Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Post surgery

Hi, I'm new to this group, had my pacemaker implant 20/10/20.   Love reading all the forums it has helped me quiet a lot.  Mine is 4 weeks all tomorrow 17/11/20 still  very painful, the wound is very dry and flakey from the clear skin dressing at the moment, does anyone know if there is anything you can rub into it now. I have ask a chemist but he had no idea. Cheers Wendells

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PM migrating?

I'm completing day 3 post op and I just felt my PM almost in my armpit. I've been in considerable pain. Is it possible it migrated this quickly? Is it possible the EP actually placed it there? No wonder it hurts. When I move my arm it seems to push on it. I didn't notice it there before but maybe there was more swelling and I missed it. I would say it's a couple inches from the incision. I might be seeing and feeling the end where the leads come out. I saw a recent thread on P...

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Day 3 post op.

I'm so grateful to be able to read the posts and wonderful,  supportive, informative responses. I'm not sure if I'm unrealistic in my expectations, or if if I need to find a different doctor. I feel I'm alone.

The hospital told me to go back to my cardiologist for follow up and not the EP who did the implant. I said I couldn't imagine that he would provide monitoring of the settings, etc. I thought he referred me to an EP for that part of my care. They said I ha...

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CRT-P

Hey everybody, 
I'm back again. I'm scheduled to get my dual-chamber pacemaker replaced with a CRT-P and I'm really starting to feel scared. I have AV block, sick sinus, bradycardia (I've seen all of these at one time or another on my chart) and Grade II diastolic dysfunction. My SOB continues to be quite significant,even just sitting I'll feel short of breath. I know I need to lose weight and have lost about 8 pounds since September but still have...

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Lucky Number 7

My 7th pacemaker was implanted on Monday, November 9.  The procedure went well and I'm now taking it easy at home.  My leads were good so just my device was replaced. I'm 100% dependent and have been paced since 1978.  All of my devices have been Medtronic and my lastest model is an Astra.  

My last device was 8 years old. My clinic has been following me closely for the last 6 months or so and decided to replace it when the battery life go...

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3 months with new PM

Hello ~ I am new to the forum and having a PM. I have had in in place for 2.5 months. Is it still supposed to bother me? It doesn;t "hurt", but I do feel it with almost every movement.

I've actually changed cardiologist because I felt the first one was "pacifying me" when I continued to complain of dizziness and problems, only telling me "You shouldn't be dizzy anymore". Turns out I also had a second degree heart block that they missed, therfore my...

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Hospital Preparation for first time PM installation

Hi, I'm currently waiting for my op to be scheduled by the hospital for PM insertion for my CHB. I've prepared a small bag with a toothbrush + toothpaste, phone charger, and will probably bring a kindle to read some of my favourite books. Should I bring a physical book instead? I'll be wearing thongs (flip flops), so I won't have to take shoes on/off. 

Should I wear a t-shirt (I'm most comfortable with) or buttoned up shirt? My guess is no t-shirt...

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CRT device in the abdominal area, is it really that bad of an idea?

History: CHB, 100 percent pacer dependent, current device is Medtronic dual chamber atrial sensed.  New diagnosis of paroxysms of SVT and other arrhythmias, EF somewhere between 35-40 percent, moderate to sever mitral regurgitation, bioprosthetic tricuspid.

Upcoming surgeries procedures: Mitral valve repair or replace (repeat sternocotomy), addition of left ventricular lead and swapping out the current device for crt device, ablation after for SVT and arrhythmias.

So I have r...

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upper lead replacement

I have been told that my upper lead is not working and needs to be replaced.Anybody have any info on this type of procedure.I am 69 and nervious about the idea.

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Moving position of pacemaker

Hi there!

I've had a pacemaker almost all my life and it's always been submammary. 

I'm due for a battery change soon and have been chatting to my surgeon about changing the position of it. Reason being is I'm thinking about what the surgery and recovery will be like the next time it's changed over (maybe in 10 years time) when I'm a bit older and maybe not as fit as I am now.

Has anyone moved their PM from submammary/sub...

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NEW GUY ON THE BLOCK

A HEALTHY HELLO TO ALL MY FELLOW PACEMAKER RECIPIENTS. i HAVE RECENTLY  PASTED THE FOURTEEN MONTH MARK SINCE MY PACEMAKER IMPLANT. i ORGINALLY WENT FOR MY REGULAR SCHEDULED  APPOINTMENT AT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, I HAD BEEN HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ON THE PRE-CHECK WITH THE NURSE A HEART BEAT OF 30BPM WAS DETECTED. i WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO EMERGENCY AND THEN TO GEISINGER HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY THE FOLLOWING MORNING...

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Settings on impending implantation.

Hello, 

So reassuring to have this forum! However, it also raises many questions I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer, or sometimes even to ask. I'm 74 but previously lived an active lifestyle. I'm scheduled for a ON in Nov for TackyBrady from Sick Sinus Syndrome in response to Metropolol used for AFib.

I asked the EP everything I could think of,but frankly, I keep thinking if new ones. Of those I know who got PM's, they came home and lived. No tweaking. I c...

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Electrophysiologist is a jerk who gave no information

Please research your electrophysiologist before your implantation surgery. I did not - just went with available doctor - due to COVID concerns. His implantation job has my PM jutting deeply into my armpit - plus had lead dislodgment reimplantation surgery a month after my first PM put in August. Then he yelled at me and shook his fist in my face in front of hub when I questioned him. Urrrggggh. Angry.

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Swelling and pain

Hi 

4 weeks post generator change I have swelling to left just above armpit swells more as day goes on and pain in armpit going up into neck I still have 1 stitch in that hasn't dissolved 

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Some swelljngy

Hello!   My pacemaker was inserted six days a ago.

So, muscle in left side of chest was cut to insert it.

i do have some bruising and swelling at that site.  I am assuming that would be natural, as inserted just six days ago into muscle.

Thank you,

 Steelerbabe

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Aching arm and pins and needles

Is it normal to have an aching/tingly left arm, 3 weeks post box change? I don't remember this after the initial PM implant surgery (7 years ago). I have been getting pins and needles.

Thanks in advance.

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Pacemaker box change advice

Hi all

I had a pacemaker box change just over 3 weeks ago (my first box change). It is a different device and one I can monitor at home. I have just taken off the remainder of the steri strips and the box seems more prominent than before. Is this because of swelling or have others noticed this after a box change? Feeling a bit sad as the last one was hardly noticeable (other than the scar).

Many thanks

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Appetite

I had my bi-ventricular defibrillator implanted Sept 8th and thus far my recovery has been easy.  I've learned a lot from many of your posts and experiences. The one thing I've yet to see is, did the implant surgery impact your appetite?  I've been so hungry afterwards almost to the point that I don't ever feel full. I'm eating the same amounts that I did pre-surgery but I just don't feel full. I do eat gluten free but pre-surgery I would feel my hunger...

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Arm Pain

Hope this the right place for this. Had PM placed approx 2 weeks ago, initial diagnosis was heart block, have had afib for a few years with no symptoms, saw nurse and tech yesterday for the first time they both said everything was good, after i got home started have pain on the inside of my left bicep and forearm, and some on top of left shoulder, pain hard to explain, not in the muscle seems to be on the lining of the muscles, was hoping someone had experienced some thing similar, thank...

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Slow recovery

Hi everyone

 

i am a new member but have actually had a pacemaker since the age of 10 and I am now 47.  Three weeks ago i had a routine battery replacement (it had been 12.5 years since my last one).  The surgeon had real trouble getting my pacemaker out, apparently between scar tissue and cartilage growing around the unit they essentially had to cut it out, and create a whole new 'pocket' rather than using the existing one.  I am improving and my wound...

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You know you're wired when...

You get your device tuned-up for hot dates.

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It made a HUGE difference in my life. Once I got it, I was finally able to run, and ride my bike long distances.