Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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No diagnosis...but still getting a pacemaker

Hi all,

Firstly, I'd like to say how nice it is to have found this website and how supportive everyone is...it's a great comfort!

I have a history of dizzy spells since I was 13 and am now 27. A few weeks ago during a test to see if my spells were caused by Epilepsy, a single heart rate monitor that was placed on my chest picked up that my heart stopped for 8 seconds during a mild spell. I have had many 24hr holter monitors before, and it was sheer luck that I had a spell...

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Ablation?

Hi,
Found out last week that another ablation attempt is in my near future (Dr. wanted to do it the next day...I walked out without scheduling). My last EP study never got to the ablation part because they couldn't induce the arythmeia for a long enough period of time to map it and fix it. It was an aweful experience and not one that I am looking forward to repeating. My question is what is the liklihood of it not working a second time?

Anybody had more than one not work?

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2nd pacemaker tomarrow

Hey everyone.I have a dual lead pacemaker.My pacemaker went into backup mode.Im having right side lung pains.But the reason im posting is ::: Im getting a wifi pacemaker tomarrow.My doctor will use the merlin.net to keep up with it.My question is:: Has anyone here delt with having this type and what can I expect with one. Thanks to anyone that responds! Karen

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Chest pains

I am two weeks post lead replacement. (Failed medtronics recalled lead) for the past week I have had a number of episodes of debilitating chest pain - inability to breathe or move - Sometimes, but not always, preceded by sharp burning pains under my left breast. I ended up in the ER one night this week - and they ruled out punctures, an MI, wandering leads, infection and clots - but this is ridiculous - my left arm goes weird (not numb exactly - just puffy feeling) , my entire lower jaw ach...

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Stress Test

I am hooked up to a halter again. I am still having palpitations, extra beats, skipped beats, maybe even PVC's. Not sure, hence the monitor. I should be able to take it off on Monday.

Going in for a stress test on Monday. Just to make sure everything is ok. I was supposed to have it before the pm was implanted but it seems the complete heart block they caught while on the monitor put the stress test on the back burner for a while.

Can anyone tell me what to expect. Is ther...

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Mayday Mayday Mayday

Good Evening,

I live in the Denver area at relatively high altitude and was dx'd with Cardiomyopathy seven years ago. Three years ago, my cardiologist suggested an ICD implant...I stalled and luckily am still alive. However, yesterday...after a 24hr holter, he said I need a Pacemaker asap! So I will meet with an electrophysiologist on wednesday to discuss the options of a Pacemaker, an ICD or both. Frankly, I only want the Pacemaker.

Obviously confused with the details...

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bandage

my bandage was opened by itself at one side about 2 days ago. it's not so tight anymore. should i go to hospital today ? or juz let it be? coz tomorrow they'll open my bandage.

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implanted loop recorder...actually worked

I've had the thing in since september 17th, but early this morning I finally had symptoms that I recorded with the patient assist device. After calling the office and finally finding someone who knew what I was talking about (people kept saying "are you sure you have an implanted loop recorder?"...um, duh?) I went in and had it interrogated in the PM clinic. The clinic person went and got the EP from lunch to come and look at the recording...it was that good.
So, now the recommendation is...

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change of sides!

heyy...=D
i've had like loads of pacemakers (4 -5) but my next operation is next year and my doc. said that he might change the pacemakere from my left side to my right!
Hw serious is this operation does anyone no and what difference doea it make!!
thanks this has been a great help!
next appointment on the 1st....=P

oh and hw soon does emergancy suregy happen??
just for the future!!
ballerine nm!

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charged

Hello everyone! I just had my PM placed on 11/11. (I was alamb before, but for some reason, I can't open up my account. So,... now I am alamb2.) I got a St. Jude dual chamber unit. It was placed under the muscle (longer recovery) and secured with about 9 staples so the only restriction I got was no sudden or jerky, jostiling movments and to let the pain be my guide. I was given six to eight weeks for full recovery.

I wanted to thank everyone who have given me feed back. If it...

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ablation

i go for my first ablation,for my fast heart rate,what to expect,and how long is recovery.i do have a icd in me,is abaltion,like a cazeration

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Stitches

I'm five weeks post-op and everything was going well till I noticed one area of the incision on the end wasn't quite healing. Instead of getting smaller, it was getting a little larger. Then a white loop appeared, then what looks like a knot. I called my Dr. He said that sometimes the internal stitch does not disolve completely. Has anyone else experienced this?

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Allergic

I am a 49 year old male and had a pacemaker put in 2 weeks ago, i have been getting a blotchy rash and hives which come and go, does anyone know if you can have an allergic reaction to pm or leads? Rash occurs on chest front part of shoulders and arms. I am not on any medication, Cardiologist discounts possibility.
Thanks

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A Big Thanks...and a Long Story

To all of you that have helped me through...thank you. I am 10 weeks post implant today and am getting better. I am still having desperate/high anxiety moments (as I did last night). And thank you to those who checked in with me last night to help me get through it. Knowing that there is a support system here helps and my appreciation goes deeper than I could ever tell you.

I called the EP office today and to my dismay was completely blown off by the nurse practitioner whom I asked to...

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all new reference points

Hi Everyone,

This my first contact I have had since my surgury 2wks ago. I talked to family and friends about how I feel totally different. I feel like II finally and maybe for the first time. Looking in hindsight I may have started to have this as a teen but since it wasn't constant and only slightly a problem (ya only slightly< hmmph)I wasn't even checked for it. My friends laughed at me for walking as if drunk and having to look down at my feet to walk. For about a decade I thought...

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Too scared to sleep again

I was sitting here on the couch when I could feel an episode start to come on. It's really the first one I have felt since the pm. I felt my pulse and I couldn't count it but it was super slow. Then it slowly got faster. So I am guessing the pm kicked in.

But I got like a hot flash, my palms got all sweaty and my brow. Was that the panic part?

Husband working midnights tonight so I am alone with the baby all night again. That freaks me out too. Took a Xanax but not really h...

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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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You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

Member Quotes

This is my second Christmas with my pacemaker and I am so happy to be with my family.