Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Pacemaker

Hi I have had a pacemaker inserted on weds for complete heart block. I am just wondering about how careful everyone was able to be post op. I am not to lift my arm for 2 months, to lift anything heavy or lie on that side (to ensure the leads have chance to bed in) however I am only 46 with two young children. I am managing in the day to be sensible but I am worried as I woke up in the night led on my L side and with my arm over my head!! I can't afford (physically and emotionally) to have...

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Brace for shoulder restrictions?

Hi, 32 years old, athletic, male with bradycardia and syncope. Got my pacemaker put in on Monday and getting used to the addition of my little buddy. Did anyone who has gone through the recovery process get a shoulder sling that restricted your movement above your head? If so which one? I have a sling to sleep in, but with a 2.5 year old and big dogs bumping around me it would be good to have additional support throughout the day ensuring I don't accidentally put my arm in a compromising...

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Post surgery pain

I am a 41 year old female. I had a pacemaker put in 2 months ago. I am 5 foot 2 at 185 pounds so I am not too skinny and I too have a pinching or pulling feeling a few times a day at the pacemaker site. It also still feels sore or tender, kind of like it feels when someone touches your sunburn. I came across this site when looking to find out if this was normal this far out from surgery. I realize its still healing. 

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recovery concerns

Great site, I have been reading and learning but this is my first post. I am a 72 year old male that led a fairly active retired life up until this episode. I had a dual valve Biotronik PM installed on 4/28/19 without complications and have been home following recovery orders since 4/29. My first Doctor visit is 5/6 with my primary care physician and 5/10 with cardiology to check the PM. So my question is, I wake up most mornings feeling weak, lathargic, not much energy at all, this feel...

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Epicardial Lead placement surgery

I am 3 weeks post op from a mini-thoracotomy to place epicardial left ventricular leads for CRT.  I had previously had a endocardial LV lead placed 8 years ago.  It was not working optimally and was draining generators within 3-4 years.  I am on my 4th device since 1st placement in 2008.  I have a complete heart block, Class II-III heart failure.  I am still in a good amount of pain and limited physical function.  Just wondering if anyone out there...

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I'm getting a biventricular pacemaker / ICD. What do you wish you had known before your procedure?

I am a 46 YO woman who started reading your forums when I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.  I was hoping that I would respond to medication, but I haven't responded enough.  I'm getting a biventricular pacemaker / ICD in less than two weeks.  Your posts have helped me adjust to the idea, but I'm still not 100% there yet.  (I know intellectually I need this, but it's hard when I don't feel sick or impaired.)

What do you wi...

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sutures removed said not to wash for 3 days--how keep it clean?

nurse removed sutures  and told me not to wash for 3 days--concerned how keep incision clean--it has been 2 months since surgery  and she said not ot use polyspori either

Thank you for any info

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Pacemaker Lump

I had my pacemaker installed on February 23, 2019. Two months later, I am still seeing a bulge from the device in my chest. It was implanted on the right side due to a vein on my left side not able to be used from past procedures when I was younger. I’m not a very big person, I only weigh about 121 pounds and I’m 22 years old. Any hope that the bulge will go away at all?

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Recedo Scar Topical Gel Review, new medication

Hi all, can't believe I'm post-op week 11 here. I'm a strong believer in being proud of our scars, they tell a story and show how we persevered. Although with this in mind, as a young female I did seek out options as ways to lighten/decrease the elevation of my scar. 

I was introduced to a new perscritpion scar treatment called Recedo Topical Gel. I have been using it since week 2 when my incisons started to heal over. I never heard of this product until my de...

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I Am Newly Charged!

Hello everyone, I am happy to announce that I am the "most proud" new owner of a brand new 2019 St. Jude model Pacemaker!  It appears that the 9 year old model had come to the end of it's days.  The exsisting leads are of the 2005 model year and are still working well.  The leads appear to have a longer running life than the 2 previous pacemaker models.  So... in 7 years or so we will be upgrading the leads as well. &n...

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Accolade L311

I was fitted with pacemaker on Wednesday 17th April 2019. Immediately my head cleared and I had not thought it’s was a condition of my heart function.

I expect that it will continue and I will be blessed with a few more years of happiness, and to march onwards and upwards with my passion of golf croquet.

 

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Still experiencing Palpitations

I had a dual chamber Pacemaker on the 26th of March 2019 for Bradycardia and heart pauses on reveal monitor. Am glad I found this forum it was difficult for me to accept everything. Thank you all for posting and for answering it has helped a lot. I used to struggle with Palpitations, dizziness and light headed etc and at that same time my heart rate will be so low. Post Pacemaker all the dizziness is gone but still have Palpitations, is this normal? I also still get out of breath wh...

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Tingling Senstation

Hello,

I just recently found this club and I’m so glad I did. I just recently got a lead extraction done, and had a complication in which my lead moved into the wall of my heart. I had to get a second surgery to fix the lead placement. My recovery as been going very well, I’m on blood thinners due to a blood clot forming in my leg though. About 3 and a half weeks into my recovery of the second surgery, I started to feel a tingling sensation around my defibrillator implant an...

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New to this.

Got my pm 3/15/19. Wondering why the afternoon I feel tired and skip beats. I have afib and he said i will still have afib but I won't know it. I know there is a lot of healing going on but was wondering is my pacer set at 80 all the time maybe that's why I have skip beats?????

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Pm newbie

Hello, I am new to this site. Love all the positive and uplifting spirits here. We have all been through our share of health problems and I myself looking forward to a fuller productive life. I enjoy gardening and outside activities , cooking out ,fishing ECT. Have been blessed with 9 grandkids and enjoy being active in their lives. I haven't been able to enjoy any of this in 2 yrs due to afib , alot of my days was in hospital. Due to low blood pressure was unable to take any of the multi...

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Hopefully two times is a charm

I had my first ICD placed in mid January (sub pectorally) and had been having so much pain around the device. It seemed like it and the lead coils were moving around and rubbing across and against things.  Found out Monday, then confirmed Tuesday with an x-ray that the suture holding it in place was most likely broken and the ICD was moving all around my left chest.

I'm going in tomorrow morning to have them retrieve it and try and anchor it back in. Crossing my fingers that th...

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Stamina

I had 25 radiation treatments to my head November and December 2018, then I had a pacemaker put in March 6, 2019. I still don't have a lot of energy since the insertion. It's been five weeks. I run out of stamina around noon and have to rest around three hours. Is this normal?

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Limited Arm Movement

I am 4 weeks post op of my dual chamber pcaemaker implant. I know I can't move my arm above my shoulder height, and i dont plan to until i get cleared from my doctors, but I am having trouble raising my arm in general. I can barely get it to shoulder height with my arm straight out beside me. It feels like the muscles are really tight and it cant go any higher. Is this normal? 

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New PM

How long before I can go back to normal and enjoy a casual drink on the weekendsI just got my pacemaker on How long before I can go back to normal and enjoy a casual drink on the weekends (by a casual drink I mean two or three glasses of wine or four or five beers)

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Pain & Sensations post PM

Hello, I am 49 and 4 day post PM surgery, this is my first PM for 2nd degree heart block. I am having a dull achey raw feeling in my esophageal area under my breast bone. I am also having fluid rentension in my hands, abdomen, and face. I also have these phantom pops in my boob?!?! They feel similar to a knuckle pop, they are not audible and only felt internally. Has anyone else experienced any of this? 

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