Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

Post Message!

sedation

only one week to go before i have my pm put in and im getting myself worried about being awake how much sedation do they give u and can u ask for lotssss im a nervous wreck in the dentist chair so god only knows what im gonna be like having this done awake..... just hope they make u very relaxed :/ , this is gonna be the longest week ever :( .. p.s hope you all dont mind me keep posting and asking stuff gotta feeling im gonna be bugging u all alot this week LOL ...with love KAREN X

Read More...

scared

hi im new today been reading up on here and looks great.. im having my pacemaker fitted on the 8th of may and im really scared excited to because ive been so ill lately i had fast heart beats and slow heart beats and mobitz type II , this has caused me to pass out alot get very breathless and ruined my life at only 40 would love some feed back on the op im scared about being awake and the after care when i get home .. thanks karen :) xxx

Read More...

Pacemaker and Lead Extraction

Hi Everyone..... I posted about a week ago about my upcoming surgery for Monday April 29. I really appreciate the great responses with some of your experiences. I have to admit, I am still very anxious about it. I am an RN and have seen so many complications of surgeries in general that I am finding really difficult to focus on the positive (I am usually a very positive person....until now!) Has anyone any suggestions about how to get past this so I can walk in confidently on Monday? I want...

Read More...

when can i get back to work?

it' s been 11 days now since i got my PM, i still feel tired and feel a little bit discomfort especially in my neck and chest area..i only have 4 weeks sick leave and my work usually do a lot of lifting and upper arm movement.is it safe for me to go back to work immediately?is there any possibility that the leads might dislodge from their position if i go back to work?

Read More...

2 weeks Post Surgery & Recovery

I had a very slow heart beat and idiopathic cardiomegaly which
gave me my first CHF experience. After being treated with
medication for five years, the medicine stopped working which
then gave my physician the criteria to intervene with the next step, a Bi-Ventricular Pacemaker. Mine is a Medtronic with
3 leads. Two leads are stationary and hooked into the right
atrium and right ventricle and the third lead is fed through the
coronary sinus vein on the poster...

Read More...

6 days post PM surgery

Hi guys,

I am now 6 days post PM surgery and am going a lot better than I thought I would.

The only query I have is that I have this dull annoying pain right under my sternum. Could it be the leads settling into place? Also, I'm getting a little out of breath with the pain.

Anyone else had similar issues?

Read More...

confused and still in pain

I had a pacemaker emergency implanted on 4/19/13. I have alot of pain in my collarbone, cant stand straight, and just got to the point that I can go to the bathroom by myself. my left arm is still strapped to my body, but it hurts to take a deep breath. Standing with the right posture is impossible. But the pain in my collarbone sucks. The nurses in the hospital said it shouldnt hurt that bad but it did and does. 3 of the many umbing hots the Dr. did felt like he was jabbing my muscle or someth...

Read More...

A Little scared!

Well tomorrow's the day for my EPS study, ablation and possible PM and I have to admit I'm getting a little scared. I'm SO not trying to go there but sometimes I just can't help it--what if they don't find what they're looking for?? I guess that's my biggest fear--I don't want to continue on the road I'm currently on. I feel miserable anytime I try to do anything even going up and down stairs sometimes. I guess I just need some reassurances?

Read More...

newbie to the 100% club

Just had the Av node ablated and got the new St Jude PM April 16th. I am now 100% PM dependent. Due to a steriod drug I continue to have outragous high blood presure. I am having a significant amout of pain which I don't remember have at the first implantation 4 years ago. I wake up at night with pain from my shoulder to my waist, is this normal? The pain is stongest just inside the left shoulder blade. I do feel stronger but it is hard to tell if it is any better now because of the pain, and...

Read More...

Tired and Weak, hope that is normal?

Hello Everyone,

I am 75 years old, a type 2 diabetic and my heart doctor has been telling me my heart is fine, but I had to have a PM put in this last Friday.

Released from the hospital yesterday and now home relaxing with my husband and son. However, I still feel tired and kind of weak. I was just wondering if this was normal.

My son posted this note on my Facebook page that kind of tells what all happened to me on Friday.

Thank you and so happy I f...

Read More...

Accidentally raised my arm!

I am 10 days past surgery and have been instructed not to raise my arm above my shoulder for another 4 weeks. The problem is, I don't hurt anymore so I forget not to raise it! This morning waking up I raised both arms and stretched real big...it felt great but then I thought, oh shoot! I'm not dependent on my pm, so I don't think I would know if I dislodged a lead. However, in scouring past posts it seems like its not a big deal and everyone is told different things. I even found online one web...

Read More...

road to recovery

Hi, i just recently received my first pm and am feeling much more energized than i have in 4 or 5 years. Been 10 days now since my surgery, still have some soreness in implant area but am experiencing most of my pain and discomfort in my right arm. (Side with implant)And my neck as well. I,ve been laying low and following doctors orders, just not to sure how long to expext this for. Thanks!
Looking forward to sharing more comments from all you guys.

Read More...

Thanks so much everyone

Thanks so much for everyone's response to my message about receiving my first pacemaker on 4/19. You have all made it so much easier. Thanks again.

Read More...

One week ago today

This time last week I was still in the hospital after having first PM implanted. Today, after checkup yesterday, I'm sitting here at Panera Bread having lunch. Everything went well. I have no pain or discomfort (sure, the incision is sore but hardly noticeable) and feel great. Released to drive, restricting arm movement, and normal post surgery precautions.

My pacemaker is dual chamber Metronics MRI SureScan. I am 71 next month. I have Afib and on meds. No other health issues e...

Read More...

Pacemaker scheduled for 4/19

Nervous, anxious, scared, you name it, I'm feeling it right now. This is my first pacemaker. I am 61 and receiving the PM for bradycardia. I have a history of CABG, stents, numerous heart caths. The latest blockage was too small for another stent so beta blockers tried and brought heart rate to the 40s, hence the pacemaker. Any suggestions on how to keep a stiff upper lip and yet be aware of what the doctors don't always tell you?

Read More...

This will crack you up

PM implanted Thursday am. Went well. Spent the night. In the morning my right ankle was so sore I could hardly walk on it-still quite sore today! So, how did I sprain my ankle in bed!! I don't remember an "incident" to cause it. So nurses twisted my ankle while I'm sleeping?? No. Slept at a bad angle? Or, gout from surgery-my eating habits wouldn't cause it. Weird, for sure, to have my ankle be the most painful part of this adventure. Everything else seems great. Off to Pacemaker Clini...

Read More...

Normal Pain following PM Implant

Good Morning! This is my first post after having pm implant on 4/4/13 due to brachycardia. Due to an ananomoly, had to get implant on right side and am right handed. Will be receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy. Have been having profuse night sweats and restless sleep - waking up every 1-1/2 to every 2 hours and ravenous! Is this related to PM? Just woke up with stabbing pain in implant area - may have slept in a weird position - is this to be expected? I am female, just turned 6...

Read More...

hurts, hurts, hurts

Hi, New Friends,
I received my dual chamber ICD on Feb. 5, 2013, four days after open heart surgery to remove the obstruction associated with my hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. More often than not, the incision pain, tight skin, and constant pressure from the ICD outweighs the pain from heart surgery. I can feel the entire outline of the ICD through my skin. The corners seem to poke an awful lot. Is this normal? Will it settle farther in and not be so everpresent???? What have you all e...

Read More...

Got my first pacemaker!

I got my pacemaker on Thursday, 4/11 for syncope. The surgery went well...the last thing I remembered was speaking in German to the anesthesiologist, then the next thing I knew I was waking up and it was over. I was concerned that I would get the pacemaker and then it would never pace because I didn't really need it (its programmed with a rate drop algorithm. ) Those fears are put to rest because it paced a few times while I was in the hospital, so apparently I have been having more episodes tha...

Read More...

Sleeping Position

Hello - Just had pacemaker 2 days ago. I'm finding it difficult to find "the right position" to sleep. In just 2 days, I'm becoming an expert in Kinesiology (— n the study of the mechanics and anatomy of human muscles) as it relates to finding the right spot to get to sleep without pain. I've propped up my head with 4 pillows, and put another under my left arm, but I'm finding sleeping on back very difficult - even with sleeping pills. I know that "this too, shall pass", but wondering if an...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You are always wired and full of energy.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.