Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Scar

Its been 5 weeks since my pm implant op. At first, my scar semed to be healing well (tidy, straight, thin scar). however the last couple of weeks the scar tissue has somewhat widend (about 3 times wider in size) and has become raised. I visited my cardiologist on 24th December and he is happy with my general recovery (still a bit sore, but assured this is normal?). He wants to refer me to a dermatologist to look at scar as he is not happy with it???

I have checked out a few images in...

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Relaxation Short Lived

I ended up in the ER this afternoon. My left arm was tingling and I got concerned so I drove over. By the time I got there I was in a full blown panic attack and hyperventalating.

A mess...just a mess. Just can't seem to get a handle on this whole thing. I did realize a lot of anxiety/panic comes with the PAC's. They are hard and un-nerving. They scare me.

I just keep praying I can overcome this.

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The need for info from the pacemaker

I installed a Medtronic dual chamber rate responsive pacemaker on Monday 15th December just after lunch, and attended a board meeting the next day, exactly 24 hours after I was streched out on the operation table.

The first week was really bad. I had more fibrillation than before the operation, and my pulse jumped to 160 at the slightest movement. But I have been working for a few hours each day after the operation, taking it a bit easy. I removed the bandage today, and I'm getting b...

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It only gets better!

Hi everyone, hope all was/is well with you and yours during this year. It seems that Nov thru Jan is the most difficult time for a lot of folks. This past year has been a very challageing one to say the least. Having an op for a pace maker was a time for my family, especially my dear sweet husband, to give whatever support they could even tho they couldn't really empathize w/me.

Holidays usually broght me down both physically and emotionally. Now I feel that God has given me a second...

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new Pacemaker!

OMG!!!!
I fainted in school last wednesday and ended up staying in hospital till the following monday!! This was because my wiring was frayed and at times the maessage from my Pm wasn't getting to my heart =O and so I had an operation (5 and 1/2 hours!!!) which changed the Pm and the 13yr old wiring!! I still amn't able to move fully but thats expected!!
any way what i'm annoyed about is i had been there 2 weeks earlier and no probs! this was a problem only seen fully when an x-ray wa...

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Gout???

Good Morning,

Today is my 2 week CRT-D implant anniversary...so this morning I'm having a Gout attack in my left foot to celebrate.

Just felt like venting...thanks!

Ron

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Brittany Murphy

I just read that the 32 year old actress died of cardiac arrest. She is my age. Is anyone else in that age group at all alarmed by this?

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Exercising???

Good Evening,

I was wondering how many of you work out on a regular basis...cardio and weights???

How long did it take before you were able to do that?

I have my CRT-D implanted on Dec 9th and am still aching and according to the ICD nurse should stay away from weights for at least another 4 weeks...cardio is ok.

Like alot of you, exercising was a huge part of my life, mainly for stress relief. However, I didn't work out for two months prior to the su...

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Irritation

This is new... experience would help here. Everything seems to be irritating the PM site. It was not like this until the last few days. As if it is rubbing against the skin from the inside. Anyone have this. I have had little or no pain/irritation at the site until now. It feels as though the skin is chaffed, but no outward irritation. Even clothing touching it irritates. I just started driving. Could it be the seatbelt going across the PM? I see the EP on Tues. I hope nothing is dislodged.

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5 days since implantation

thanks for the messages of support, wound sites healing well but still get some bouts of tiredness, itching to get running again

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More to deal with at Xmas

Hi, I’m just feeling a little sad and feeling sorry for myself but no one worry, I get over it. Had my PM implanted in Mar ’09, and there were some nasty complications. I expected to at least feel well afterward. If I just sit in a chair I feel fine. As soon as I move around get angina and tired. Sometimes just getting in bed at night was problem. I have griped at my Card.since I finally made it home. They made one adjustment to the PM and that was it. Upped the lasix and potass...

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Came across something

I came across this quote while looking for helpful hints about my stress/anxiety.

I wanted to share this with anyone working through the same issues.

“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”

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PAC's

Are there any vitamin supplements I can take to lessen the PAC's?

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Panic and Anxiety

I've come here before...for the same reason. And I'm sorry that I'm coming here again....just have nowhere else to turn.

I'm having PAC's, still on Xanax and still scared to death. I've come to figure out my tingling hands and feet are from hyperventilating due to the fear.

I feel cripled with fear since the pacemaker was implanted. I know it's there to help but I am more worried now that ever before. I've been praying everyday...everytime I close my eyes to sleep.

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3 weeks and a few questions

Hello all - I am 3 weeks post PM placement. How long do the implant site and surgical site stay sore to the touch? Just wondering what is a reasonable expectation on my part.

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CRT-D Implanted...finally!

Hello everyone,

First of all, all of you who share your stories on this forum and to those who shared their experiences and advice with me will never be forgotten, this forum made my personal ordeal much more manageable.

Secondly, three days prior to my surgery, I got a prescription for XANAX from my PCP...never had it before. I took my first dose as soon as I got it and from then up until the surgery, what jitters I did have were cut in half...so for me that was good thin...

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UPDATE!

Wow! I have been getting server error messages on the site all day and have not been able to get into anything. Glad to see things back up and running.

Ok... here's the deal. I called my cardiologist office today and went a few rounds with the staff to actually see my cardiologist instead of his, in my opinion, less that par nurse practioner. Of course they were giving the run around and said they couldn't get me in with him to Febuary! I was also telling them I needed to speak with s...

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What the heck keeps poking me??

Ok... I called my doctor yesterday and asked about this an they said it was ok, but has anyone else experienced this and should I make them do a chest xray?

My PM is on the collarbone, left side. I feel like something is poking me on the right side of the brest in the same place. It's not painful really and not consistent. The equivilant of being poked with a ball point pen, but it's always in the same spot. 3 weeks post op and not sure if this is just a sensation vs. something really...

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PAC's

Does anyone here experience PAC's on a regular basis with the pm? I was told I am having them after wearing a moniter. I was told they could be treated with medication but that they were harmless. The doctor said he would rather not suppress them with medication until it got to the point that they were unbearable. I might be there! and not to worry. At this point in the "healing" process...I worry about everything. I don't trust doctors and don't know what to believe.

Got to the po...

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Calling all sub-pectoral implantees!

Those of you that have a sub-pectoral implant (e.g. under or embedded in the pectoral or chest muscles)- how long did it take for you to have complete mobility in your affected arm/shoulder again? And, did you see a physical therapist or just do some sort of exercises yourself? I can raise my arm about 130 degrees versus 180 on the other side etc. - loss of mobility at 2 weeks post-surgery but I want to do whatever I need to in order to regain it. I have hardly moved my arm until about three...

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

I'm 43 and have had my pacemaker four weeks today. I'm looking forward to living another 50 years and this marvelous device inside me will help me do that.