Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

Post Message!

Please help! Feeling awful after surgery + other concerns

Hi everyone! I could really use some guidance. So, I am 26 and got my pacemaker implanted four days ago. I know that pain/soreness in the incision is totally normal, but even despite this, I haven’t felt well since getting the pacemaker put in. A few things I’ve been experiencing:

  1. Sharp pain in my left side ribs around the mid-section
  2. Dizziness/lightheadedness + nausea
  3. Soreness on the right side of my neck, and inside my throat when I cough
  4. Back...

    Read More...

Soar

Had my second pacemaker installed yesterday !

I had forgotten just how soar it was, 8 years ago.   Be good as new again in a week or so. 

Back buying , selling, overhauling engines and equipment.  Did I mention I am also retired ?  LOL !!

Read More...

Moving 1st PM Subcutaneous to Intra/Sub Pectoral

I just had my 1st PM implanted on 3/19/21 for AVB 2nd.  I had asked the surgeon a couple of times before surgery how would it look and more importantly would it be safe around my two very active Boxer Dogs.  He said just a "small bump," and "no problem" with the dogs.

However in reality, and I am feeling a great deal of concern and looking like Frankenstein(wife's word).  The device (Medtronic AsureXT) is significantly raised above the surroun...

Read More...

Nighttime sling use?

Hello all!  I had my PM put in on April 1st. The dressing has been removed (yes it's like Frankenstein) and I've had the device check. Everything looks good and is on track.  The site is very sore and any clothes touching it is uncomfortable but from what I've read that will go away.  My question is about sleeping. I know that I constantly raise both of my arms over my head during the night. I am using my left arm during the day without the sling  fol...

Read More...

is this normal

just got an afib ablation last Tuesday (April 6) and a 2 lead pacemaker Wednesday.Days are definitely better in terms of mental acuity and physical capacity (aside from surgery trauma).  Had a couple of pretty good nights and then last night (Saturday) was the worst episode of bizarre symptoms I've had since my discomfort hit the "I'm in trouble" level last August. Felt like an energy storm inside my body, with tingling feet, pounding, massive ringing in the ears,...

Read More...

Newbie

I just got my pacemaker after a whirlwind weekend of emergency phone calls from my cardiologist. I got the call at work to get to a hospital asap. Apparently when reviewing my halter monitor results they saw a 30 sec pause. Holy moley. Before this all my doctors just chocked my fainting episodes up to vasovagal. 

Its been 3 days and I feel some tightness and fluttering in my chest, occasional shortness of breath, and some pain at my incision sight. I understand this...

Read More...

Chest Discomfort and Shortness of Breath

Hi, I'm new to the club. I'm a 53 yo male, very active and workout 5-6 days/week. My resting HR was typically around 42-45 bpms. In mid January, I went to the cardiologist for a routine check-up. The EKG showed an abnormal pause in my heartbeat, which concerned my doctor. A holter confirmed I was experiencing pauses of up to 2.3 seconds, but was not experiencing any symptoms. He immediately sent me to see an EP,  who diagnosed Sick Sinus Syndrome and told me I was...

Read More...

Surgery done

I had my pacemaker put in on April 1st. I'm very happy to say that it all went well and so far has been nothing like I feared. Pain is minimal and Tylenol takes care of it. I can't really tell if there is a difference yet since I am taking it pretty easy since coming home yesterday. Trying to adhere to the doctors rules so that I don't do anything foolish and set myself back. I'm very glad that it is done and looking forward to healing and getting energy and stamina back 🙂

Read More...

Healing time

I had PM implanted 10 days ago on a "rush" and didn't have any preparation time. In addition, my lung was nicked so I have a small pneumothorax. It is hard to discern whether small stabs of pain on left side - arm, shoulder, chest - are from healing process of surgery and collapsed lung or more serious. And I have so little energy. Feeling a bit discouraged and anxious. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated. 

Read More...

Pulse

Received my pacemaker yesterday I can feel the pulse signal. Hard to go to sleep. Is this normal or is it a setting 

Read More...

About to get a pm

Hey everyone!! 
i am about to get a pm soon, I am very very nervous and scared about the recovery. I have decided that I want to implant the pm in the muscle so I won't be able to look at the lump on my skin as I am very anxious. Who has the pm implanted in the muscle? Can you tell me about the recovery? Is it very painful? How long does it take to recover? 
thank you

Read More...

first checkup

Hi, I've had my pacemaker 2 weeks. Friday had my first check up. I was very nervous as to what it look like under the bandage. I'm happy to say it looked really good. I was very nervous but everything was fine. Arm soreness is still there but it's getting better. I wondered why there was a tingling sensation around my pacemaker I was told it's part of the healing with the nerves. So that made me feel better. I'm  still  nervous about over using  my left...

Read More...

PM to ICD

Got my device upgraded from PM to ICD to handle the sustained vtac episodes.My EP had to extract 2 leads by going through the groin and luckily it went smooth.I guess its one silver lining of having surgeries done at a relatively young age.Now I am Bi-V paced and the pain isn't too bad.Hoping to get back to my IT work in a couple of days. WFH due to covid means I dont have to commute atleast till June and may be longer.Thank you for all your encouraging words and support.BTW the name I ch...

Read More...

Pain in heart

Can people remember how long it was before there was no pain in the heart after their first implant? 

It seems to flare up a day or so after exercise still and I'm now at four months.

It's not excruciating more like a mild toothache type pain that throbs .

Read More...

You are all a blessing to me!

Hello all,

I am SO glad I found this site! 

I received my first and my hope is, my last pacemaker implant on 1/19/2021 . Medtronic, Azure Xt two lead.

Diagnosis was Sick Sinus Syndrome.  I do have a history of ablated SVT of about 8 years ago.  I had a mild case of Covid 1/3/21 and it is 50/50 if it was the Covid or my history of ablation according to which doctor you speak to.

I am 58 ,was healthy and active, so It was a shock to me when they said "...

Read More...

3rd wire to be inserted

I will be having a third wire inserted into my Biotronik pacemaker to my left ventricle.  I have diastolic heart failure.  Am 79.  Anybody had this done?  My Cleveland Clinic team here in Northern Virginia tells me it is done frequently.  Hopefully will give me a little more pep.

Read More...

Pace and ablate

Hi all

End of November 2020 I had my PM fitted for continued AF,  I have done everything I was told like no raising your arm above your head etc, 7 weeks ,after implant  I had AV-Node Ablation which was done mid January 2021, everything with heart is going well just got to go back end of this month to have lower rate lowered to 60 from 80

Unfortunately I am suffering with a frozen shoulder which I was told could happen plus slight tenderness around the armpit a...

Read More...

light headed and dizziness

Hello clubbers

After week of having my CRT-D installed, my recovery is really not too bad. No excessive pain, and my 8 cm scar seems to heal ok.

A nurse will check the stiches on Monday,  and I seem good to go.  I am having problems trying to leave my arm down.

But my over-all health is way worse than before the surgery.

I saw my house doctor Wednesday, and my symptoms made him think a had Covid, and he asked my to do a test.

Soo happy that came back ne...

Read More...

Random Chest Pain

Hi!!

So, I'm 19, I got my pacemaker two years ago. It's one lead and was put in for 2nd Degree AV Heart Block.

I've experienced random chest pain over the two years (sharp almost cramp like pain). They don't last for a long time--a few second, maybe a minute or two max. 

I was wondering if anyone else experiences this? Or if you did and it went away.

Thank you! I hope you all have a lovely day! 

Read More...

Generator revision

Hi, 

I had my first 2 lead pacemaker put in last year July 21st.  This is my 3rd pacemaker, I had my first one put in in 2003 and never had any problems with the first or second, but they were both single leads.   Since I've had this one, I've been in constant pain around my pacemaker,  into my arm, and up my neck.  I had an infection for the first 8 weeks after it was put in, and there was a hole in the incision that didn't heal for 2 1/2 month...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.