Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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AV Node Ablation

I am 35 years old. I had open heart surger for atrial septal defect repair when I was 5. I was fine until 2006. Then I passed out and found out that I had bradycardia of 20 to 30 bpm. So I got a normal pacemaker implanted. I have since had 6 ablations for tachycardia and my pacemakers leads are not working properly. All of my ablations were a failure. None of them seemed to help my atrial tachycaridas. Now I went in for another check up and my doctor wants to extract my leads, put in a biventric...

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Feeling a bit strange..

I had my Medtronic PM implanted on 1-18-2010. Diagnosis was 3rd degree Heart Block. Overall things have been going pretty well although 1 week after surgery I had to make a mad dash to the clinic because my heart rate jumped to 130-140 and I was short of breath. That was resolved with a little adjustment of my PM and an addition of a beta blocker. For the past two days I have been experiencing an irregular heartbeat, that when I can feel it, causes me to cough. I have placed a call to the Dr...

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Questions about my upcoming surgery

My surgery is April 1st, and I have a few questions that I'm hoping some of you can answer. My doctor tells me that it will only take me a week to a week and a half to recuperate. Is this the normal amount of time it takes to recover? She also told me I can't raise my arm on the side they do it on for 6 weeks. Is this to do everything (wash my hair, dry my hair, sleep)? I'm sure it is, but that seems really hard! I read somewhere that you are awake during surgery. Is this true? That freaks me...

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Home!

Hi All,
Just wanted to let you all know I just got to come home on my new IV friend. I will give you more of a update on my stay when I have a lot more of energy.

Love and Blessings,
Tammy

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PM is in, things are great!

Hello all...

I had my pacemaker implanted on the 23rd of February. I was diagnosed with tachycardia, bradycardia, & a 2nd degree av block. It has surely been an interesting experience. They did an EP study at the same time, they were hoping that they would be able to cause my heart to be tachycardic & ablate the cause. No such luck. =(

They were unable to sedate me, I would doze for 2 or 3 minutes, be groggy for 10 or so then be awake until they gave me more sedati...

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Off to have new bionic box

Hello to all,

Just thought i would post to say i am having new pm next tues..with second lead....agghhh....very positive it will be fine.xxxxxxxxxxxx best of british to all Chippy22

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helpful info???

Hope everyone had a great day!

If its raining and you cant get out and walk....go to www.exercisetv.tv then type in heart rehab in the search box...then, you can walk 1,2 or 3 miles infront of your computer. FUN??? Maybe not, but at least we are getting the heart pumping.

My Dad got me medical id's from Laurens Hope and Road ID...but a site called ResueMeIDs.com has the plaques and they are easier to read than the Laurens Hope ones...also, for the ladies, you can go to...

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Just Wondering

I have had my pacemaker for two months now and everything is going good with the PM itself. I did have quite a bit of pain after the surgery. Now I have pain above the site which I am presuming are the muscles healing. It also burns in that area. Also, I can feel discomfort around the complete circumference of the pacemaker. I was wondering if this is a "normal" situation which has been experienced by other members of this bionic club? Any comments??? Thanks!

Timberhitch

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new issue

Ok...I'm 3 weeks post op on my 1st ICD. I now have 3 dissolvable stitches coming up...which is not a big deal, but....the bottom one now is looking red. The incision was doing great, but now is starting to hurt in several places. It also has a couple of small knots under where the stitches are coming up??? I had staples on the outside and those were removed 8 days post op.

I do have to say....I CAN now sleep laying down and the pocket pain is SO much better. PRAISE the LoRD! I h...

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Surgery Two tomorrow

Hi all,
Tomorrow is surgery 2 I just continue to ask for your prayers. Tomorrow a pacer will be placed on my right side. Please continue to pray that I will heal well from all of this. Thanks so much.
I wish I had more energy to write more but i'm lacking on that part. I appreciate all of you and love you guys.

Love,
Tammy

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Surgery Two tomorrow

Hi all,
Tomorrow is surgery 2 I just continue to ask for your prayers. Tomorrow a pacer will be placed on my right side. Please continue to pray that I will heal well from all of this. Thanks so much.
I wish I had more energy to write more but i'm lacking on that part. I appreciate all of you and love you guys.

Love,
Tammy

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This is all so new

Hi, I just found this website and am thrilled to see that there are others here for support. I just had a pacemaker put it after finding out I had a high level AV block in my heart. I am only 41, the mother of 3 girls, and am having a hard time accepting that I now must live with this device in me. I'm 3 days post-surgery and am still feeling very, very tired. Is this normal?

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Surgery 1 done

Hi all this is me Tammy. I wanted to thank each of you so far for the thoughts and prayers. They have meant so much to me. I feel horrible but am not complaining too much. I am taking ever drug that I can but not too much to keep my heart beating for a couple days until pm 3 can be placed.
Surgery today went well my leads came out easier than planned and so did the pacer. The infection was resting on the inside stitches which really confuses me b/c they couldn't have been sanitary going...

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Surgery number 1

Hi all, Thought I would let you know what my afternoon is going to be like. I will be having surgery today around one or so. They will be removing pacermaker and leads. For the next two days I will not have a a pacermaker on which is pretty insane. I will have the pads hooked up at all times incase they have to shock me. This is to help the infection to heal more and then Fri I will go back in and have pacer placed on opposite side.
So say some prayers and I will keep you posted as I can...

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bisoprolol fumarate cardioversion

i just had a cardioversion done 1 day ago and they put me on bisoprolol fumarate but i woke up feeling flushed my face was warm and neck is that just a side affect?
also can any1 tell me some side affects?
and I wanted to know about drinking Lager shandys and the occasional Cigarette? thanx

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Car Bumps & Rate Response & Recovery

I went to my new EP and cardiologist today. I have been doing so much better since they implanted a dual lead pacemaker (my second in 6 months time.) I had the EP turn off the rate response as the roads here in PA have been making me sick while I am in the car either driving or riding. I will have to see how that goes. I will be heading back to work in 2 weeks, looking forward to getting back to normal life. I no longer get the migraine headaches that the atrial lead pacemaker was giving me...

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Still hurting NO MORE

My PC is gone my left arm no longer hurts, I can turn over in bed
with out pain very bad pain,
The Dr.who took out PC says I have Tachy / Brady snydrome afib.
My body was rejecting the PC. So life go on.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU.
Betty

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Slowly Getting Better

Hello. I'm recovering from the epicardial lead placement Feb. 11th. It has been a slow, slow process with some ups and downs. I ended up in the ER Friday night with horrible chest pain. The drs. checked out my heart and pacemaker right away and did lots of blood work, everthing was great. They decided it was sort of an accumulated side effect of the darvacet, stomach acid and chest pain from three recent surgeries all stacked together. They gave me a muscle relaxant, and a non-narcotic pai...

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NO PIECE OF CAKE

Hello! I'm new to this whole situation.First let me say I'm glad that so many have posted info regarding their experience. My PM was placed on 2/11/10. I went in with a great attitude even though my past surgeries have been eventful and not easy. I have fibro and many drug allergies/sensitivities. First the nurse went thru the vein wall when placing the IV. I was in surgery and although I had been given the sedation I was very aware of the local injections - they did hurt. I did feel the placeme...

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Bandages

Hope this message finds everyone well this week. My wishes go out to all in the hospital recuperating and those dealing with any complications. Healing prayers from my HEART to yours.

But now I have a simple question. I had my pacemaker implant surgery on Feb 4th. How long does it take for the bandage covering the incision to come off. It has just started slowly to lift up and since I was told to keep it dry, I can't wait to jump in that shower. I have my first checkup appointment on...

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We are very lucky to have these devices.