Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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June 28

I'm getting my first pm in a few weeks. My dad was in his mid-60's when he did a face plant into his dinner plate and barely made it the hospital in time. And now it's my turn...I'll be 50 in July and I still have two kids at home. Any wisdom to share? I love roller coasters, loud music, my iPod, iPad and I'm very active. Not I'm ready for this, but the alternative is scarier.

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recovery from pm replacement

Hi Everyone,
I just had my pm replaced yesterday, which was a horrific surgery, I was wide awake and felt everything!! But I won't go into all that, I posted that elsewhere.

I was just curious how others felt after their pm was replaced. I have a lot of pain where the new pm was put in. The pressure and extreme pain I do not remember from when I had it put in the first time, I also can't raise my arm above my head because it hurts so so much. I don't want to call the doctor...

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Potential Pacemaker

Hello,

I am currently writing this from my hospital bed in Austin, Texas. This will be 50th visit to a hospital and my 10th overnight stay since I was first diagnosed with explainable if not even rare heart arrhythmia problems. I used to be a ballerina, I was very good at being a ballerina too. I had my entire career laid out, and then I took the summer off when I was 16. Before I tell what happened that summer, my entire life I knew something was different about my heart. My mother u...

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Lung Concerns

I had a PM installed about 2 months ago and I am having some trouble with my lungs. When I bend over I can feel my lungs press up against my chest wall. When I take a very deep breath I feel some uncomfortable pressure. Any experience out there with you b loggers?

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recovery

How long do I have to recover before I can lay on my left side and on my stomach? I had my pacemaker installed May 18th. How easy is it for the leads to come out of your heart after 1 month? I have worn my sling 1 month is it necessary to wear it longer?

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Is this normal...

Hi everyone! I am not quite sure how to preface this so I will just plunge into it...I am a 24 year old woman and had a pacemaker implanted this past Friday because of three consecutive days (if not weeks/months) of extreme bradycardia with an unknown cause. The doctor agreed to set the lower limit at 50 because I am a long distance runner and my resting heart rate is lower anyways and I didn't want it to be kicking on constantly. I am currently home resting and have been noticing since I got...

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New Pacemaker

Hi Everyone,
I had a Medtronic Pacemaker put in on May 29, 2012. After seeing a new cardiologist, because I was always tired, he told me he thought I needed a pacemaker after seeing my EKG that my MD sent from my physical that week. After seeing the doctor he sent me to, we decided I needed a pacemaker. I am feeling like a new man now. Had it cheked today, said everything was fine. Made one adjustment for when I begin working out again. I am no longer tired, and wanting to fall asl...

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saying hello

HI everyone my name is wvbrat .I am 49 years old,I had a pacemaker put in on june 6th 2012.I am home trying to learn all I can about it,It all happened so fast.heart rate had been at 20 beats per min.just so tired but had no idea.so i will be on here asking some questions and hope it wont be a problem for anyone. thank you all and I hope everyone has a great week and good health

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No Energy

Hi, I had my third repair of my pm and leads in March. I feel fine except I have no energy. This was not the case with the last repairs so I tend to feel it's not depression or anything but the pacemaker setting. Is this common and can it be remedied? Your help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jane

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heat in chest from pacemaker

I just got my pacemaker 2 and 1/2 weeks ago. I am 24 years old and twice I have had a feeling of heat from the pacemaker in my chest it is not hot to the touch but I start sweating like crazy like I am overheating. No change to pulse on bpm only lasts about 20 or 30 minutes then goes away. I do not have health insurance so I am struggling with being able to get information. I was able to see a pa on monday because they allow 1 follow up after surgery and then I have to find help elsewhere, a...

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New PM

Hello, I am new to the PM world, just 1 week ago. This came as a surprise and shock, no real symptoms prior to the day I went to my doctor because I nearly fainted. In fact, I wasn't sure what was happening,I even thought I might be having a heart attack. The Holter heart monitor I left with that day is what determined I had 2nd and 3rd degree AV block. 5 days later I received my PM. Tomorrow I go back to the cardiologist because my level of fatigue is higher than prior to surgery. This test is...

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Abdominal pacemaker

Hello!
I had a pacemaker implanted in my abdomen 5/10/2012. I had a previous one implanted 12/11 but I developed serious infection, endocarditis, damaged triscupid valve. So many other issues came from that infection but it won't be therapeutic for me to rehash. So my doc offered me an abdominal pacemaker to reduce chance of heart damage and infection. Just wondering if any one else has a pm in the abdomen?

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Scar Tissue issues

Hi everyone, I had a pacemaker inserted back in December 2011 for vasovagal syncope issues and for the past month of so I've been having a lot of tightening and general swelling in my upper chest, shoulders and neck. I called my cardiologist and he said that this can result from the scar tissue having healed and then pulling and tugging on the skin and muscle around it. Has anyone had this happen? I'm very uncomfortable and it makes me miserable (I'm a woman), especially when I take my bra off (...

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Health

Hello people recently got my pacemaker on 5/21/12 are you suppose to feel any thing diferrent how do you tell if its working propertly. Before i got the pacemaker I had no symptoms other than occasional light headedness. After a stress test and EP test doctors told me I needed a PM in the worst way. Forgive me if my question seem redundant I'm just little nervous.

Thank you, Dmitch

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scar tissue

Does anyone use Scarprin on their pacemaker site? It is a silicone gel that soaks in and coats the skin/scar. Would it hurt the pacemaker if I used it too soon?
My skin is very delicate itchy and dry!

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still feeling weird at times

Hi all,
I am in the UK, 30, and was fitted with a pacemaker on may 7th after sudden heart block and bradycardia. I had no symptoms and was going to the gym 4 times a week until i started blacking out, feeling like I had heavy limbs and what I would call 'weird feelings'...

I thought after having my pm fitted I would be up and ready for action, somewhat naively. I was wondering how long it took you guys to settle into life again. I find I am getting tired easily and occasionally...

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Can anyone tell me how battery replacement went.

Hi,
I was hoping that someone could help me. I will be going in to have my battery replaced very soon, I saw the doctor today and she said I have anywhere from less than 1 month to 3 months before it needs to be changed, and I am paced 96% of the time, It worries me to think that it can stop pacing normally at anytime, and what scares me even more is not knowing how the surgery will go.

If anyone could let me know how it went when you had yours replaced, I would really appr...

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Scar Tissue hurts

Hi! I got my PM on 4/24/12---I thought I was home free...and I still am since my heart and activities and everything are doing great!
But...the scar is really tight and touchy now---sharp pains and itching. I think this is just the healing process, am I correct?
Or should I visit the doctor. No redness or fever or anything.
Thanks for any help
Gloria

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driving

Hi ifeel fine after having my pm fitted,thay told me i could drive after a week,its just over two weeks ,i have told dvla do i have to hang on untill thay get back to me before i can drive.

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Thanks for the input

Thanks Many Blessings. I had IV vanco and by the next day was given 2 doses of steroids. I've been on and off otc benedryl since. I have good days and then it will flare up. However, I have had sensitive skin all my life. I know even steroids and benedryl themselves can cause rash and moon face, so it's hard to know how to proceed.

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Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

I wasn't really self-conscious about it. I didn't even know I had one until around six or seven years old. I just thought I had a rock in my side.