Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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First Pacemaker Home Same Day?

I’m getting my very first PM and leads implanted as an outpatient. The doctor said I’ll be there for about three hours for the procedure and then sent home. My follow up is two weeks latter when the nurse will check the incision site. My in-office device check will be about five weeks latter.

Is this normal to be let home same day as surgery? Is a device check five weeks latter too much time? Is it better to stay overnight in the hospital?

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Trying to keep calm

Having my bivent ICD implanted on Fri the 9th. Hanging in there. Hope I don't freak Fri. Thanks to all of you for all the info and encouragement I have found on this site.

Maryalice

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Three weeks and counting!

PM implant on 8-16-11 and things going well! Incision area healing well. I was diagnosed with C.I. or Chronotopic Incompacity which I NEVER heard of before I was told I had it. I could not breath w/ mild exertion and my pulse never rose above 70 BPM. Now, I can walk fast, climb stairs, and other exercise type things and not be SOB and my pulse goes up and then comes down after I am at rest. Medical marvels of technology hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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INFECTED PACER/LEADS

My Dad is 82 yrs old. His pacer (and leads?) have been infected with Staph Areus since 2009 and he has been living on suppressive antibiotic therapy.He and my Mom who is also very ill live with me. My Dad has vascular dementia and won't take his antibiotics as they are prescribed. Its imperative that he take his meds from me because of his memory issues but he refuses. As a result, he has landed 6 times in the hospital with septicemia, one time in full blown septic shock.It's a miracle that he i...

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Sept 12th

Hello All , Im going in for ICD , Sept 12th , any words of wisdom ??

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sick leave

Greetings all! Let me start by saying how grateful I am for being able to ask questions without feeling silly.

How do you know if you’re ready to go back to work? Just the idea of working with kids tires me out! I want to be on my game when I go back, but I don’t want a relapse.  I will have six weeks in, in about two weeks....and another question: why is everyone telling me that I fit the criteria for certain Ssi benefits?  I am just forty four, is that possi...

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A New Kid on the Block

Hello, I am so happy to have found this stie.I was jsut fitted with a PM just this last Saturday Aug. 27th.I am 34 years old and had Bradycardia. I had been working out when I felt like I was going to passout. I went to e.r. and then was admitted. My heart reat would not cllimb any haigher than the low 40s. So the doctors decided a PM was the best path for me. Well besides being sore. I do have more energy and feel many less palpatations. I can take my pulse and it is much better then it was. So...

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soreness in shoulder-How long till no soreness?

PM implant 10 days ago-how lon g till sorenss is gone?

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feeling out and alone

hey
im a 20 year old student who starts medical school next month. I had my pacemaker fitted two weeks ago (12 aug 2011). it was fitted below my arm, i do not know anyone else who has one here and i have a grandmother who has a pacemaker but other than that i have no idea what to expect.
for the past four years i had been experiencing numerous fainting episodes with chest pain up to four or five times a week after having an implantable heart monitor device for 2 months the doctors fou...

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Has anyone recovered better than before a pacemake

Looking for anyone who feels like they did before their pacemaker or as good prior to their pacemaker? Just wondering if things will get back to how things were.

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Relocating Pacer

Originally had pacer in my upper right chest (usual location). Then in 2006 I had to have it relocated to abdomen due to need for right breast cancer radiation. Now the pacer is wearing down. Where should it be placed?

Has anyone had experience in relocating pacer? What about all the leads, etc? What about changing models from St. Jude to a German model?

Experiences, please?
thanks.

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pain at pm site 6 months later

Today I am suddenly having pain at the site of the pacemaker, this is a new pain comes on suddenly and lasts just a minute or so. It feels as if its actually in the pacemaker! Has anyone else experience of this?

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PM a week ago-How long till can lift left arm

How long till you can raise left arm above your head?

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New member here. Soon to have PM fitted - Nervous!

Hi everyone. New member from the UK here. I’ve been reading for a couple of months since finding out that I would be required to have a PM fitted but recently received my ’letter’ from the local hospital that I must be admitted on 14th September so thought it was the right time to join.

History: Like a few other recent posts I’ve read, my symptoms relate to black outs. I’m 28 and have had them on and off since I was a child. They have, unfortunately,...

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less than 24 hours

I am getting my PM changed tomorrow morning and I am more scared now then when they put it in the first time. Any words of encouragement out there? Not sure why I am so scared just have that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

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mastectomies and PMs

Hoping to hear from anyone who has had a PM and ICD implanted after mastectomy. I had a double mastectomy 17 yrs ago and need the hardware now. Wondering if the mastectomy scars could interfere with the implantation?

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Three weeks post implant

Good day all,

This is my third device, it was the surgeon’s decision to implant this device under the pectoral muscle due to the fact that I caught my last device with the car door and caused some significant discomfort. Well I did the rain dance for a few minutes!

I am having some issues with pain and a burning feeling in my shoulder and ripping feeling. Went to the post surgery examination for a wound inspection, and expressed my concerns.  I was advised...

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2 days post PM implant

How long till usually do most have more energy and better breathing
I know it will ll vary----but what do others feel 2 days later.

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Heartbeat

Hi all,
Just had pm put in 8/17. Am I supposed to be able to feel it going off? If I am just sitting or laying I feel normal however, as soon as I get up or move around in the slightest, I can feel my left lower breast just thumping away. It is actually very annoying as if someone is tapping me over and over (or a little like Chinese water torture).

Has anyone had this or felt this? Does it mean my pacer is set too high? I have not made my first follow up apt yet but hope they...

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9 days post PM implant...

... and I'm having the hardest time remembering to keep my left arm immobile. The pain from my incision is almost gone - I feel terrific! So... how do I remember to keep my arm down?

I wear the light-weight sling they gave me at the hospital, but even the PM company rep said it will only serve as a reminder. I've even threaded a belt around myself and through the sling, as insurance. My biggest concern is at night, since I normally sleep on my left side. I'm worried I'll automa...

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You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

I am very lucky to have my device.