Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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pacemaker for sss

I am 4 1/2 weeks post op.  I have started back to yoga and pilates, can anyone tell me if it's too soon to start doing planks and slowly lifting my arm over my head?

I have been a triathlete for overe 30 years and came into the surgery very fit. I am a woman of 67 years old.

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Nervous about PM implant

Hi everyone. I am super nervous about getting my pacemaker for the 1st time on Thursday. I am only 41 years old but have passed out twice with serious injuries including breaking my neck. I am an active runner hiker and love to travel. I also love playing sports with my kids. Would like to know how the surgery to implant the pacemaker is. Are you completely awake or really drowsy? Also any young people like myself on this form?  Thanks everyone hoping to get support on this website thank...

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Leads

I had a pacemaker implant on January 21, 2020.  I am able to feel the leads under my skin, the surgical area, is this normal or should I be concerned.  The area is still tender and is this normal

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PACEMAKER REMOVAL

Hi There,

I had a pacemaker inserted 2.5 years ago (36 years old). It now appears that I no longer need it (I had an electrical issue related to damage to my vagus nerve which has now repaired itself) and am looking to have it removed. Has anyone recently had theirs removed? Or done so in the past? Are there risks if I just leave the wires in and have the unit removed? Does anyone know the process of removing leads if they are screws or have tines on them? I have two young kids and I am...

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Surgery on Thursday for a pacemaker

This is all new and a bit unexpected to me, but long story short, I'm having surgery in a week.  I have to travel to Seattle for this surgery.  Is getting dressed after surgery and the week following?  I imagine pulling on pants or having a pull over head shirt will be difficult.  So, I guess I'm just wondering what you all did that first week.  I have got a lot to learn about all this and appreciate this club!  Thanks!

Jana

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ablation

as stated in a previous post, i have an ablation coming up in the near future. Currently i can't do much, any time i exercise or even make fast movements and exert myself my heart starts to go crazy and i have arrhythmias, this is due to my heart condition and i also believe the medication i am currently on. basically, my question is, how much will an ablation actually help? will i be able to go back to "normal" things or not? what's your guys experiences with this

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Ablation

what's an ablation like? gotta have one soon due to recent VT attack, doc said it should reduce the risk of it happening again. Was just wondering what it was like? pain? recovery? etc. Thanks 

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Magnetic field

I am having my pacemaker surgery next week. 
am a little or a lot afraid of the unknown. 
Magnetic field is on my mind a lot. 
should I be afraid or not??

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Newbie with a question

Hello All:

I recieved my ICD on March 13th after a diagnosis of complete heart block.  For some reason I needed to visit the Cath Lab again on the morning of the 14th to reattach one of the leads that had come off during the night. I was wearing a sling so I don't think it was something I did, but who knows.

I recieved a lot of information at the hospital, most of it direct and clear, but the subject of how long to avoid raising my left arm over my head was ambiguous, wit...

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Getting Defibrillator on Friday

I'm 52/F who had a LAD Heart attack (aka Widowmaker) Jun, 2019. At the time my ejection fraction was 10-15%. After hard work, eating better and losing lots of weight, it went to 35-40%. Last week, echo revealed that it is now 20-25% so I was referred to an Electrophysiologist. My appointment was earlier today and they scheduled the procedure for this Friday. 
 

I was definitely scared out of my mind but I wanted to thank everyone posting for sharing your sto...

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Pacemaker implant one week ago

Hi,

I had a pacemaker implant one week ago. Occasionally I get a burning sensation in the middle of my chest that sort of feels like a "Hotwire". Anyone else experienced this or can you tell me if this is normal one week after surgery? I have not had my pacemaker checked yet I have to wait another week for that . Thank you for any insight you can provide. 

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Replacement

I just received a message that it's time to replace my pacemaker. Approximately how long will it be before my surgery?

please share how long you may have waited 

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Anxiety and Nightmares

Anybody familiar with intense anxiety and nightmares after have pacemaker surgery.  I had my surgery last Wednesday and now too scared to sleep.

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Shoulder exercises after inital impmant

Just wondering if anyone has any links to any good shoulder exercises or things to do with your PM side arm after surgery.

I'm trying to use it for regular things such as cooking etc but even on day 5 after my PM it's starting to get stiff (I usually go to the gym/play tennis, golf or netball 6days per week so it's very unusual for me).

Any tips/tricks or things that worked well would be much appriciated!

Cheers Jae. 

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Pacemaker syndrome/lead out of place 2nd time

I'm home. I was in hospital over night. Im i. Much more pain after this 3rd time being cut open. Everything went well. I am tired and aching and feel feverish but no fever. Is this normal? Last 2 surgery's i was on pain management for years before so dont remember all this. Now my body is crystal clean so it seems much more intense. Only taking ibuprofen. Thanks everyone.

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Surgery? By whom?

Since my EP wasn't able to address my third lead issue, he suggested we get together with a cardiovascular surgeon to place a lead into the heart outside a vein.Anyone here have any experience with cardiovascular surgeons getting involved with their PM and/or PM leads?

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Blood thinners , pacemaker change and Surgery

Dear members,

Please could I ask you your kind advise and/or opinion? My dad who recenlty started having AF is now taking Eliquis as blood thinner and soon to get his PM battery change. He is 70. He was also recently diagnosed with Groin Hernia (moderate) and is recommended to have surgery. Since now he is on blood thinners his EP recommends getting both surgeries done consecutively as he needs to come off blood thinners and while without blood thinners. The Surgeon who's...

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shoulder surgery

well now home with right arm in heavy duty velcro sling.  when they   listened to the pacemaker  he asked about the afib still at 7 % .  thank goodness a couple of my friends offered to help.  as it takes 2  hands to undo sling for excerises..  using left that is why no capitals.  staples out on the 16th.  dr. said he got all of the avascular necroicses out.

mary

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Surgery-claustrophobia

I posted a question about my upcoming surgery in the near future in the "general" forum. I got five replies, which I very much appreciated. But then I realized there is a separate forum for surgery and recovery. So I thought I would try again. I have watched several YouTube videos on pacemaker placement where they talk about covering your face during the surgery... in fact here is a quote from the Internet:  " In most patients we place the pacemaker&nbs...

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What can I expect....

I received my dual chamber Medtronic PM 2/28/2020 after being diagnosed with sinoatrial exit block which my cardiologist explained as being scar tissue in an area effecting my hearts natural pacemaker, this being the only way to correct the issue. Had my 1 week checkup, doc said all looks good, starting pacer clinic next week.  So going forward, what can I expect?  My doc said carry on as normal but would still like to hear member opinions. I understand there is a healing and adjust...

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You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.