Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Scar after ICD removal?

Hi PM/ICD'ers,

I just had my ICD removed entirely and it looks like the scar is going to be a pretty gnarly, raised hypertrophic/keloid type. It was already red and very uncomfortable for most of the past 14 months I've had it in, but it looks like it's about to be a lot worse, considering they went in directly through the old scar to remove it. 

Does anyody have any experience with this and what I can expect? And what I can do to fix it once it heals/let it...

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Doctor office appt Tues 7/12/2021 - PM surgery scheduled for August 16

Hi Everyone,

I made a list of q for appointment tomorrow (Tues July 13) with my electrophysiologist. But most of my questions are about aftercare, which the doctor may or may not be the person to discuss that with. (Maybe the Nurse Navigator?) I will post questions about that after tomorrow, if necessary. For now, I would appreciate you folks suggesting what questions specifically I should ask my doctor at tomorrow's appt.

So far I have *is this pacemaker safe for MRI?  *...

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Did Any Other Women Have This Issue?

Hi everyone! In June 2020, I had two ICD surgeries in two days. Within hours of the first surgery, I could feel the ICD in my breast, far from the incision area. I told the nurses, but they dismissed my concerns. Then it started beeping. No one could explain why, and I'm concerned it's going to deliver a shock. I insisted on a chest x-ray, which was performed the next morning. The x-ray confirmed my suspicions: the ICD lead snapped and dragged the de...

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Pain and short of breath

Hi everyone. :)

I'm new to having a pacemaker, so I'm really glad I found this forum.

I'm a 30 year old female and just got my first ever pacemaker inserted 2 weeks ago. I had to get it due to me fainting out of nowhere one day and turns out I have 3rd degree heart block. 
 

The healing process has been rough. No one told me what's normal and not normal so I've been to the ER like 3 times so far only to be told everything is okay on both my...

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Pain

Thx especially to Gemita for all ur feedback most appreciated & to all others that responded. I'm going through a rough time having to depend on others for assistance at this time . 

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Pain

Hi all, glad i found this site ! Great to get advice from others who have been through some of the same issues. First where on the site can I go to read the concerns of others past & present & member quotes. I had my pm implanted in Feb 2021 all went well for the first 2 months felt fine ,u could barely see it ,  then 3rd month pm started to migrate to axilla area ,very uncomfortable & causing pain in my shoulder & side of neck. MD said he only sutured it with 1 row of su...

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pool water

I've had my stiches removed a week ago... how soon can I get the incision wet by dunking in a pool? I have showered already.

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50 year old newbie.

Just got my pacemaker installed on Wednesday.  I got av node ablation and a 3 lead insertion.  I'm 100% dependant.

So far recovery is going well, i think.  No pain, but I do feel occasional palpatations which worry me.  I thought this was supposed to stop that.

This whole experience is terrifying.  I have no reference to determine what sort of things I should be concerned about.

I suppose I should just suck it up and be glad to open my eyes...

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New to the PM club

Hi all,
I had my PM surgery for a dual chamber St. Jude's this past Weds., it went smoothly afaik. One moment I was chatting with the nurses as the doc was putting on the anesthetic, the next they told me they were all done and I was getting wheeled out of the cath lab and back to recovery. Since then aside from a few odd throbs the day of surgery all I've had painwise are the expected achiness by my collar at the implant site and what feels almost like there's something in m...

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What to expect in recovery?

I am an active 68 year old woman who received an emergency PM implant 5 days ago for a complete heart block that developed very quickly.  My heart rate was 36 in the emergency room and I had significant shortness of breath with minor exertion for 3 days prior to hospitalization. A minth ago, I had a calcium ct scan which was fine and an echocardiogram to monitor my mitral valve, which has been stable for years. I was feeling very pleased with my cardiac health.&n...

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Surgery

I receive my unit on the 28th of this month. I am having a lot of anxiety. I have a low heart rate that borders on bradycardia and I'm having frequent PVCs that are symptomatic. When they try any meds to control the PVCs it drops my heart rate down and I get lightheaded. They are hoping the the pacemaker combined with beta blockers will get me lined out. Thankfully I have no "plumbing" issues. All of mine are "electrical" but still very scary for me. 

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Post Op Recovery

I had a PM inserted on 6/4/21. I am curious on how long it took for PM incision to compoletely heal over?. Also with most restrictions on the 4-6 week timeframe, How many of you were cleared to resume activities?, and what activities, if any were still restricted after the initial 4-6 week time period, assuming your healing recovery had no complications. Thanks, just wanted to get a general idea from those who have gone through this.

I am a very activer person, and wanted a feeling of w...

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Not able to breathe while lying down on bed in any position

Hi there, My dad had pacemaker implantation one month before and after that he started shortness of breath when we was lying on bed in any position. We had xray , blood test and ecg and all looks normal. Doctor says its after effect of pcemaker and asking us not to think too much and try to ignore and it will go awa with time. I just wanted to take your opinion as well on this one, any suggestion will be really helpful. Thanks

 

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After Surgery

I had a lead extraction done on June 3rd and a new Defib/pacer MRI compatible put in. Tonight June 9th my incision is leaking a light pink fluid. Is that normal or should I get it check out.

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Pacemaker

Hello. I had a Pacemaker fitted on March 30 and an ablation to deal with the node on May 6. This followed three years of procedures and medications following a stroke caused by an atrial flutter. That flutter and my atrial fibrillation were succcessfully dealt with by two ablatiions but a second flutter appeared and became persistent.  I think my cardiologist was confident all,would be well immediately but I have had palpitations and the accompanying loss of energy and nausea a few times...

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Post placement one month out

Hello all,

I have had a Medtronic biventricular/icd placed one month ago. Have healed great 1st appt was very positive and integration of device they said was perfect and doing what it should! Have had no pain at site per say incision healed nicely however over the past week I've been feeling like stings or zingers not that the device is going off but as quick as they come they are gone but I've noticed them more. It happens to the left side of device towards armpit. Is this nor...

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Post surgery pacemaker

Hi my dad yesterday done pacemaker surgery Medtronic Shpera DR Dual Chamber setting at 56bpm his heart beart now 90bpm is it normal?

And they open the bandage in the side of operation. No cover of bandage just the sticth. In Malaysia it wos lockdown bz covid ubable to see doctor. 

Thank u

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So I went to the Hospital today for my post op visit

Hello Clubbers

I am so very grateful to be able to write this post today.

I had my CRT-D inserted on Feb 26, after being diagnosed last november with serious heart failure (cardiomyopathy - enlarged heart, left block, acute lung edema, EF at 15%, not very good...
In January, my EF went up to 27, so the medication didnt do the job, so I got a CRT-D.  The operation went well, no pb healing.

The one thing I had a hard time handling, was the...

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Pacemaker Medtronic Sphera DR Dual Chamber

Hi im frm Malaysia. Glad to be in this group. My father today undergo Pacemaker surgery 68 years old his pulse wos 35bpm before now set to 55bpm. Any painkiller other than panadol?

What should be follow post surgery at home. What food to follow and to avoid. Can use oximeter at home once he discharged? Can use bp hand cheker to check bp? Thank you

 

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Pressure Dressing

Well I thought I knew about pacemaker surgery having 2 put in. Wrong ! I woke up in recovery with an ace bandage around shoulder and chest. Taped down to upper breast. Unfortunately, nurse said because of bleeding. I am very very thin with loss of muscle due to neuropathy. Has anyone had a pressure dressing ? On for 3 days. Doctor did mention he change location due to muscle loss. 

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You know you're wired when...

You have a T-shirt that reads “Wired4Sound”.

Member Quotes

A pacemaker completely solved my problem. In fact, it was implanted just 7 weeks ago and I ran a race today, placed first in my age group.