Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Thanks

Thanks for the responses to my previous comment. They were very helpful and appreciated. 

Monty

 

 

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New Implantee

I've been implanted 17 days ... After surgery I had so much pain breathing while lying down I had to attempt sleeping propped up. This improved to the point that after 10 days the pain was barely noticeable. However I still experience so much coughing during the day and and night my abdominal muscles are sore. Has anyone else experienced this? I related all this to my cardiologist and he said the catheter may have "Irritated" my lung and it will resolve itself in time. I would a...

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Serious Decision

I have a serious decision to make.  Because of a mistake, my pacer clinic made I had several additional tests to ensure my 100% paced heart leads were not damaged in reviving me in the ER in February 2024.  A heart scan found a large thyroid nodule that required additional testing.

Today I met with an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon doctor who gave me the option of having my thyroid removed or monitoring it for another year.  The ENT surgeon is concerned abo...

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New generator on May 2, 2024

Hi alll!

Time for a new model change !  I have had a CRTD since 2015. The new one will be a Medtronic CRTD, MRI approved with all the bells and whistles!!🤣🤣🤣They said it should be piece of cake!  We shall see on Thursday!  All three of my wires are good, thank God for that!  Wish me luck!

Debbie

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Pacemaker replacement

Had my pacemaker replacement on 3/10/24. Still having what I consider a lot of pain when walking around.  Not much pain first thing in the morning when I first get up. Is it normal or should I give them a call my next visit not till 20 May.

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Update on Cataract procedure - it's done!

Cataract procedure has been done!  Got eye shield in place so haven’t seen results yet.  Tomorrow I start antibiotic drops (Maxitrol) 4 x daily and have to wear eye shield at night for 10 days.  It seemed to go well except the local injection of anaesthetic was extremely uncomfortable.  It was effective though and I was very relaxed and pain free throughout the procedure. 

I arrived at the hospital early at 7 am but was second to last on the theatre list.&...

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Do I stop anticoagulation for Cataract Surgery?

I am due to have cataract surgery on Monday, left eye.  I had a pre-op assessment some weeks ago and was told to continue all my meds, including my anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation stroke protection.  

A lady from the eye clinic phoned this afternoon and asked me to stop anticoagulation for 48 hours before my procedure.  Needless to say I am now very confused.  

I cannot remember whether I stopped my anticoagulant 4 years ago when I had the right eye done....

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The Final Milestone is Here

My last restriction from the January 11 PM surgery was "no repetitive arm motion for 90 days" is finally over. After being cleared, I have been going to the fitness center 4 or 5 days a week working on Precor lower body machines. I checked in with the PM Clinic today and was given the only restriction as no rowing machine because that pull-back motion could impact my subclavicular lead. I am meeting with a personal trainer tomorrow for advice on the equipment I can add to my ro...

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1 month after pm

I'm 76 with a healthy heart but SSS. I was told by my husband 50 years ago, a cardiovascular surgeon, that I had bradycardia.  I have been mostly asymptomatic and active up until the implant a month ago. Everything went fine but I had tachycardia 170 bpm on the 4th day and returned to hospital to be put on a drip overnight. I returned home with a low dosage beta blocker. I had never experienced tachycardia for more than a few minutes prior to pm. My incision healed quickly with...

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Lead Extraction Experiences Please!

Hi everyone - I am getting this in June - and would love to hear people's experiences good and bad, and any tips or things to be aware of.  Curious about healing time vs just having a lead thrown in as well.  I am going leadless so will not have that issue. Thanks so much!

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1st time

Hiya, I am GinaM fron UK.. 52 yrs old. I had a dual chamber ipacemaker nserted on Tuesday.for inermittent  high degree AV block. Still feel sore & fragile. How long did it take for the soreness to ease up. Also did anyone go back to work a week after the surgey? Newbie with questions

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How soon have you had an MRI after generator change?

I just got a Medtronic Azure XT DR this morning to replace an Advisa with low batteries. Easy peasy! I haven't even needed a Tylenol.

I need to have two MRIs. One for my brain, and that one's overdue. It's part of follow-up for the brain surgery I had last August. The other is because my liver is acting up, and they haven't figured out exactly why yet.

The Medtronic policy is apparently that I will have to wait six weeks post-surgery, even though the leads are not...

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My Experience Switching from a Dual Lead to a Leadless Pacemaker

Hey everyone! Abi here, I know there are quite a few members currently considering switching from a traditional pacemaker to a leadless. I think I am the first one to make the change so I thought I would post about my experience and the process. This is going to be quite long though.

TLDR: It is fine. It makes more sense to get the first time to avoid the scars and the healing time, but it limits cardio and takes more effort and expertise to program.

Background: 

So I t...

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Micra pacemaker

I'm having a Micra pacemaker surgery the third of April. I'm wondering if someone on here has that pacemaker?  If so how long did it take to recover and get your energy back?  Thanks for any input. 

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a better way to treat A-fib using "pulsed field ablation"

Just read online in our local Sarasota, Fl paper, that our public hospital physicians are among the first in the nation peforming Pulsed Field Ablation.  A breakthrough therapy to treat people with atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythms.  Treatment of patients with paroxsmal(periodic) or persistent atrial fibrillation.

Traditionally, catheter ablation is a technique in which heart tissue is treated with extreme heat(radiofrequency ablation) or cold(cryotherapy) to des...

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Much more frequent pvcs and pacs four weeks after implant

Since I had my pacemaker implanted four weeks ago I have had many more pvcs and pacs which are uncomfortable.  My Apple Watch picks them up and I have about 4-6 per 30 sec. ECG  and they are fairly constant.  I just want to know if this is common after implant and if experienced, when does it seem to calm down.  My first doctors appointment after implant isn't for another 4 weeks. I did have  checkup with the nurses in the clinic after 1 week and I did experi...

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Help for after surgery

My mom (77) just had pacemaker surgery. She will be going home tomorrow or the next day. What are some "things" you wish you had right after your surgery?  Or things you did have that highly recommend?  How can I help make things easier and more comfortable for her?  
I did buy her some front closure bras and some button up shirts. Someone suggested a bidet- so I've got that ordered too. 
The cardio Dr makes it seem like it''s not going to b...

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Under pec muscle

I asked about getting a micro device but since I have an older style Medtronic device they said surgery would be brutal removing the leads etc. They suggested a new device placed under the pectoral muscle so I wouldn't see it.  Anyone have this done and was healing easy as before?

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shortness of breath after pacemaker replacement

Had pacemaker replacement 10 days ago  Healing well  Today have shortness of breath and fatique  Any ideas of why?? 

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Swelling at insertion site

Hello,

 

I had my pacemaker put in 10 days ago and yesterday I noticed swelling around the device/pocket. It's not red, hot, or painful. The incision looks really good and seems to be healing well. The swelling is more like a bump, best way I can describe it, if I flatten my shirt over it you can see a bump or lump. Is this normal? Do I need to go to the hospital? Thanks 

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My muscles are very sore but each day it gets better and my range of movement is improving.