let y'all know it went a lot better than expected and didn't take very long at all. The shortest procedure that I have had. B/c there were not any issues they let me go home the same day which bothered me b/c of all the pain I had been in I just wanted to stay.
Well after the horrible car ride I was glad to be home and avoided the storms in the long run. They gave me pain medication that I haven't gotten to take yet but I can te...

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