Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Angry incision

I am four weeks out from having my pacemaker inserted I am finding that my incision is getting angry and red and there was a small amount of pus that came out of it so when I saw the doctor at the four week visit I explained it to him and he put me on another antibiotic but I'm concerned that it's gonna get a lot worse has anybody experienced this?

I have learned so much from this site, thank you in advance. 

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Anxiety

I had a pace maker installed three days ago my energy level hasn't increased and the dizziness/nausea hasn't dissipated. I'm scared and cry a lot. Is this normal?

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Surgery anesthesia

Hello I'm confused I will be having and ablibation..I don't remember exactly how procedure will happen ..will I be fully sleep anesthesia? Or almost out ?? I ask today my primary doctor n he said I don't think you be fully sedated cause if they do they will have to put a breathing tube is that normal procedure also he mention fully sedation is higher risk ??????

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Breastfeeding mom needs PM and Lead replaced

Hi everyone, I am a first time mom but a lifelong pacemaker recipient. I was born with a third-degree congenital heart defect and have atrial tachycardia. Since the age of six months old, I have always had a pacemaker. Well, this past January my husband and I were blessed enough to have our first child, a healthy and happy little girl. We have also been fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed and have done so successfully for the past eight months. At my most recent cardiology appointment m...

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Stitch removal and pain

I am 78 years old and received my pacemaker Monday, Sept. 12th and am scheduled to see the nurse practictioner (my cardiologist/surgeon is not available or several months I was told) this Friday, Sept. 16th.  I am not sure if this is just for a check up or for removal of stitches.  As I believe it is too soon for stitch removal, I presume it is for a check up, but again, isn't this a little too soon after the procedure to have a check up?

Also, I didn't realize it woul...

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Puncturing a lung to add a new lead

My 9 year old Medtronic 2 lead pacemaker is coming up to needing to be replaced due to the battery reaching end of life. I am 100% dependent following a surgical complication when my aortic valve was replaced at that time.

The doctor at Barts hospital said that they are considering changing the type of device to a three lead version, as this is more suitable for someone being paced long term (I am now 56yo), and can also help with heart failure. However, he said it comes with some risks...

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post surgery restrictions

I am scheduled for a pacemaker Sept. 12th, due to low heart rate (although today it was 52bpm up from 40bpm, resting).  My biggest concern, apart from, of course, the surgery itself, is how I am going to cope afterwards.  I am a single woman of 78, caring for 7 rescued senior special needs horses and 2 dogs and running a retail clothing store.  I have found someone to run the store for me for a few weeks and another person to feed/medicate the horses four days a week, still loo...

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New Pacemaker

I had a Biotronic 2 lead put in on 8/25/22 because of level 3 heart block.  My heart still races a little and when I stand up I get a little dizzy for a couple of seconds.  Is this normal for someone that has only had it for four days?  I don't want to worry about something that I don't need to.

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New to the club

I will be having my PM implanted tomorrow. I don't know a lot about restrictions and want to be prepared. Are there specific household appliances and/or personal care appliances that I need to avoid or be cautious around?  Thanks in advance 

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Throat tightness

It's been 1 week since I got my PM. I can finally breathe when I climb stairs! But I've noticed that I sometimes get a tightness at the base of my throat. It happened when the shower got steamy. I opened the door to let cool air in and then I was ok. I also tried blow drying my hair with my dryer on a stand at least 2 ft away from my PC. But I started getting that tight sensation at the bottom of my throat. And lastly, when I'm falling asleep I will lose my breath maybe...

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I Get It

I get it, everybody is different so it's hard to say what a "normal" recovery is. And the doctors are certainly not forthcoming with information (eye roll). I'm 4 weeks post op (pm for 2nd degree av block/bradycardia) and am so tired. I make it through work, then I'm toast. I take a nap, have some dinner, and then I go to sleep for the night. Is this typical? Unusual? Does it eventually pass? When might my pre-op energy levels return? I need a pep talk!&nb...

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New to the Pacemaker Club

Just had a dual chambered pacemaker installed on 8/22/22. Other than being sore I have experienced heart flutters usually 4 to 5 times a day. But I have so much more energy and not tired all the time. Hopefully the heart flutters will go away in due time as my body adjusts to the PM. Glad to be on here with others who share stories about their experience living with a pacemaker. 

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New to the Club!

I just received my pacemaker 4 days ago. Came as a shock. I had no medical issues, until one day I started haveing shortness of breath. Mostly when climbing stairs. After having family tell me it was anxiety, and then the cardiologist convinced I developed asthma, it was discovered I was having heart blocks (a lot). Discovered on a heart monitor that I pushed to get since I was pretty sure I didn't have asthma. This went on for over a month. But we know our bodies. On Frida...

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Post symptoms

Hello everyone. I am new to the pacemaker club. I had a dual lead pacemaker done 5 days ago and I think from reading some of the posts I am expecting too much too soon. My original diagnoses was bradycardia with my pulse running in the 40s. I had fatigue going up stairs and some minor shortness of breath. I was expecting everything to be gone after surgery but thats not the case. I know have much more fatigue and shortness of breath and at time my heart pounding in my chest. I go for my first...

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We have successfully published our Survey

Dear member,

Many of you may recall that we ran a survey between June 2021 and December 2021 on post operative pain following a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED).  I am delighted to tell you that we have managed to get our survey published in The British Journal of Cardiology (The BJC) and I attach a link to the published article below.  The BJC is a unique peer-reviewed publication linking primary and secondary care. It provides an important bridge for ho...

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Pain during surgery

So I went through the club initiation rites yesterday and got my membership card.  Biotronik dual-lead PM up and running.  Had read about the procedure and got a brief explantion from the doctor but was totally unprepared for how painful it was.  They said I'd have a light sedative and local anesthesia, but I thought I'd be more out of it and feel only tugging and pressure.  Felt the injection of the anesthesia obviously, then I don't think I felt the inci...

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My Friend

Good Morning Group, I'm now in my 15th day of recovery and I'm doing fine. Incision site is healing nicely and I'm just waiting for my 1 month follow up with the heart doc so I can get back to doing the things I do on the farm. 

This post however is slightly off the path and is about a friend of mine, he's 86, small frail body style, heavy smoker and has been self isolated since COVID hit. When I informed him of my new PM he told m...

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Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing

After nearly 3 years with permanent afib and the clinicians decision not to atempt to restore sinus rhythm due to age (81) and heart damage due to MI in 2006 I have not been happy having to live with much reduced exertion tolerance and no exercise tolerance. I have been a life long runner and other sports, plus 25 years Army service where exercise was mandatory not optional, so inactivity does not sit well with me. In April it was decided to upgrade my dual chamber pm to biventricular bu...

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Newbie

Well, as you can see I'm new to the group. Today I'm in recovery day 4, and compared to some postings I've read from this forum I would consider myself not unlike most in symtoms with rough nights and sleeping in easy chair, slight redness at incision site, soreness in and around the new PM.

My history with heart attacks started around 15-20 years ago (I'm 76), when after and attack I had a stint inserted and was prescribed Simvastatin, Metoprolol and 81mg asprin along w...

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Thank you!

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my post; hearing that some of you had very similar experiences normalized my first week journey into Pacerland. To clarify, my pain has been manageable with some help. I was expecting "soreness for a day or two" and not the kind of pain that needed a couple of nights of Oxy, a fair amount of tylenol, lots of ice packs, a supportive bra, and lots of pillows. In all, not really awful, but a good bit more than "some sorenes...

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You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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