Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Incision and creams

Hello All.... I had my pacemaker put in last Monday (Finally!). I had a post on here about local or general anistectics awhile ago with lots of responses and I decided to go local and was knocked out so good I don't remember a thing. It has only been 9 days since surgery and I am feeling great (VERY painful on day 3 - 5 though). I can't readily get ahold of my surgeon though and I just wanted to see what others were told about their incision care after surgery. I really want to start putting...

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Arm numbness ?

I have had my pacemaker now for 2 1/2 months. It is placed on the left side just below the clavicle bone. I have been expieriencing left arm and hand numbness. Does anyone else have this ? Or have a comment about it? I am wondering if I should be concerned? I had this pre-pacer but it was gone post-pacer until about 2 weeks ago when it returned.Do you think I should call the cardiologist? I recently stopped taking the Zocor because I had side effect of very severe leg and calf pain..I could barl...

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Getting dicouraged

As i posted on here before, I had an ablation on jan 5th. It was my third one. well last week the doctor wanted me to stop taking my medication but i was unable to. Im glad i didnt because my heartrate would probably be any more crazy then it is right now. I am starting to once again get depressed because i am so sick and tired of my heartrate. I still can not do anything, I have been in bed since 2 months before my ablation. My rate keeps going fast and then dropping to the 70's. it only last...

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Getting my pacemaker on 1/23/09

Hi All,

I am excited to stumble upon this website and wish you all well.

I've been dealing with Atrial Fibrillation for nearly four years. After 6 cardioversions and 2 catheter ablations, my doctor has decided that a pacemaker is the way to go. I'm both excited and nervous.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Dairyprincess

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Embarrassed to ask......

I got my 2nd PM this past Thursday. I have an appt this Thursday to remove staples. I have reread the hospital instructions for wound care, but it was left blank. I don't know if I am supposed to remove the dressing and change it myself daily or wait until the appointment? It seems like good hygiene would be to change it daily, but I also got the impression in my post sedated state that I leave it on - no bathing - until my appt?
Thanks for any info!

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just got wired lol

I got my pacer on weds.
Im trying to relax and follow orders but i suddenly have energy for the first time in almost 10 years. I really want to get moving.lol
My concern is i keep feeling like im bleeding but there is nothing visible on bandage or on skin. And the deep burning is driving me nuts. I got sick from all pain meds they gave me so im only on extra strength tylenol. Any ideas how to relieve some of the burning?

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number 5 surgery in less than 2 years!

Well hello my friends. I am sorry I didn't get the update out sooner. So Monday was surgery and I am still in pain. You would think after all the ablations I had almost two years ago I would be great with the pain. Guess I am kidding myself a little.
As most of you that know me well know that its been a hell of a ride with this pm. I will never complain that I hated my ticker but I seem to always know how to complain about the pain part.
I went in on Monday not knowing what was...

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10days Post PM

Hi all, had my first check with GP yesterday & removed dressings. I had a temp. wire 'thro my neck and the wiskers had grown under the dressing [ uk ]. All seems OK but have to have a resp. test & lung CAT SCAN next week. Apart from that all is well.
Weather report from down under:- 18c climbing to 37c next week.
C Ya
Arty

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Had my third ablation

Hello everyone, I had my third Ablation done on monday jan 5th and has you may have read from my previous message i used to have tachycardia so bad that it triggered every single time i stood up. I do have a pacemaker that is set at 70bpm. And the opposite has happened now, When i stand up my heart rate stays at 70 and when i sit down it goes up to maybe 95-100. Is this normal?? Also i have been having very short episodes of tachycardia, Could this be cause my heart is healing still? Does anyone...

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To be out or not to be out

I posted earlier about getting my pacemaker implanted next Monday. I appreciate all the messages, it is so much easier to handle all of this knowing there are so many other out there that have made it through. ElectricFrank brought up a very good discussion and now it has got me thinking and I was wondering if anyone else had any imput. I requested to be under general anestetics instead of local because I do not like the idea of being awake. ElectricFrank brought up some cons about this that...

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sleep for pacer

I was put to sleep for my implant seven years ago. I don't care what they do if I can sleep. I think its the best way to go. When I woke up then taken to a private room (got good insurence.) I was hungrey & they served me a nice turkey sandwich to hold me over until dinner. I stayed all night & before I went home the next day Medtronic rep came up & gave me a programmer & went over all instructions.
Be careful & take care of your arm for they anchor the leads in & I wore a sling for several...

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Got the phone call!

Well... I have been waiting since July 2008 and I finally got the call yesterday and I go in next Monday to get my pacemaker implanted. I felt upset when I found out I had to get one but now I just have a real anxious feeling. I guess just nervous about the unknown. I have started a list of questions I want to ask before or after my surgery because I know on the day I am going to be a nervous wreck. Do you guys have any last minute questions or concerns I should address with the surgeon befo...

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Oxygen to Brain

Know this sounds silly but am a tad concerned. I have always had my brain to rely on .. my whole life. Straight A's, magna cum laude, my own business where I have done business nationally and internationally, paper at conferences, 3 time author ... blah blah bah. Since my pm implant day after Thanksgiving I have had, for me, what I consider a slow recovery. Am much better but feel as if my energy is coming back very slowly. BUT .. I have no desire to use my brain .. I bought 5 books to re...

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My 17 year old son is having complications

Hi there,

My 17 year old son had a biventricular pacemaker implanted in October of 2008 in the epicardial area. It is not almost 4 months later and he is still experiencing pain over the pacemaker sight. We have been back to the doctors and had all the tests and they still tell us they cannot explain why he has pain and there is nothing that they can do...Does anyone or has anyone experienced anything like this?

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PM

Hi all, P/M + 3 and feeling OK but still a bit sore but not as tired as I have been. See GP next Fri. to remove dressings.
Arty

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Monday is the big day!

Monday I go in for my surgery I will fine out exactly when they are in if both leads will need replaced or not. The dr said this was a at risk surgery and that the reason it could be going bad is because of scar tissue. Which in result means that possibly every two years I could need different leads. I hope thats not the case.
I hope all of you are doing well. I think of each of you often and y'all are in my prayers. Be Blessed!

Love,
Tammy

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Previous Post - New and Scared

Thank you all for your support. I hit my 4 week mark and I am feeling better. I went to my cardio for a check up and everything looks good. I asked for my pacemaker reports and received them. I also received the report of what happened in surgery and that is helping me fill in the blanks. Hope you all had a great New Years!

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Hi all!

I know long time no visit for me. So here is a quick update as I still have no energy. I will be having my number 5 surgery coming up as I found out that my atrium lead is not sensing right. I have almost had my ticker for 2 years and have had trouble the entire time. The dr told me I am a experiment as they are learning from me.
I hope all of you have a great New Years Eve and enjoy yourself and as soon as I am healty I will start planning that get together once again. Blessings to you...

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Pacemaker Surgery 12/10/08

Hello,

I had a dual chamber St Jude device installed on 12/10/08.
The surgery and recovery have been extremley easy, 10x better than I thought it would be! Anyway, I had a follow-up appointment today. My Doc stated that upper chamber was being paced 38%, lower 1%, My question is, 38% seems high, will it kill my battery working so much? I mean, the surgery went great, but I don't want to have it too often...

Thanks,
Steve

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Will be getting my first PM

Hello, I am new to the group. I am 39 years old and will be getting a PM in the next few weeks. I gave birth to my first child 12 weeks ago and, during my time in the hospital, my heart rate averaged 30 bpm (I did not feel dizzy, light headed or anything out of the ordinary).

I have known that I have a low heart rate for about 2 years, when my irregular heart beat was discovered/diagnosed. At the time I had an ablation and was told that there are several areas of my heart with cr...

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You know you're wired when...

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Your heart’s electrical system has a manmade helper. A helper that only knows to do what it is programmed to do and will perform that function day in and day out, without fail. Now, go enjoy your new grip on life.