Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

Post Message!

Itching like crazy

I'm 22 years old and I had my first pacemaker implanted on december 18, I've had no complications from the surgery. Once the scar had formed I started using Mederma products on it. Mederma advanced during the day and Mederma PM at night. I should also mention I had a loop recorder implanted before and it was removed during the pm surgery so I've got the one scar between my collar bone, breast and shoulder for the pm and one between my sternum and my breast from...

Read More...

Was told I'd get an MRI-compatible device, but didn't.

During my surgical consult, the electrophysiologist told me I'd be getting an MRI-ready device. After I came out of surgery, I was told I'd gotten the Unify Assura 3357-40Q, which is NOT MRI rated. 

When you get the wrong thing in a store or restaurant, you can send it back for the right one. Not so much when it's a device that's been implanted in your body.

Can anyone offer some insight about why he might have chosen this one instead of another? Are...

Read More...

Position

Why do they always put it on the left side of your body the pm I mean or is that only in a America?

Read More...

New to the Pacemaker Club

The information I have read on this site has been really helpful to me in my rocovery. I had no idea that there was a "Pacemaker Club".

Due to Sick Sinus Syndrome, my natural pacemaker was failing, I recently had a PM implanted on 2/6/19. Today, was my 2 week anniversary. I am feeling remarkably good today.

The first week after my procedure was pretty brutal. I was in a lot of pain and was advised by the nurse to take Tylenol or Aleve. Since I wasn't put on a blood t...

Read More...

25 year old recovering from Medtronic Azure dual chamber ppm insertion for junctional rhythm. Sharing my journey.

Hi everyone! I'm a cardiothoracic critcal care nurse, I like to call myself recently nurse turned patient. I am 25 years old. Over the past year I have had some road bumps. I had arthoscopic hip surgery leading to a DVT/Bilateral PE's. Sometime after I developed junctional rhythm. Had an episode of pulmnonary edema leading to respiratory failure. I had Medtronic Azure dual chamber pacemaker inserted sub-pectoral on 02/05/2019 with a loop recorder removal. Previously I had a loop recor...

Read More...

Pacemaker to CRT-P Upgrade

I'll be getting an upgrade from a std dual lead pacemaker to a CRT-P in less than 2 weeks. EP believes my wide QRS (ventricle dyssyncrony) is causing a lowered ejection fraction. I have had 2 pacemakers in the same submucular pocket so this would be the 3rd device (I assume a larger one at that) in the same pocket. Aesthetically, previous EP did a great job with submuscular implant as there was no buldge at all after swelling went away and PM seated in pocket.

Couple of questions:

Read More...

Just Feeling Strange

I have had my pacemaker implanted 3 weeks ago for stage 3 block after passing out at work. I am a soon to be 65 year old male in pretty good physical condition. I found out that my pacemaker is pacing 93% of the time for my ventricles. My comment or question is "How long until you get used to this?" My heart just feels so different. Sometime it feels like butterflies in my chest and other times it sems to take my breath away. Is this mormal and if so, will I ever get accustomed to i...

Read More...

Pacemaker now fitted

Well, I had the pacemaker implanted last Wednesday.  It was not as straightforward as I had anticipated as the cardio could not get the wires into the correct position because of scar tissue from my previous ablations.  He nearly gave up at one point and through the fog of morphine and sedative, I heard him say he was going to try the other side.  But he did not need to in the end.  It took 2 1/2  hours and I was given a lot of morphine and sedative.  Later, I fe...

Read More...

New Pacemaker for Second Degree Heart Block - Type II

Hello:  Just to introduce myself.  I'm aged 62, and I had a pacemaker installed 2 days ago for a Heart Block which had caused dizziness for a number of years.  I live in Cheshire in the UK.  Have been reading posts on here for a couple of weeks to get me into the flow of my new life with a pacemaker.  I am very optimistic that this is the new me and want to feel positive about it. I go back to the hospital (Wythenshawe) in 3 weeks for a pacemaker check.&...

Read More...

New device

How long does it take for surgical site to heal? I am post surgery 3 weeks.   When I stand it seems gravity makes it hurt.  Is this normal?  Incision looks good no infection. Feel like I have a 3rd boob. Had some bleeding after surgery so there still is this lump of swelling. To me the device feels hot to touch or warm. 

Read More...

Recovery after surgery

Hello, I am new to this group but not new to having a pacemaker. I had my first one implanted when I was 6 months old. It stopped working when I was 5 years old. Since then I been in pretty good health. I have bradycardia which I have known all my life but that never stopped me from having a normal life. Just this past November I had a seizure for the first time. I had another seizure in December. Panic attack’s started happening in January so I know it was something serious. I...

Read More...

Pace-infected

Good afternoon every one,

my pace was inserted in 12/27/2018 and on 2/12/2019, I went to the ED because there was yellow discharge that was coming from my pace as been placed, and the doctor told it was an infection and now, they have removed it and give me a new pace. Anyone here ever had their pace infected. Or any one here, can give me encouragement words as for me my recovery was not easy. 

Read More...

Struggling with recovery

Hello everyone,

I’m kinda struggling with my recovery after having a pacemaker fitted January 31st.

Some background info for you. I have had blackouts on and off since I was 7, I’m 31 now, doctors had always chalked it up as just something I do. Following a bad blackout which put me in A&E with concussion doctors decided to run some tests and they discovered I had vasovagal syncope. They couldn’t work out a treatment plan for me but I was still havi...

Read More...

New pacemaker/AICD feeling hard strange beats

My husband (37y hx PTSD- fmr Military, RBBB, new HF disgnosis NICM of unknown origin- still having tests done) had a StJude PM/dual chamber ICD placed Monday for periods of low HR(low 30’s) and heart failure (36%RV 49%LV). He’s been having what feels like small shocks that he can feel that matches his HR and occasionally “hard beats that make me feel like I am going to pass out”. Has anyone experienced either of these and if so, what was it? Was the...

Read More...

Pacemaker implant

Hello everyone - just joined you.  I have had Paroxysmal AF for nearly 20 years.  I take medication have had five ablations.  In the last three years the episodes have become more frequent, but I could handle that if only the episodes were not so debilitating. 

In my particlular case the AF starts and from then on I dare not move, because my pulse will soar to frightening rates - 250 plus.  So I pretty much always go to hospital, where I feel safer and it usuall...

Read More...

Reasons for replacement

Hi!

I just want to ask if there are any other reasons for replacement besides low battery?

Thank you!

Read More...

Post ICD implant pain

I just had my first ICD put in a little over two weeks ago. In general I feel SO much better than I have in the past 2 1/2 years (diagnosis is heart failure) but I've got pain up at my collarbone where the leads are going into the carotid artery. I expected pain from the muslce trauma where they inplanted the ICD but not where the leads are. It feels tight there and like they're "pulling", even if I'm not moving around.  I'm a leg amputee and walk with fora...

Read More...

Settling in

I had my PM fitted 5 days ago so is there a settling period,Iam suffering anxiety which sometimes makes me feel lightheaded is this normal.Ihave this ongoing fear of leads dislodging and have had this fear ever since I was diagnosed and a PM  suggested.Doctors these days don't give out prescription for calm me downs they prefer a visit to the Phsycologist they don't work with me having suffered with anxiety etc for years.

Read More...

Extreme pain during surgery!!!

New to the forums and this is my first post!! I'm due to have some upcoming procedures that are normally done under local anesthesia and it's making me very anxious to relive what I went through with my pacemaker, while researching I came across the club here and thought I would share my experience and see if anyone had any advice.  

So my story goes something like this....

Endocarditis in August of 2017 caused me to have a tricuspid Valve replacement, during rep...

Read More...

Protruding pacemaker

Hello everybody! I just want to say thanks in advance for any insights you're willing to share. It's comforting to know there's a community out there.

So, I just had surgery to replace my pacemaker for the second time (this is my third pacemaker) 11 days ago. My concern is that my pacemaker isn't fitting into my pocket the same way the other ones did?! This new pacemaker is the same model and size of my last one, but instead of laying flat it's protrud...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Titanium is your favorite metal.

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.