Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Restricted movement and some pain 4 months later

Hello. I've had a pacemaker all my life (I'm 27) due to complications with a congenital heart defect. However, up until I had my current device implanted in June of this year, it was in my abdomen - this is because they couldn't put it in my chest as a newborn and I've just had the others put in the same place. However, I decided to have my current device put in the left side of my chest in case we decide to have children in the next 7 or so years. This of course involved putting in the leads as...

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bee stings and bumps

I have had my pm since March -- I keep getting this shooting pain in my scar and around it that feels like a bee sting or an electrical zap. It makes me jump each time. The scar is still bright red, and the pain when you touch it is unreal. I asked the doctor about the scar last June, and he said to use an over the counter salve to help it heal. I noticed that it has little tiny bumps on the scar now.

I do not go back until December - I dont know if all of this is normal or if I...

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Wound after surgery?

Hi all,

When I got my first surgery at 15, they put in a Medtronic enpulse and sealed the scar with dissolvable stitches and skin glue. I was happy with the scar and there was no noticeable bump after the surgery, even in the first few days. I also had minimal bruising and I don't remember feeling much at all pain after day one.

This time around, they said they were putting in a pacemaker that is the same if not a little smaller than my old one (Medtronic Adapta, this time...

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emotional response to PM

This is my first post. I had my pm implanted Sept. 26 after being blindsided by bradycardia and syncopy. Right before going to surgery, my heart rate went to zero. My poor husband had to experience almost losing me. It gave me the final confirmation that I definitely needed it. But I am 51 years old, was training for my second half marathon, love doing yoga. I am a high school science teacher which kept me very active, and everyone including myself believed I was indestructible. Doctors do not k...

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New pacemaker 3 days ago

I have suffered from afib and flutter for 20 years .After Four ablations and every medicine known to man I decided with my wife and EP that my quality of life had continued to get worse and I needed to try something else . He suggested a pacemaker and at 49 we decided that was our best option to having a normal life or at least and improved quality of life . I am now in my 3rd day and don't know what to expect . I'm sore and I have felt my heart go out of rhythm but then it feels like I go right...

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Replacement time is here....

So, low battery alarm went off October 2nd... I'm happy it's time to replace it, since I'm getting my ICD moved to a Sub-pec implantation, it's just not at the most opportune time.
My doc told me last appointment that it will only hurt for a week, but my real question for him is when I can I resume weightlifting. I also am interested if some tissue reconstruciton is going to be required where my old device was located. My previous EP removed tissue to make the ICD fit, so is there enough s...

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Pacemaker generating sound

Had pacemaker placed Thursday (three days), and am at home in recovery now. My daughter has been caring for me 20 years now.
I am hard of hearing, and my daughter has fantastic hearing and can hear a tiny generating sound, is that something to be concerned about. It is the weekend and unable to call the doctor unless I go to the emergency and wait for hours til I am attended, and probably get an answer after a day, just to find out if it is normal to hear the pacemaker. It is a faint gen...

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Surgery in 10 days

Hello all,

I'm new to the PM club, but I am so glad I have found it. I have already found some great information and I am feeling not so alone. Apologies in advance for the long post, I am just so frustrated and feel the need to vent to people that have been in this situation.

I have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, chronic systolic heart failure, congestive heart failure, LBBB, enlarged LV, EF 25-30%; has not been above 40% in two years. I also have severe and debilita...

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mom worried about her son

My son has had a pacemaker since he has been 5 he has sick sinus syndrome from repaired Transposition of the greater arteries. He is 21 now and recently had to have surgery. He had a thoracotomy to implant a epicardial pacemaker. He had surgery 3 weeks a go. He has had complications that have included effusion on his lungs and now a minor case of pneumonia ( by the way pardon my spelling) What I am most concerned about is that his arm is swollen about 1.5 times its normal size. I understand the...

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tooth extraction first time

just wondering first time i go to dentist to extract a tooth, had oral anesthesia was wondering if it was normal that one time during anesthesia i felt heart palpitations for like 2 seconds then i felt at night joint pain on my body and got cold chills that lasted for 5 minutes but i been feeling good now just wondering if this has anything to do with my condition . arrhythmia ,pacemaker cardiomyopathy. metropolol thank you all

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Subclavian artery blood clot during surgery

Hi all!

I had my third PM put in on June 24th, 2013. I went from one lead to two leads. During surgery, the doctor hit my lung and caused it to collapse (Pneumothorax) to 40%. As a result I got a blood clot in the subclavian artery. They put me on Xaralto because it was new and I wouldn't have to have my levels checked. I have been told that after 10 days it reabsorbs and if it can sometimes form scar tissue. I am having vision problems and dizziness and I think it could be from the m...

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To sleep or not to sleep

Just wanted to take a brief survey- how many of you all were under general Anesthesia as opposed to those who were under local anesthesia for their PM implantation.? Thanks guys!!!

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New to board

Hello all. I am very new o this board, so try and tolerate my ignorance:) I am 30 years old and am being scheduled for a single chamber pacemaker at the end of the month. Surgery I is required due to severe sinus bradycardia which is very symptomatic . I've always been fatigue (I also have lupus) so I did not pick up right away on my increased fatigue. Came across the bradycardia accident,t at a routine check up at my doctor which lead me to a number of uncomfortable tests, and finally the outc...

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I'm new :-)

Hey y'all! My name is Courtney. I'm scheduled to get an ICD next Friday so I was just wondering if anybody had tips or tricks? I'm 23 and have left ventricular cardiomyopathy with an ejection fracture around 30%. My heart problems all started when my colon ruptured from Crohn's disease. I was in septic shock, in a coma, and on a ventilator. My heart had to work really hard to keep me alive, which in turn damaged it. I wound up with an ileostomy and heart failure. I've done a little research here...

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icds, breast implants

Hi, I'm 23. I got my icd implanted about a year ago whilst i was in Australia after i had a surprise cardiac arrest at work. The surgeons over there did an amazing job, and they did put it under my muscle so it wasn't so obvious, as I'm really little on my top. I still feel really conscious about it though, and I've lost my boobs a bit more since because my muscles have worn away a bit.. I really have my heart set on implants. I never thought about this before, but i just want it to be a little...

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a little short of breath

I got my pacemaker a week and 2 days ago. I'm getting a little short of breath here and there and when I do, I feel a little weak in the knees (that's the best way I can describe it). It happened before the pacemaker sometimes but it seems to be happening more over the past few days. And more so today and this evening. I can feel my heart fluttering a lot also. I am supposed to be put on beta blockers after I got the pacemaker but they didn't say when. Has anyone else had these experiences aft...

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When?

Im told I did have a heart attack, and because my pulse rate was staying around 30, a permanent pace maker was placed in my chest.

I feel much better at rest, but when walking or exerting myself, I just want to lay down and sleep.

Will this pass or something Im going to have to live with?

Jeff

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high hr

Hello everyone,
I had a pacemaker put in just about two weeks ago. Still having symptons of vasovagal syncope. Taking lisinapril and midodrine.I have been checking my bp. It is consistently around 110/70 but my heart rate is 95-145 at rest. Should that heart rate be that high?

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Three times - a real treat.

Good day all, First posting.

I was advised that a pacemaker would "give me more bang for my buck" by my cardiologist. I have never had a major cardiac event, but a history of Rheumatic fever, arrhythmia and developed central sleep apnia over the years, a locum Sleep specialist advised I get my heart checked and as a result I had a couple of stents put in in May 2011. Check ups and stress tests ensued and I finally agreed that a pacemaker would be advantageous to continued quality of l...

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Getting BIOTRONIK evia soon

Hi, I am getting a Biotronik Evia pacemaker soon - waiting for scheduler but probably in Oct. I have dysautonomia and my heart rate often goes into the low to mid 40. I can only get it up to 90 after an hour on an exercise bike. Medications don't sustain the rate so my cardiologist has suggested the pacemaker. From what I understand this pacemaker responds to both heart rate and blood pressure - which is good since my autonomic nervous system is faulty.

Anyone with this pacemaker ( or...

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