Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

Post Message!

Question

I only recently found out that I needed a CRT pacemaker. I had no symptoms, I.e heaviness in chest or shortness of breath prior to getting the pacemaker last Friday. Now I have both of these issues. I'm not sure why this is happening now?

Read More...

New CRT-P on Tuesday 11/17/2020

Hello everyone.... I have not been on here for a very long time becuz I was so well......In 2009 I had a fainting spell and landed in the hospital where the next couple of days it was decided that I would have a Pacemaker ADAPTA DR 2wire for comlplete heart block... so for 11 years my PM lasted without any problems...well back in June 2020 I felt things were not going so good...like I was having SOB problems..so hence the EKG and the Echo which showed that I was in Heart Failure... I was shoc...

Read More...

New CRT device on 11/11, lower rate set at 90?

So I am home from my sternotomy mitral repair where they also added a third lead and swapped out dual chamber for crt.  The day before I left the hospital ( 4 nights ago) I found out they have my lower rate set at 90.  They said this is normal and they will lower it later but my next follow up isn't for 30 days.  Is this normal? It is very unpleasant especially since I have svt I am waiting to have abated so I am almost always tachy now.

Read More...

shoulder pain after surgery

How long does the pain in the back of the shoulder last. I've had the op 2 weeks and the pain is really bad.

Read More...

PM newly implanted and what to expect during recovery...

Hello everyone, my name is Amanda and I had my PM implanted on 3 Nov 2020 due to complete heart block. Totally out of the blue and I'm still coping with this unexpected situation. So lucky that I found this forum and got so many information/ experience sharing from everyone here. (I'm from Hong Kong and there is no this type of platform in my city.)

I have few questions above what I felt after the surgery and how to handle the recovery. Looking forward t...

Read More...

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

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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.

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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...

Read More...

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.

Read More...

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 

Read More...

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

Read More...

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.

Read More...

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

Read More...

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...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.