Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Post symptoms

Hello everyone. I am new to the pacemaker club. I had a dual lead pacemaker done 5 days ago and I think from reading some of the posts I am expecting too much too soon. My original diagnoses was bradycardia with my pulse running in the 40s. I had fatigue going up stairs and some minor shortness of breath. I was expecting everything to be gone after surgery but thats not the case. I know have much more fatigue and shortness of breath and at time my heart pounding in my chest. I go for my first...

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We have successfully published our Survey

Dear member,

Many of you may recall that we ran a survey between June 2021 and December 2021 on post operative pain following a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED).  I am delighted to tell you that we have managed to get our survey published in The British Journal of Cardiology (The BJC) and I attach a link to the published article below.  The BJC is a unique peer-reviewed publication linking primary and secondary care. It provides an important bridge for ho...

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Pain during surgery

So I went through the club initiation rites yesterday and got my membership card.  Biotronik dual-lead PM up and running.  Had read about the procedure and got a brief explantion from the doctor but was totally unprepared for how painful it was.  They said I'd have a light sedative and local anesthesia, but I thought I'd be more out of it and feel only tugging and pressure.  Felt the injection of the anesthesia obviously, then I don't think I felt the inci...

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My Friend

Good Morning Group, I'm now in my 15th day of recovery and I'm doing fine. Incision site is healing nicely and I'm just waiting for my 1 month follow up with the heart doc so I can get back to doing the things I do on the farm. 

This post however is slightly off the path and is about a friend of mine, he's 86, small frail body style, heavy smoker and has been self isolated since COVID hit. When I informed him of my new PM he told m...

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Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing

After nearly 3 years with permanent afib and the clinicians decision not to atempt to restore sinus rhythm due to age (81) and heart damage due to MI in 2006 I have not been happy having to live with much reduced exertion tolerance and no exercise tolerance. I have been a life long runner and other sports, plus 25 years Army service where exercise was mandatory not optional, so inactivity does not sit well with me. In April it was decided to upgrade my dual chamber pm to biventricular bu...

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Newbie

Well, as you can see I'm new to the group. Today I'm in recovery day 4, and compared to some postings I've read from this forum I would consider myself not unlike most in symtoms with rough nights and sleeping in easy chair, slight redness at incision site, soreness in and around the new PM.

My history with heart attacks started around 15-20 years ago (I'm 76), when after and attack I had a stint inserted and was prescribed Simvastatin, Metoprolol and 81mg asprin along w...

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Thank you!

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my post; hearing that some of you had very similar experiences normalized my first week journey into Pacerland. To clarify, my pain has been manageable with some help. I was expecting "soreness for a day or two" and not the kind of pain that needed a couple of nights of Oxy, a fair amount of tylenol, lots of ice packs, a supportive bra, and lots of pillows. In all, not really awful, but a good bit more than "some sorenes...

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Newbie - What to Expect

Hello to my new PM community! 54yo female, no family history of heart issues. Went for a treadmill test last Thursday to investigate shortness of breath and fatigue. Within a half hour I was wheeled to the ER, then admitted due to bradys down in the 30s; full AV block. A week later and I've just been released with a new Boston Scientfc PM. 24 hours later I'm home. I feel tired and lightheaded at times; all sorts of flip flop feelings in my chest. Hardly got any sle...

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Post-op pain

Hello New Friends....

I just got my Medtronic PM on Monday....discharged on Tuesday before the surgical pain really kicked in. Lots of swelling and bruising and muscle pain (pectoral) and breast swelling. Big surprise as all I heard was how "easy" the implantation was. Better today, but still can't sleep in my bed. Anybody else have this experience? I have to say that I didn't get much in the way of follow-up or what to expect regarding recovering from the procedure it...

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Newby

Hi I've been having syncope and dizzy spells for 6 years. Had lots of neurological and cardiac tests. I had a left bundle branch block but cardiology said it wouldn't cause my blackouts. May this year I had an Medtronic implantable loop recorder fitted. Friday 1July I had another blackout. I contacted 111 who said the hospital should pick it up and as I wasn't injured didn't need to attend hospital. I contacted the hospital on the Monday to tell them what had happened and coul...

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Pace and Ablate

I had my AV node ablation yesterday and wanted to say thanks for the support on here about both the pacemaker insertion and the ablation.

The procedure went without hitch. It took less than a minute to ablate the node and then there was a wait while they do the pacemaker tests and make sure they've got all the cells ablated. I didn't feel a thing. Not much sedation needed apparently for such a short procedure. I've not had any bleeding in my groin. Back to the ward within a...

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Well, I’m in the Club Now

Hello everyone,

Today, I officially joined the club.

I am 33 and recently (in February 2022) started experiencing syncope episodes with asystole. I would wake up at night feeling hot and nauseous, and then would pass out. Didn't matter if I was standing, sitting, or lying down.

The docs diagnosed vasovagal syncope and implanted a loop recorder. We caught a 7-second pause once when the EMTs had me hooked up to ECG as I passed out. Then a couple months later the loop recor...

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PAIN

Hi

May i apply an icepack to the surgical wound

also, what is the approximate healing time

Thank you

TIMMY 2 TOES

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ablation

A friend just told me one of our friends had an Ablation done.  They went in by her neck.  Was wondering if any one has heard of that way.  Went to a major hospital. 

new to pace

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Intro

Hi, I'm new to the group.
I had a St Jude PM2272 ICD implanted on 2022/04/08.
It's been approximately 6 weeks and at times I feel almost like a itching burning sensation on the cut wound, should I be concerned or is it just part of the healing process?

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New to the club

Hello, 

I am new to the club and I guess just wanted to introduce myself and share a bit of my experience. I am 37 and I live in Ireland.

I had my pacemaker implanted on 13th April 2022. This was the outcome of 6 years of syncope seizures, 18 months with a loop recorder and finally a significant syncope episode. At this time my heart paused for 5 seconds. Upon admittence to hospital I was on a telemetry monitor for 3days, my heart was still showing dips and pauses at times. T...

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Waiting in ICU for them to put pacemaker in

Hi,

I'm scared about the surgery and recovery but so glad that I found this site on the day of my surgery. I'm a no symptom recipient. I feel like I've always felt. I'm not sure of the correct medical name for what I have. The non-medical description is that my heart rate was going down in the 30's and sometimes would 'drop out'. Mine is a duel chamber. I went to the ER with stroke symptoms. Got admitted and had head/neck MRIs to check my blood vessels....

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Replacement pacemaker choice

For all those using the NHS, I would just like to remind you that there is some choice. 

You can choose which make of  pacemaker to have within your physiological parameters and compatibility with your existing leads and what the hospital has in equipment.

For myself, I am listed (10th June)  for what I hope will be a super, Boston Scientific ( no groans, please!) which I hope will help with exercise initiation.   

My cardiologist...

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Transplant update

16 days after my heart transplant I shall be going home from hospital today. My temporary pacemaker wires have been removed.

At which point I will not really qualify for membership here and hope never to qualify again although that could always change.

 

This forum is incredibly useful and supportive and I can honestly say that living with wires for the last 4  years has been made so much easier for being here.

 

Thank you all. 

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Waiting for Pacemaker Procedure for SSS & Afib

My pacemaker procedure is 2 weeks from tomorrow. My BP & pulse are normal, but the fatigue, lightheadedness is getting pretty brutal. Now I also have serious anxiety so I am not sure if that compiling on to my symptoms is making it worse. My heart doc says if it gets unbearable then go to ER for emergency pacemaker procedure. Just wondering if anyone has had to deal with these symptoms while waiting and I surely don't want to wait to have a cardio event. Plus all sympto...

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You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.