Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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My post op experience

Hello all,

Instead of only asking for advice and complaining about my pain and soreness, I wanted to give back some comments to others going through the same thing. My intial PM surgery on April 3rd, and then my lead revision on April 20th. So it was 17 days from the first to second surgery then 17 days to today.

So initially I had issues with breathing and a lot of soreness preventing me from sleeping. I'll pretty much blame the missing wire connection they had to fix. They t...

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Info

My biventricular ICD is close to skin erosion. It is not infected. It’s really painful. So next week they are doing a pocket revision into the muscle. Just wondering how painful it is, how long it takes, and what is recovery time?

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Implant surgery

Pacemaker fitted two days ago. Getting occasional fluttering sensations in the chest similar to pre implant symptoms. Had ECG which is fine. Has anyone experienced similar sensations and do they pass?

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Recovery, week 2ish

Hello again,

I apologize if I am making an issue for perhaps no reason at all, but I have questions about my recovery from my lead revision 13 days ago, to my initial pacemaker surgery on April 3rd. 
 

I have been feeling pretty strong and getting much better but since yesterday I feel a bunch of soreness and pain on my shoulder upper arm and a lot of stiffness around the incision location. Is it normal to feel such stiffness ? I met with the cardiologist team last...

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2nd ablation

Hello all,

I had an ablation 2 years ago for Afib and a PM installed about 15 months ago.  I do feel better than I did prior to the ablation and the PM install but afib is back.  I have some symptoms but nothing compaired to 2 years ago.  I see my EP next week, I do not know what they will suggest but I am guessing a second ablation.  I did not like the recovery period after the ablation, it was almost 2 weeks of very limited activity before I felt better. ...

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Update - All tests for TAVR complete and I passed!

So, it's a go for TAVR if I choose to go that route. I have seen the cardiothorasic surgeon, had a CT Cardiac and pelvic scan (checking for CAD &  my femoral arteries). No CAD or other issues and everything is a go. I still have to see the interventional cardiologist before the procedure is schedulled. I've been gouging my eyes out reading up on the latest research between TAVR and/or SAVR.. If you haven't been following, or read my bio, this will be a valve in valve proc...

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Struggling with recovery

Hi everyone,

been a while since I have posted here. I am 23 years old and just had my third pacemaker implanted this past Monday here in Ottawa, Canada. The procedure went well and there were no complications. I had a new lead installed as well. This is my first procedure as an adult and it's been very weird from my previous two. I was discharged on my first day and my follow up has been scheduled for in June. I've just been noticing every single thing way more and really strugg...

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Coughing

I just had a pacemaker implanted on April 21, 2023.  So, as yet I don't have a week under my belt.  

I was worried because I have a cold and spent the first days of this new adventure coughing, etc.  I was worried I would cause the wires to move or something come loose but, I have read many of your posts and am hoping from what I read that wouldn't happen.

They had trouble putting the first lead in and it was pretty painful at times.  Sometimes I a...

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Pacemaker implant

Just fort those who are discouraged.   It took me 4 months to adapt to the pacemaker implant.  I entering my 6th month and have felt fine for the entire 5th month.  

For the first 4 months my pulse rate was all over the place,  I talked with the doctor several times, they checked out the pacemaker and it was ok.  

But it took my body 4 months to accept it.  All is good now and I a rebuilding my strength and stamina.

Good luck...

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May have messed up

Not sure if this is a big mess up or not and I can't find enough information to know which way. 

I got my dual chamber pacemaker installed 4/17/2023 so I'm about six days post op. I've been very good about not lifting my elbow above my shoulder. Until this morning when my arm managed to get free from my sling when I was half asleep and I ended up stretching my whole surgery side arm above my head for a few seconds.

How likely is it that I yanked on a lead or dislo...

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ICD bulge near armpit

Hi everyone, I had my ICD inserted Feb.7th 2023. 

I have noticed that when I try to lift my left arm, there's a bulge right by my arm pit. I feel the icd in there, the edge of it. It's annoying cause it makes it hard to shave under that armpit and wash there. It's like it's too close to my armpit. Also, when I'm washing over it, it's like I'm pressing on it and moving it around, and it makes me nauseous. Then, when I try to sleep on my right side, my lef...

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Pacemaker post op experience

Hello, I'm new here and new to this whole pacemaker thing. Just curious if anyone has had experience with shortness of breath after surgery and if it goes away? It's not severe and I'm not sure if I'm even imagining it. My original surgery for installation was on April 3rd, but they had to go back and do a lead revision last Thursday April 20th. 
I had a lot of shortness of breath while one of the leads wasn't attached properly and now I'm somewhat...

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Can I get top surgery?

Hey y'all,

I've had a pacemaker since I was 12, and a few years after that, I came out as trans since then, I've been wondering if it is possible for me to get top surgery since I have a pacemaker and I've been unable to find anything the covers this and I'm just wondering if anyone has any similar experience or anything that is comparable. Thanks for any help you can offer.

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what is recovery like?

this may be a bit of a redundant question, so my apologies! i'm pretty young (16) and i'm getting a pacemaker in soon. i have ABSOLUTELY ZERO clue what to expect for the recovery. my cardiologist makes it seem like the procedure will be very easy w. little impact on life afterwards, but i was wondering to how much that's true? what does it feel like afterwards? what is recovery like? 

 

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Loop recorder scar question

Hi all,

I have a loop recorder and I've not been able to find an answer to this. Is the loop recorder anchored/secured in place at the point of insertion? Sounds like a weird question but mine feels to me where my scar is is also attached to the recorder itself. In fact I'm sure it is, if I gently lift my skin I can see it pulls the recorder with it. It's not painful, and it's healed well I just want to know if that's how it's supposed to be? 
 

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Sleeping

Hi everyone ! 

It's been 2 months since my ICD surgery. It's on my left side. I've been sleeping on my right side ever since. Haven't slept on my left side yet. I'm worried I'll move the pacemaker or squish on it or make it sore by pressing on it ?! However. When I turn on my right side, my breasts are quite heavy so when I turn, my left breast pulls down on my pacemaker and it hurts. And I wonder if it's moving the leads. Don't know how to get...

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Wearing a bra

Hi, I am 38 years old and suffered a cardiac arrest back in Janurary. They had to revive me twice. I was in a coma for 2 weeks and spent a month and a half in the hospital. They inserted a pacemaker/defibrillator on February 7th. Ever since, I have avoided wearing a bra with straps, one with support, because I'm scared by wearing one that it pushes up the breasts, and by doing so, it's pushing up against the pacemaker. I am scared it might move the leads ? Shift the pacemaker out of p...

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Pacemaker and propranolol

I am new to this forum so I am delighted to find you and sent this first to an outdated list but a kind person put me right.

 I am repeating myself therefore but I had my PM done only last week in London and will eventually be paced at St Thomas's. My op feels ok but I am one of those with a Sick sinus and have Brady and Tachycardia. The PM should cope with the Brady but other than an AV node ablation which I am unhappy about I am trying to cope with the Tachycardia with Propra...

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Update!

Testing continues for my upcoming aortic valve replacement #2

Just had an angiogram and everything is clear!

Scheduled for a femoral artery & heart CT Scan in a few weeks. After that, I'll sit with the surgeon again about my options.

In the meantime, I've been "negotiating" with my EP. He wasn't wanting to push my MTR above the default 130 due to my severe insufficiency. I finally convinced him that I would be carefull and he put it at 150 whic...

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How to phrase this.... for the ladies?

.... hmm. So. I'm 2 weeks (tomorrow) since surgery, and had my first checkup, staples removed (steristrips in place), and I think things have been tweaked as I'm not as light heated and having as many kerthump or palpitations moments as pre-appointment - HOWEVER - something is still vexing me - and I don't know if it's a girl with ample bosoms thing - or if men can relate - but.... I feel like I have to hold my left boob all the time when I'm walking. Which looks stupid, a...

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I love this new part of me, and very, very thankful that this technology exists and I know that it's all only going to get better over time.