Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Dizziness

I'm new to this forum, and thank LondonAndy for telling me about it. 

On May 30, I got a St. Jude PM implanted. 

I've had some major issues with arrhythmia, still have bigeminy (and possibly PVCs again), and was taking Verapamil for a few weeks befor surgery. It made me dizzy, and my EP reduced the dose. 

My heart rate was around 50 normally, for the months before I got my PM. It was dipping into the 40s, then the 30s, and my EP decided that it was tim...

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New Member

Hey everyone.

52 years old and fit, and had an emergency pacemaker put in March 29th with less than 12 hours notice. Didn't have much time to research anythying.  I had been in the Philippines in december, came back through LA, ended up in hospital there with syncopse and vomiting and they think some kind of viral infection.  Was in for five days.  They released me and I drove back to Vancouver, BC about a week later, but kept having near fainting spells after I got b...

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New to the Club!!

I had my pacemaker installed yesterday and I was super anxious about it!! For some reason I thought it would be like a colonoscopy where I would be sedated in the pre-OP room and then wake up in recovery. Notsomuch!! I didn't even get any sedation until immediately before being injected w lidocaine. I am not good at these things and was literally freaking out. I was entirely too awake for the procedure, despite a total of 10 micrograms of fentanyl and 8mg verced. Guess my sympathetic nerv...

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Dental Surgery

My dentist wants to put me out for approx 30mins with a general anesthetic. 

Has anyone else done this after their PM?

Mine was implanted Jan 2020.

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Leads and arms above shoulder level

I'm tryin to behave. Really.

I understand the "no arms above the shoulder" rule for a month.

Would that apply to the arm not associated with the device? 

Reason I'm asking, I do a lot of cooking in the house and I need to be able to reach pots hanging from the ceiling

Thanks for you patience. - Mike

 

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Surgery update

Hey everyone!!

update on my pm extraction and replacement. All went well so far anyways🤓. I am sore from the pocket over my shoulder into my back. The surgery took about 1 1/2 hours which surprised me. It took that long for my cardiologist to insert in the first time. What a difference having an EP do the surgery. 
 

i have not spoken to my EP yet but hope to tomorrow morning before discharge to get more details about the procedure. 
 

Thanks fo...

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Post op normalcies

Hey guys, I just had the micra AV implanted, it's leadless and sits inside my heart. I'm still recovering and I've noticed my blood pressure has spiked (usually I'm low, now I'm high). I also have some twitches in my right side and sometimes left arm near my elbow. Has anyone experienced this? It's so weird my body was used to the terrible functions of my old heart beat and now it feels like it's almost fighting against the new normal my pacemaker wants it to be. W...

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CAN I TELL IF MY PM IS PULSING?

4 weeks in with a pacemaker.

 

occasionally I feel a couple of "jolts" or tingling near the implant site and I wonder if the pm is pulsing / sending an electrical signal. No other symptoms just a tingling feeling. Is this normal? Can it be the PM pulsing? 
 

shares insights appreciated.

thanks.

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Surgery time

Good morning and Happy Father's Day!! My surgery is this Wednesday and I am very anxious about it, but it has to be done. Anyways my question is, does anyone know how long an extraction of the whole system and replacement take?

Thanks in advance

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Steri-Strips

Thanks for the quick response & advice!  So happy I found this site

Chris

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Steri-strips

Hi,  I am 11 days post surgery.  The hospital told me the tape will fall off in 7-10 days.  2 have come off at either end of the incision but some of them are really stuck on, should I just wait for them to come off on their own or start easing the off.  I’m showering so hope they loosen up on their own.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Chris

 

 

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Household Chores

How long after the procedure can I do things like reach down in the washing machine to unload it. I assume not for awhile with my left arm but what about my right arm?

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Sleeping with pacemaker

I recently had a pacemaker put in last Wednesday I slept fine first 2 nights at hospital now that im.home if feels.like this device bothers me alot I turn to one side it feels.like it pulls the skin same on the next side im still healing it's still  clued at the wound and they told me I was still on restriction from moving my left arm.as much I dont think it  helps having bigger breast  that stretch and pull the skin down the area.where device is at is sore to tou...

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Pacemaker? Leads?

On June 23rd, I'll be in the hosp. where a cardiothoracic surgeon plans to go between my ribs, through the epicardium and implant a third lead into the muscle around the left ventricle. Device clinic nurse will want to see me a couple weeks later to make sure that lead is working correctly.  Here goes!!!

 

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NEW MEMBER

I am a 69 yo male.  I have been in recovery from surgery for a little over an hour. I feel great so far.  Expecting to be released this afternoon.  
I joined this group a few days ago in order to learn what to expect during surgery, and long term.  I have read many comments by members of this group prior to my surgery this morning.  Thanks to each of you for sharing your experiences, and especially for your encouragement to newbies like m...

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Upper back, collarbone pain 6 mo after pacemaker

Hello - 32 yo. 7 mo post op. I've been having back pain and pain under the collarbone for the last 3 days. I'd started out on my pacemaker side as a nerve ish type pain, but now it's extending over my whole back to where I can't get comfortable when I sleep and need Tylenol.

I'm in the hospital now because I had similar pain a week after my surgery. They sent me

home from the ER with a dx of pleurisy, but 2 days later I was back in the ER by ambu...

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Low heart rate after pacemaker

I had a Medtronic dual lead pacemaker last Wednesday. My settings were 60/120. My heart rate has dropped into the low40s several times in the last couple of days. I called and talked to surgeon and he didn't seem very concerned. I thought pacemaker shouldn't let my heart rate go below 60. I was diagnosed with tachy Brady but before surgery I was told I also had heart block. I'm very concerned about my heart rate still going so low 

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Recommendations for lead extraction surgeon in AZ

Does anyone have a recommendation for an EP in Arizona for lead extraction? 
 

Thanks in advance!

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new member

Six weeks today, Wednesday, and I must say except for the ugly scar I feel just fine. Very briefly, six weeks and three days ago I was digging up a seven-foot tree (just me with no help) on our property and moving it to a better location. That night I noticed my heart sill pounding. I took my pulse and noted it was only forty beats, plus or minus. Called my doctor on Monday, got a referral on Tuesday, and Wednesday went to the cardiologist had an EKG and echocardiogram. Three hours later I wa...

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12 days post insertion

I had a dual chamber pacemaker inserted 12 days ago. I  sometimes feel a sensation in the center of my chest.and sometimes  when I check my pulse during these episodes i feel a missed beat. I had the device checked several days ago and ws told all was OK. 

Is this common ? does it get better? I also have GERD, could I be mistaking this funny feeling 

from bad hearburm? oncee I took famotidine and it seemded to help?

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Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.