Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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What is a normal PM site???

I had my pacemaker implanted on Jan 22. I am feeling fine, I can move easily and now sleep on either side which is wonderful. The pacemaker was implanted just down from my left shoulder. The scar is healing and hardly even tender now. However I can see an outline of the pacemaker just under my skin. Looks like a matchbox or something under the skin. I phoned my cardiologist and his nurse said this is normal. She said if someone is overweight you can't see it but if you are slender it is norma...

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AV Node

I am scheduled for AV node ablation in April. I have had a pacemaker since 2009, had ablations done 6/2012 and12/2012. Both procedures failed to help and symptoms are worse. My latest was over 600 events on the pacemaker in less than 24 hours. My afib causes ventricular tachycardia and I can no longer work. Is anyone aware of other options than the AV node ablation? Meds have been exhausted. How will this help my quality of life? I am in bed most of the time now. Activity set it off.
Than...

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1 Week post-op update

Hello,
I just left my cardiologist office(seen PA who does all the setting monitoring and changes) I am 1 week post op of insertion of a dual chamber Boston Scientific PM. I was told that I can now drive and raise my hands over my head to wash my hair and hold or lift 5#. I have to say I was quite surprised to hear that as I am still having quite a bit of discomfort and also pain going up my neck from shoulder area. I was originally told no driving for 2-3 weeks and no lifting at all. I al...

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Ache in the left side of my neck from pacemaker

My name is Yolanda I am 43 yrs old and had my first pacemaker put in march 6th (It was put in under the muscle). I have been feeling this ache and discomfort for the last 2 days (maybe longer but I haven't noticed d/t the pain meds I was taking). Has anyone felt this before? I also had an episode today when I was sitting on the couch where i could feel every beat it almost seemed as I could hear it. This was so strange and scary but when I got up to get my son it stopped (he was home with me)....

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Post Op day1 thru 3- Yolanda

DAY of surgery - I am 43 and had my PM inserted on the 6th of March ( Boston Scientific Dual chamber Advantio). I was very anxious and nervous when I arrived at the hospital with my husband. I was taken to pre op and was gowned and had 2 IV's started (1 for the vancomycin and 1 for the anesthesia), i was given medication to relax me and then taken to the cath lab for the procedure. Once arriving to cath lab the nurses noticed I had a rash all over (most likely red mans syndrome from vanc being r...

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Newbie post

Am wondering if others have had these experiences and what suggestions you might have.

I’m a 68 yr old, quite active, woman, potter, metalworking student, etc, etc. Lifestyle is fairly healthy and I’ve considered myself healthy. However, there’s always been a heart murmur and in 2005, a life long hole in my right atrium was patched with amazingly wonderful results.

For the record, I’m thinish and a slight built 5’ 4”. This seems to be relevant.

In Jan ’12,...

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For women PM implant....sorry guys!

Hi All,

For info, I received my St. Jude CRT-P pm on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 and came home Thursday. For any lady out there, I was wondering if you had experienced what I'm about to say?

Seems my implant had gone well so far, as this is only my 3rd day of recovery. However, Thursday night I was in such pain and experiencing horrible soreness on the left side of my left breast. I could hardly lay my arm against my body. Let alone get any sleep! Now this pain, was NOT a...

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Question about vacation planned after surgery

I will be having a pacemaker implanted next Thursday-I have had few symptoms, but frequent 10 second pauses at night. Initially I was told I did not need a pacemaker because I am pretty active, and 40, but a second opinion convinced me otherwise.

It may be optimistic, but I am scheduled to work the following Monday, and have a long planned vacation with my wife and another couple the following Friday involving hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. ( will waterproof the incision site w...

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arm pit ache

Hey All

So I'm 31 and had my first pacemaker inserted last Friday (28th Feb 13) and since Monday I have been getting a dull ache in my left arm pit and it kinda travels down the underside of my left arm to about my elbow.

I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow to have the dressing removed and I'm going to have a chat with him then, I'm just wanting to know if anyone else suffered from this to or if it's serious.

I've also been feeling a bit nauseous, light he...

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Hi all

It will be a week that i had my pacemaker put in. I still feel tired but i feel pretty good otherwise. can someone tell me how long will it take for me to get more energy and start doing things, i,m tired of hanging around the house,, i hope all my friends are all doing o k ,,Elle

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surgery

im 22 just told on monday i need a pacemaker because im still in bradiacardia junctional rhythm...my surgery is on the 26th...im so nervous can anyone tell me what its like living with a surescan revo pacemaker? and how long recovery is going to be i have a 2 year old son who relies on me?

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hi nancy,

Hi Nancy, you sound encouraging for having it done 2 weeks ago. had mine done last fri ,mar.1st. i feel a pinching sensation and when i get up from sitting, it hurts for awhile. did you have any swelling? i,m so careful with my movements. it scares the heck out of me.. good luck to you,, p.s. can,t wait to take a shower,, Elle

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OP/Post Op

Hi again, I had my surgery on Tue 25th Feb 2013. My surgery lasted 2hrs and I was awke the whole time. I felt perfectly relaxed and enjoyed the banter and relaxed atmosphere in ht Theatre.The only discomfort I felt during the whole process was the ijections topping up my sedatives/painkiller. It stung a little.They had to try 3 times with one of the 4 leads inserted, but were sucessful on the 3rd attempt.About an hour post-op, the ( I learned later) Alarm went off on my ICD. Sounded like an "I T...

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recovery after surgery

Hi I am glad I found this group.. MY son was diagnosed at birth with ASD, Mitral valve prolasp, and now just recently wolfs Parkinson white syndrome and he just got a pacemaker last week, he is 11, and it seems hes a little depressed.. I have told him over and over that this will help him and that this is a good thing but he feels different.. any experience others experience with this? thank you.

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97 year old father - pacemaker needed?

They want to put a pacemaker in my 97 year old father. He has moderate dementia. He has no other illnesses but a-fib with "tachy-brady syndrome". They've done a fair job of controlling his heart rate with meds but he still ends up in the hospital periodically with tachycadia and he's had one observed episode of passing out and other probable episodes where all we saw were the bruises. Everyone agrees that the primary issue for him is quality of life. If he would be less likely to pass out, fall...

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Thank you

Hey everyone

Thanks for all your comments. I'm really glad I stumbled upon this site. All your comments have made me feel a lot better and ready for tomorrow.

I get the loop removed today. Not nervous about that. And I guess I'm lucky in the fact that the doctor who put the loop in is the same person putting the pacemaker in

I'll keep you all updated and let you know how I go

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Im getting a pacemaker!!

Hey All

Im a little freaked out!!

I'm getting a pacemaker in 2 days!!

I have a loop recorder in at the moment and last week I went in for a normal routine scan and it picked up that my heart had paused for 2 seconds and then one minute later it paused for 5 seconds.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) I get the loop recorder removed and then Thursday Im having an MRI and a pacemaker put in.

I'm a little scared and have no idea what to expect!!

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Placement of Pacemaker

Hi. I'm 16 years old and I have had heart problems since I was born. I got my first open heart surgery when I was 2 months old. I have to go into my 5th pacemaker replacement sometime this year. And it will be a big surgery, I have to get all of my wires replaced and the pacemaker replaced. We are watching it closely to see when though. My pacemaker is in my stomach right now ever since I was little, but now that I am getting older, the doctor said that I have a choice, either keep the pacemaker...

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Gen Info

Hi, I'm a new member and due to be admitted for "BI-VENTRICULAR ICD" insertion on Sunday the 24th. Feb 2013. I Had a Major MI in Aug 1998 and after several MI's I had "Triple By- pass surgery" in 2003. Since then I've had Seven Stents inserted. That's a brief history of my HF. I am the sole carer fotr my partner who has COPD Stage2. I am hoping that as a result of this proceedure I will have a bit more energy and quality of life for myself and my partner. Would like someone willing to share the...

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pacemaker dependent 01-23-2013

4 weeks post 100% pacemaker dependent,with A V node ablation I have gone back to work was a little slow at first, I work in a trauma center cath and ep lab, we see and treat anywhere between 80 to 100 patients a day, to get to my area to work, I have to park and walk about a mile to get on campus, 1st time in a year I didn't have to sit down at 3 different area's. I work with some great heart Dr's,( inside joke I am their poster child). Dr set my heart rate at 60 on Wednesday, stated that I sho...

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

Member Quotes

A pacemaker suddenly quitting is no more likely to happen than you are to be struck by lightening.