Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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TraceyE

Can you come chat with me?

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I just recieved my pacemaker, New to Pacemaker.com

I am 15 years old and i recieved my PM a month ago. I have NeuroCardiogenic Syncope that is aggravated by my very slow heart rate. I was passing out at least every other day and i was having "episodes" (lightheadedness enough that i had to lie down) at least once a day sometimes many times a day! This all started happening 5 months ago when i was in the shower and passed out cold. After many hospitals stays and day after day of passing out they finally put me on Florinef. But no matter how much...

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Heart Block Questions

If anyone has experience with 3rd degree heart block I would appreciate some feedback.

I have been diagnosed with it and have a pm but only have blocks 2-3 times per year. Why is that? What makes it happen? From reading other posts hear it sounds like more people than not have the block all the time and pace all the time. My pm has yet to kick in and my last episode was the night before surgery.

So I am lucky...but confused. I understand that the electrical system in my he...

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Phone Checker

Today I got the phone transmitter in the mail and I completed the checkup. But when I put the magnet over the pm....it felt strange. Like my heart was beating harder, thumping harder...I asked if it was supposed to "feel funny" and the lady on the phone said no...not really.

Has this happened to anyone else?

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Post op instructions?

I have decided to get the pacemaker implanted so I am scheduled in about 1 week. My second opinion doc is doing the procedure but I have not gotten much in the way of info on how much time off (if any) I should take off of work. I am a dog sport trainer and competitor (agility, competitive obedience, etc) and teach several classes (about 50 students) per week. I also need to run and train my own dogs, plus maintain about 5 acres of property. I have gotten no solid feedback on necessary, reas...

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Chest Pain

Has anyone experienced chest pain after PM surgery? Once a day or so, I will find myself doing "whatever," nothing strenuous... and I will be breathing just fine. Then out of the blue I will have resistance with taking the breath, I have to take small mini breaths to get through it. It feels tight and like pressure or a restriction. It's not painful per say...just strange and awkward and tight. It goes away after those mini breaths I was talking about. I get it an inch or so left of my center ri...

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MUCH APPRECIATION

I wanted to say thank you to everyone here for replying to my posts, taking the time to answer me and send me well wishes. I just replied to someone else and thought....gee I wonder if I had ever said thank you.
Your words and advise have helped me get on with my life. I think it's a work in progress but today was a good day. LOL....and knock on wood.
Know that you are appreciated and even though I have never met you I think about you all often....with a smile.
B...

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PM Shifting

Has anyone noticed that there pm is or may not be in the same place as when it was implanted?

I feel like mine...and it looks like it has shifted upwards towards my collar bone. Sometimes it feels like it's jammed under my collarbone if I lay or reach a certain way.

Is is possible I dislodged it? Or is this still part of the settling in process?

Thanks,
Wendy

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Thumps that weren't there before

(5 weeks post op today. Diagnosed with 3rd degree heart block but episodes would only happen 2-3 times per year).

I am wondering if anyone experienced palpitations, skips "after" the pm that they don't remember having before?

I understand that it could be me just being on high alert for thumps and what not....but I truly feel like I am having skips that I wasn't before.

Is it possible that getting a pm can "cause" these types of things? Like if they had left me a...

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medicare

I am covered be medicare. Does medicare cover the cost of a pacemaker?

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When does it get better?

Hi everyone,
I am 4 weeks post op now. I have no feeling on the surface of the pm. Think the nerves were traumatized....or something! But around the edges are still really sore. The seat belt in the car, bra strap etc... all seem to hit the edges just the wrong way.

Is this what it will be like? I "get" that it will always be in the way...but will the edges always be so sensitive?

Wenditt

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Fire Away

I know the dr. said I wouldn't feel the pm fire. But some members here said they do feel theirs fire off. What does it feel like? I don't go back until the 21st but have keeping a log of all the "strange" things I have been feeling. Trying to match them up...so truly do't know what it feels like.

Any thoughts?

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To pace or not to pace?

I am thrilled to get a response so quickly! Thank you so much for sharing your valuable input! Up to this point I have felt alone and worried about this subject.

By saying "no blockage" I meant no electrical blockage. Also, my second opinion Dr. Told me it was impossible for anyone to die of a slow heartrate. He said they would have to also have some sort of a block or underlying problem. I am all for conservative treatment, but 28bpm in my sleep is just scary. I started t...

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To pace or not to pace?

I suffer from chronic fatigue. 10 years ago I had a holter monitor that revealed a low of 37 bpm. With no blockage, I was told this was just me so anything done. I am not an athlete.

Last month I had another 24 hr and subsequently a 14 day holter and got to 28 bpm. Again, no blockage; however the heartrate qualifies for a pacemaker. To help with the decision a tilt table study was done. Resting hr was 36 flat and 44 at a 90 degree tilt. After they injected me with something to...

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Afraid to sleep

Last post was about the tingles....still have them. Heart monitor watch says my resting heart rate is 54 give or take....pm set to fire at 50....afraid to close my eyes...afraid I may die in my sleep.

I am not getting used to having the pm. Only been 3 weeks but I think about it constantly.

Was at the ER already once this week but no tingles at the time...scared.

Someone...advice....please...

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Tingles

Have had pm for 3 weeks today. Anyone else feel tingly sometimes? Like novacaine is wearing off? Like when you are in a deep sleep but got woken up? Been feeling that way a little bit everyday and never did before pm. Went to ER on Monday...everything fine. Chest x-ray..good, leads....good, bloodwork...good...said possible panic attack/stress. Been gettting like hot flashes too...very strange...

Strange sensation....any ideas? I googled it but all that comes up are love songs etc... L...

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what are precautions with surgery

Hello. I am looking for some help from the knowledgable ones on here. I am headed on friday to a plastic surgeon to address my incision from my implanted loop recorder. It is all healed of course (was implanted february this year) but half the incision looks like it grew too much scar tissue and is now bulging up. They made the incision very close to the center of my chest and it looks horrible because it shows when I wear V neck tops. Anyways, I am suppose to see her friday and I have read...

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Help

For personal reasons I would like to have my pacemaker removed. Anyone have any idea where I can get it done. Thanks

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I am learning so much from you all

Hi Again, I want to say I am learning so much from you all and I am so grateful for finding this group. I wrote last night when I was up about my 2 week old Medtronic Adapta (rate responsing). I appreciate the coupld of feedbacks I already received. A sleep mode was set when I went in for my 1st check up. That was when my trouble with being wide awake at bedtime began. I am thinking I might need to have it turned off.........???

Also of all things I own a a 30 minute workout gy...

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I am learning so much from you all

Hi Again, I want to say I am learning so much from you all and I am so grateful for finding this group. I wrote last night when I was up about my 2 week old Medtronic Adapta (rate responsing). I appreciate the coupld of feedbacks I already received. A sleep mode was set when I went in for my 1st check up. That was when my trouble with being wide awake at bedtime began. I am thinking I might need to have it turned off.........???

Also of all things I own a a 30 minute workout gy...

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You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.