Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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The time has (almost) arrived

Hi Everyone,

As a regular 'pre PM op' visitor here for the past couple of months, thought I'd let you know that I'm about to become a fully battery operated member. My cardio called this afternoon and they have a cancellation next Monday (26th Nov) so I'll be having my first PM impant.

I'm a little nervous, but thanks to all you wonderful people here (extra shout out to Allan and Lotti) for sharing your stories, tips and experiences, I'm not half as nervous and terrified a...

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My Shoulders Hurt!

Hi Everyone, my name is Jen and I'm from Scotland. I got my pacemaker just there on Friday 09th November because I've had neurocardiogenic syncope for at least 8 years and none of the meds have worked. I had the pacemaker checked on Monday and the technician said that it's been activated 15 times in 3 days which is a lot apparently. My problem just now is that although the scar hurts sometimes my left shoulder is absolute agony all the time. The pacemaker is right under the collar bone and no ma...

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Looking good!

Hello fellow PM folks!
I'm in my 4th day of recovery to revise PM. Surgery went very well on Nov. 8th! I no longer have a wire protruding out, nor skin paper thin! The surgeon relocated underneath my muscle just below my collar bone and you can't even tell I have a PM, with the exception of the incision! It's night and day! I am very excited and thankful! They used Durabond (like superglue) to close the incision and tell me that it'll take about 5-10 days to wear off. Having it unde...

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Heart spasm after peacemaker replacement...?:(

Hello everyone!
I had my pacemaker replaced on Oct-30-07. It was upgraded from a dual to a Biventricular Pacemakers by Guidant. And I am not doing well at all. Right after the replacement I started getting chest pains. It is not only a pain but I feel tightness and pressure in my chest and in my trough at the same time. At first I thought that probably the settings just needs to be adjusted at that new pacer. After calling that electrophysiologyst who did that surgery I was told that my new...

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Help!!4 months after Pacemaker

I got a pacemaker installed about 4 months ago - recently I have been feeling some problems - I feel shortness of breath and my pulse rate is fast and I feel like my pacemaker is fluttering
I am currently visiting the US and will return to my home country in 3 weeks
Anyone else face similar problems - is this normal

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new member

Hi I am william just had cardioverter defibrilator change 10/26/07 after having my devise for 4& half years. Have 9 year devise now 37 years old new member am doing great just hate they had to recut and put another devise in but I thank GOD for it to keep on living. email is wmcroy09998@tampabay.rr.com

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Surgery to relocate PM

Hello fellow PM folks! Hope everyone is well!

In June 1999 rec'd my first PM. In July 1999 had PM relocated as it was hitting my collar bone! Ick!. On April 3rd, 2007, 8 years later, not bad... I had a new Medtronic PM/Battery put in, however, the location isn't too good on this PM and a wire is protruding out with that skin being very thin! Yikes! On Nov. 8th, Thursday I am going in to have my PM relocated under my muscle. All sorts of feelings as one prepares for the out-patie...

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Moving the PM

Well, I met with my Cardiovascular & Thoracic surgeon on 11/2 and he too agrees my PM should be repositioned. I have a wire protruding out, not out of the skin, however, the skin there is extremely thin and very uncomfortable. I had my battery changed in 4/07 and haven't been comfortable since.

The surgeon said he would place under my muscle, although I am very small framed...has anybody had their PM put under the muscle? What is the recovery time? It seems like it would be long...

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Will you share your experience to help another patient?

I'm the director of patient advocacy for Emmi Solutions, a company that makes online patient education programs for people who will be having surgery for all types of medical conditions, including patients who will have ICD's and pacemakers. We will also be producing programs in the near future on atrial fibrillation and coagulation management therapy.

We talk with patients directly about their experience, and ask patients to watch our programs and provide feedback because we want to...

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Draniage part II

I would like to fill everyone in on my drainage problem that I wrote about earlier in the week. I know a few of us thought it was an infection...and so did I. I went to the hospital and they admitted me to cardiac unit, thinking it was a severe infection. They were going to take out my pacemaker let the area that was infected heal a and place a new pacemaker in on the otherside of my chest. Well, thank goodness they did several test and they concluded that I caught a skin allery from the tape th...

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Pacemaker placement


Hi again everyone:)
My pacemaker is implanted under the collar bone. Thanks to this wonderful site I was able to find out that there are other options for placement, like under pectoral muscle. Are there any extra potential complications involve or longer healing time by doing that? In comparison to just have that under the color bone. Is that a good idea at all?
I am schedule for the replacement on Oct.-30
I would be very grateful for any info. on this subject.

T...

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Drainage

Im 30 years old and I have had my second pacemaker implanted on 10.17.07. I have followed all my post surgery instructions and the area around my pacemaker is draining this yellowish clear goo and I have called the oncall doctor and he says its nothing....I feel that there is a problem....can anyone shed some light?

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Life after implant

Well it's been one week today I had my Pace Maker implanted.
Haven't had any info from the Doctor that did the implant cause he has been off sick since. I sure am glad I don't get dizzy everytime I stand up but have a hard time slowing down, especially no driving for 12 days, feel like a caged lion. My wife is recovering from Breast Cancer which she had a Breast removed Oct 2006 and Chemo and Radiation but she has been a gem driving me where I have to go. Never had to have any pain medic...

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traumatized

Hi, I'm a new member from down under and would like to know if other people have experienced a lot of pain during the surgery. I had my pacemaker implanted on 10/10/07 under a local anaesthetic. The pain was bearable until the surgeon started opening up the pocket under my skin. I made it obvious I was in pain (moaning and groaning and talking about it was like a bad chidbirth experience) but he did not acknowledge me or offer any more anaesthetic. The only other person I know who has a pacem...

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hey peoples!

Blake, you could go ahead and send me that extra $50 from the photo album ;) lol jk
So, where to start….? Oh, I guess from the beginning.
I think I told you about the surgery I had last month? Everything was okay after that (except feeling a lot of pain on the incision site….not to mention feeling like a piece of paper with the staples they placed on the incision). But, my sister kindly offered to help out by using her staple remover she purchased at an office supply store….in which...

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New to the club

Hi, I just had a pacemaker implanted a week ago. I'm 43, and I was having symptoms of dizziness and fatigue while exercising. This was a whirlwind, as the surgery was done as an emergency after review of my Holter monitor. I feel so much better, but am a little apprehensive about what this means for the future. I was very active. I bicycled regularly, and my doctor has restricted this for 6 weeks as he doesn't want me putting any excess weight on my arms. My implant area is a little tender...

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first post questions on recovery

Hi,
I am so glad I found this site. I am a 35 year old and just had a pm on 8/16. I had never had any problems before with my heart and was in the hospital for gallbladder surgery when they noticed a low heartbeat (in the upper 30's). So instead of leaving an organ I got a new one! I have had a really hard recovery and now am going to Physical Therapy to help get normal movement and range back with my left arm. I was wondering if any one knows of any lotions or oils to use to help str...

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HI EVERYONE, I'M BACK!

HELLO TO ALL, I HAD TO JOIN THE CLUB AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO POST. I COULDN'T POST ANY MESSAGES, EVEN AFTER "CLEANING COMPUTER FILES ETC".
ANYWAY, I HAD POSTED AFTER HAVING MY 1ST PACER IMPLANTED. THAT WAS ON SEPT 13TH. JUST OVER 2 WEEKS AGO. I'M HEALING GOOD, JUST STARTING TO HAVE THE NERVE TO TRY SLEEPING ON MY USUAL SIDE POSITION. IT HURTS ON MY LEFT STILL, ALMOST FEELS LIKE A PINCHING; SO I AM TRYING MY LEFT. THE FIRST 5 DAYS WERE HARD FOR ME. ALOT OF PAIN AND BRUISING, AND ESPECI...

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New PM implanted

Hi everyone, I'm new to your club. This will be my first posting. I had my pacemaker implanted on the 13th (thurs.) I still feel a bit weird, I was totally awake for the whole thing. I thought I would be drousy, but no such luck! I did feel the leads going into my heart, and told the Anasgl. that I could, but he said they were nearly finished. My question is: Other than the normal arm and incision pain, does anyone have the pressure feeling? I have a weird feeling in that it almost feels l...

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Pacemaker replacement

Is ther anyone out there who has had an AV node ablation and then at a later date had thier pacemaker replaced. If so how did they keep your heart beating when the pacemaker was swopped for the new one. Cheers Peter you can contact me directly at bayhoecott@yahoo.co.uk

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