Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Backup pacemaker.

I don't have any idea about how pacemakers actually sense. I mean the mechanics that enable them to assess your required heart rate and proportion it to any increased physical demand.  I understand that it sense's through the leads and has an onboard computer but that's about it for now. I must research it a little more as nothing much is explained to you at first about it's potential in terms of adjustments related to lifestyle etc. As a layman l understand tha...

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Backup Pacemaker

Actually l am pretty unfit now as it's been 5 years since l was able to do anything in a gym. I don't have an enlarged or athletic heart and just suspect that l always had a problem with Bradycardia, but as l was so active the specialists always put it down to that, and so didn't take me seriously. Now that l don't get below 49/50 l do feel better than l did. The max HR of 115 just seemed to stop me being able to dig deep and give my exercise that extra push, but l could still...

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Backup pacemaker.

I think that by backup pacemaker they mean that it will only start pacing when my own heart isn't coping well, so it doesn't pace all the time. I am not sure if 50 bpm is still low considering that l am being treated for ectopic beats using beta blockers but l know from years of experience that l very rarely managed over 45 bpm at rest untreated, and when flat out exercising never got above 115 bpm but they put that down to being fit as l used to exercise a lot. I had my pacemaker fit...

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First implant.

Hello All,

Had my first implant of a backup pacemaker for long term Bradycardia which l had for around 15 years. Procedure went well and the physical healing is very good, but l still feel tired although l am pacing at 50 which is much better than the low 40's l was getting before. I had lots of symptomatic ectopic beats before being implanted and the idea was to get the heart rate up and then use beta blockers to control the ectopic beats which are still happening and actually seem...

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Brace for a month post-implant

I had my pacemaker implant on 3/24/22. I am required to wear a pliable brace 24/7 for a month post implant surgery. My upper left arm is tethered to side of my chest and left wrist area tethered also via velcro to upper part of my diaphragm. Those with whom I've spoken who either have had pacemaker implants or family members have had them, have never heard of this type of restrictions.  Obviously driving, gardening, vaccuming, regular exercise are out right now.  I did mana...

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Here we go again

Just returned from my post-surgery staple removal and PM check.

And much to my disappointment I’ll be returning to the OR in the morning for a redo.

Seems that that either one of the leads or the pacer itself is not working, good grief!

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Loss of feeling on pacemaker site

Will I recover any sense of touch on the pocket skin as it heals?  Now it is totally numb.  I had surgery 4 weeks ago.  The pacemaker is working very well and I can climb the steep block outside my house without pausing for breath--my gadget has overdrive!  No more bradycardia.

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Sleepless nights

I had my pacemaker implanted last Tuesday and I've got a tell you when I'm not having muscle spasms, I feel much better.

However, getting a good night rest seems to be out the question, when I laydown I guess I tweak something and here we go headed for the ice pack and trying to get comfortable, sometimes they’re painful. The odd thing to me is that the spasms are not at or around the incision site but below and to the right (implant on the left) at times I have...

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about to join the team

Will tomorrow is the big day check in early to have the procedure got to tell you felling a little apprehensive

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Is this a concern

I am 3 1/2 weeks post pacemaker implant.  I think I am doing well adjusting.  I have my moments.

My surgical sight is healing well. This weekend it seemed to me that I had a little more bulge on one side of my incision sight.  There has always been a little raised area because of the pacemaker.  It just seems a little more pronounced on one side. (not red or sore)  I don't know if I just notice it more now.

Does anyone know if the raised area can chage...

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Ejection Fraction

Hi Everyone,

I had my pacemaker first placed on Halloween October 31st, 2021.  Right before Thanksgiving I had to have a Revision because the top lead had dislodged. For almost 2-months I was having shortness of breath (especially using the stairs), my chronic cough continued and I had gained a lot of water weight.  My PMD wanted to send me to a lung specialist for my cough. Turns out I had heart failure and just before Valentine's Day I had a 2nd Revision as the lead disl...

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Vertigo type symptoms

I am almost 3 weeks with my pacemaker and can definitley say symptoms improve and I have been feeling better.  I read from others that they have similar concerns regarding heart palpitations and feelings of vertigo.  I don't feel experienced enough (yet) to offer much advice to others. I apreciate all the advice and encouragemenet provided to me on this site and can say that patience with letting your body adjust is huge.

I have recently been feeling minor vertigo typ...

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Recent implant

Hi all

im a " newbie " here and had a dual chamber pacemaker fitted 3 days ago 

I suffered from bracycardia and complete heart block .

whilst I'll always be eternally grateful to the hospital and surgical staff - there seems to be a woeful lack of advice and support from the hospital, but this is by no means a negative comment- you all do a great job!

So , surgery / implantation went really well and was back home the same day 

The problem...

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Mitral Valve Repair?

I just turned 36 years old...had a cardiac arrest 3 years ago...had a ICD/pacemaker implanted because I have Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse. I haven't had any shocks from my ICD and I am on 5mg bisoprolol twice a day to control my arrhythmias. Things seemed to be going well...

Fast forward to yesterday - I had my annual appointment with my cardiologist, and even though my mitral valve regurgitation is "mild to moderate", my cardiologist walks into the room...

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Just a reminder that our Survey results can now be viewed

Hello everyone,

We recently completed a Survey to assess patient experience of pain following implantation of cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).  The results can be found in the link below which should be copied and pasted into your main browser to open it.  My thanks again for all your contributions, without which this Study would not have been possible.

Pain from pacemaker and ICD implant surgery remains a problem for some of us both...

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Bullet pacemaker issue

I had surgery yesterday. It has been roughly 12 hours since. Can I sleep on my right side, which is where the surgeon entered my groin? Right now, I'm sleeping on my back and feel like robot lying in a box. I normally sleep on my sides. Thanks,.

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left bundle 3 wire pacemaker

I'm due for my initial pacemaker o March 14 this year. I am 85 and a little nervouse. They recommend a defrib device also, but I said I was too old to spend my day worrying about being kicked to death. I hope this is the correct decision.?     Chuck

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Dermabond over insicion

I had my pacemaker replaced three weeks ago. Surgery went well. I have stitches inside but I have Dermabond covering  the incision. I was wondering  how long you are suppose to leave it over the incision? They did not tell me at the hospital or the doctors office when they removed the outer bandage. It is looking pretty ragged now. Thanks for any advice

Jan from DFW TX

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Battery replacement

I had my pacemaker implanted in 2012 and am now scheduled for a battery replacement on Friday March 11th. I will have Saturday and Sunday to recover and plan to return to work Monday. I work from home and am on the phone/computer for 8 hours. Has anyone needed more than 2 days to recover from a battery replacement? 

I also wanted to know if anyone had originally had pacemaker implanted above the muscle but then had it placed under the muscle during a battery replacement? I always w...

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Newby

I am an active 63 year old female and was in shock to discover I have heart block. Symptoms came on so suddenly; like turning on a light switch. I am only 3 days post op from receiving a pacemaker and on an emotional roller coaster. I know I have so much to learn. Discovering this site yesterday has given me a great sense of relief to learn I am not alone in my feelings. I don't have much more to say at this point except thanks for all being here. I look forward moving forward.

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You know you're wired when...

You have a T-shirt that reads “Wired4Sound”.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.