Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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i'm back

Just got my pm on Tuesday, am back to work today (sitting at the desk). Feeling pretty good, get a little dizzy now and then though. They set my pm at 60bpm up from 32! I am sore, but can deal with that ( sure like vicadon). How long does it take for the dizziness to get better?

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Just got back from hospital

Well, I'm officially bionic! I had my (dual lead) pacemaker put in yesterday, with a bit of a complication. The cardiologist took the Sleuth device out, which was well and truly stuck in the scar tissue and took a lot of yanking! Then she inserted the pacemaker itself and all went OK until she tested the lead in the atrium, which apparently isn't routine as nothing really goes wrong there, but she tests it anyway. I was aware of my right side of my tummy spasming, like hiccups but it wasn't. The...

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Finally getting a new one, questions...

Hi all! I'm finally getting a new pm after 11 years. it will be in the next few weeks. My questions are: I'm going from a St Jude to a Medtronic, so will the leads need to be changed? Also, is it a pretty quick recovery compared to when i first had it put in? And the last question is, I have Sick Sinus Syndrome and could have had an episode like i did 11 years ago when all this started. Fast heart rate that lasted for about an hour. I'm 38 now but this all started when i was 26. I have read that...

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Home from the hospital...again!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to touch base and let you know that I had my AV Node Ablation yesterday and am home again today. The procedure went well and I'm feeling better.

I did have a weird complication though. After the required 4 hours on my back after the ablation, my nurse wanted me to go for a walk. When I stood up, I had no feeling in my right leg between my knee and my ankle. If I had to imagine what a stroke felt like, that would be it. There was no feeling ther...

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surgery date--march 9th

hi everyone. i am new to this website so i wanted to introduce myself and get some helpful advice from people with pace makers

my name is noelle and i am 21. i am married and live in maine. we live in a big house with my mom and dad, and sister. i really can't be on my own all day long while my husband works because i am in a wheelchair and it is more helpful to be around people. i have a form of muscular dystrophy called friedrich's ataxia, and my 14 year old sister has it also. the...

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a newbee

hello everyone,

going in on 3/3/09 for a pacemaker, little history...I had an aortic valve and root replaced in june 2005, since then I have felt real great and really lousy. My shortness of breath was really starting to bother me so the doc put me on a holter moniter for 48 hours. Called last night and said my high rate was 77 and low was 32, so you get a pace makler real soon! I am 47 and in great health and good physical condition. When I work out (thanks to my athletic wife) my ra...

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AV Node Ablation Tomorrow

Hello everyone,

I've got my AV Node ablation tomorrow. I'll be glad when it's over and I'm a little nervous about it at the same time. Question for those of you who are pacemaker dependent already, will I notice a difference right away?

Just looking for a little reassurance. Before the big day.

Thanks,

Debbie

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I'm Officially a Pacer Chick

I finally got my PM Feb17th. I was in good spirits before the surgery, even asked if the Doctor could pull some strings and get me a Pink Sparkly PM. He was amused, however said no...what a bum! Surgery went well, although I was screaming bloody murder afterwards because of the pain and scared my surgeon quite a bit. Had some adverse effects from either the anesthesia or the pain meds they gave me after. Either way I spent most of the rest of the day vomiting. Everything is where it is sup...

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what to expect in healing

I had a pacemaker with 2 leads implanted Jan 29 - have had a few episodes of pretty emphatic irregular heartbeats - mostly at night when retire but one during day - also feel tired, kind of shakey, no energy & every now and then some chest pain short lived thank goodness - thought by now would be feeling great - is it too soon for that? They checked pm and said all working as should be and the memory printout showed Atrial Flutter so at least they caught that part, but thought it would have sto...

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It is coming....

I am scheduled for PM implant on March 11. Are there others out there with Malignant Vasovagal Syncope, Mixed Type? If so, how has the PM worked out for you? My other option is drugs as an intervention...what do folks think who have gotten the PM? I have had to have CPR in the past and so....still I'm in denial that this is absolutely necessary.

My asystole on tilt was over 30 seconds. Long, right? Even with the PM I will still need Midodrine. Is anyone else on this type plan?...

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New PM Patient

Hello All. I just had my PM implanted January 16th. Healing of the incision is almost complete...I only have 2 stitches that don't want to give it up. This morning I am going to our local hospital for an echo. Next Thursday is my follow up with my Cardiologist (to echo and surgery).

I still think the weirdest thing is saying "my cardiologist"!

This all came out of the blue for me. My last Dr. pooh-poohed my complaints of fainting and told me on my last visit to her...

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Random chest pains.

I am now 12 weeks past my pacemaker surgery. For the most part I feel pretty good; however I still get some randomly located, sharp pains in the left side and near the center of my chest. They come and go and are sometimes triggered by movement. Is this normal? Is the PM or the leads contributing to these pains?

TIA,
Steve

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Help...

I had my pacemaker rewire done Jan 29. My follow up is next week, however the clear film bandage and steri strips have come loose tonight. The incision looks good and healed. Should I try to tape it back down tonight somehow or is it ok to just remove it?

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12 days with a PM (diagnosed with Sycope)

I am learning to live with this object inside of me. I call it my back up generator. The first couple of days were hard. I feel very helpless my little boy (7 months old) just looks at me and cries to be held. Oh it just breaks my heart. I get down on the floor with him and play and I think it makes it a little better for him. My husband a god sent is very supportive. He is taking care of our baby and me. : ) I don't know what I would do with out the support of my husband.
I have noticed m...

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Still scared but feeling better

I want to thank you all for the wonderful comments. You are making my day go easier. I am so glad there is a place I can go to and talk to other people who can relate.

Here is a little back ground.
I was diagnosed with syncope last year. During my pregnancy I was fainting and they said it was the baby taking my sugar to eat more. Yeah that helped! Well the fainting spells didn't go away so I then went to a cardiologist. After a whole bunch of tests and nothing showed anything. I...

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Driving after a pm?

Another concerned question. I know I'll find out tomorrow after they put the pm in but kinda what to know what to expect now. If everything goes smoothy tomorrow when you thing I will be able to drive? When I had the loop recorded they stated 3 days. The anxiety is getting to me and lots of questions are going through my mind. Okay here is another one. Does anyone know what causes syncope? I am told my heart stops every so often for some seconds...what causes that....

Thanks again for...

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Scared and Nervouse for PM surgery

Hello I'm a newbie here and was so glad to find this website. I was just told this morning that I go Friday for a pm. I am very scared about the recovery and how long I'll be out of work. I have a 7 month old at home and not sure how I'll be able to bond with him if I can't pick him up.
What can I expect for recovery? I have read many posts and getting scared as I keep reading. Please help to calm me down.

Thanks,
Jamie

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Hurts to breath

I've had my pm for 10 days now. When I woke up from surgery, it hurt to breath and I'm feeling that again now. I'm going to take some pain pills, but I'm wondering if other people have experienced this as well.

Debbie

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Feeling Tired

Just had the implant three weeks ago for SSS ( only low heart rate). It is set at 50 BPM and only engages if my heart rate get to that point, Usually at night when I sleep. It was set at 60 but it was reset since it seemed to compete with my own heart beating. My question is should I still feel tired and a bit dizzy after this implant, even after three weeks.

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One week post-op and now a rash?

Hey everyone,

I've had my pacemaker a whole week now and just noticed I've got a rash all over my stomach. Seems odd so I called my doctor. Waiting for a call back from them.

I also found out why they had to postpone the ablation. it was because the left side of my heart was enlarged. What does that mean?

Has anyone else had a rash after surgery?

Thanks,

Debbie

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