Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Had open heart surgery finally

Hi all!

I know I haven't posted for a while but it's been a busy few months. I had open heart surgery Thursday May 28th to repair an Aortic anuerism, and replace my Aortic valve. I also had a second valve replaced with a cadaver valve, another valve repaired and the Maze procedure done in one chamber. Surgery did not go well. What was predicted to be an 8 hour surgery turned into 19 hours and my chest was left open for 4 days afterward. Every time the surgeon tried to stich somet...

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Bi-V Surgery 8/3 9:00 am

Won't be long now, surgery is tomorrow morning. Feel good now, the toughest part was waiting the 3+ weeks since we made the decision to go ahead with the procedure. Had a great conversation with the nurse Thursday last week. Coupled with all the information I've received from all of you on this site, I think I've got all the knowledge I need to go into this with a clear head. I am kind of excited about it. . . and have to hope that the Medtronic Concerto does what they think it will do for me. <...

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Question?

I just had a pacemaker put in not even two weeks ago. After the procedure I feel like sometimes something pops up in down in my chest. Has anyone else every felt that? Also even before the procedure I would get dizzy and saw dots, but it still continues. Has this happened to any of ya'll?

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2 weeks ago...

Hi everyone, had my DDD PM fitted on 16th july after being called into hospital after my Holter monitor detected a 28 second heartbeat pause during the night!! Isn't technology wonderful! Anyway, I am recovering well, I think, although finding some itching as the scar heals and struggling with clothes (remember to put poorly arm in sleeve first!) Doctor suggests paracetamol - OK. I enjoy getting outside in fresh air, even if just 30 mins walk; I did a 4 mile walk 2 days ago. Some little twinge...

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My Friend

Hi everyone... I once again want to ask for some good thoughts... but not for me. This time it is for my friend Sharon. She is scheduled to have her pacemaker replaced on Monday morning. I'm not worried about her, but I am concerned. It is surgery and it is going to hurt. She is my friend and so it is important that I can tell her that we are all pulling for her. That we are thinking of her. I hope she will one day join us here. She is such a smart and funny lady. Plus, she has a pacemaker too!...

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recovery comments

Thanks to all of you who responded sharing your experiences. It is nice to get feedback from people who have had this surgery. Good luck to all.

JK

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Has someone else experience this?

I have a question...my mom has had her pacemaker for almost 4 weeks now...she has some pain in her left hand and her middle finger is a little bit swollen...she called the doctor and he said it was normal...has this happened to anyone else in their recovery stage?

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Not prepared for the recovery tim

July 20th I had pacemaker surgery and like others who have posted comments, I was totally unprepared for the pain involved and the recovery time. I tried to go back to work one week after the surgery and ended up staying for 4 hours. That night I was in so much pain that I could barely handle myself. The next morning I went to my primary care doctor. They ran precautionary tests but basically said the pain is normal and that it can be 6 to 8 week for recovery. I was floored. Not one time d...

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pericarditis

Hi
2 hours after my first pacemaker implant, I developed pericarditis, the pain was hell - but now 2 1/2 weeks later I still feel some pain breathing, any one else have this happen?
I started walking, 2 miles at a time but breathing deep is still uncomfortable. Is this ok, fine - what do you think?
pat

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women with pacemakers

ok, how do I wear a bra???
I know what to do about the seat belt in the car but - it's over 2 weeks now and I want to go out, how in the world do you put on bra that the strap won't hurt??? Do I keep a bandage on the site? I'm hoping some one can tell me?I'm hoping too that when I get back to running that the bra strap won't hurt me as the miles go by and the strap moves?
thanks you
Pat

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How much of your pacer can you feel?

Now that I have recovered enough to get back into a regular work out schedule I am starting to drop the weight I put on post surgery (5 lbs so far) and I am noticing that I can feel every little bit of the pacer. I was told it was put in in the muscle but I can feel the outline clearly, feel where the leads connect and I swear I can even feel the leads themselves. I sort of expected it to be more of an indistinct lump not something when I can feel so much of the outline.

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cost

Hello all,
I'm a Canadian that had a dual chamber pacer installed. With our National Health Care system we don't pay for this. It's totally covered like any other medical issue. I was just wondering what the cost is to get this procedure done in the US.

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Just removed my bandage and OMG!

So, maybe in the grand scheme of things this is pretty superficial, but when I removed my bandage last night (3 days post-op) I was shocked! I'm not a bikini model by any means, but I spend a lot of time at the lake and in our pool. I still where tank tops and the occasional strapless formal. My doc boasted that he was as good as any plastic surgeon in the state. Well, he better keep his day job because he's not getting my facelift business. Seriously, does the scar "flatten out" over time?...

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I should have asked this earlier!

About 5 weeks ago I went to the doctor for a typical check up. While there I asked that she listen to my heart. I'd been having lots of "flutters" and wanted her to take listen. To make a long story short, Monday I received my pacemaker. I'm embarrassed to say that I asked very few questions before hand. I'm 100% confident that this was a necessary procedure. I have plenty of family history and hindsight says I should have had this checked out sooner. Everything happened so fast that I di...

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Boyfriend Having Surgery

Hello


My boyfriend (now 28) has had a pacemaker since a very early age. He is to go into surgery in a few weeks as his pacemaker has migrated and become very superficial (it looks like it could pop out any second).
My question is, should I attend the sugery (it is taking place 3 hours away) or should I not?
He has mentioned to me that this is just a standard procedure and I have nothing to worry about. His father will be travelling with him but he says to me that I wi...

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1 Month Checkup Q&A

I posted this also as a comment to a previous post but thought it would be worthwhile to post generally. Saw my doc yesterday for my one month check and walked in with a list of questions. He actually took the list in hand and we went through all of them. Here is the list and what he said (basically).

Saw the doc yesterday and while they didn't look at the pacer at all to see if it had been up to anything he did answer my questions:

Why does it still hurt (although much...

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Replacement Surgery

Hi all...I am 31 years old and have had my pacemaker since I was 23. I am scheduling my first replacement and had some questions. Because I was so young when I first got the pacemaker, they placed it on the side under my chest wall where it was more cosmetic. I also have a faulty lead that they want to replace (the lower chamber). How bad is this surgery going to be in relation to the first one? It sounds like the lead replacement is tough? Is it a much bigger deal because of where the pac...

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New implanted PM

Hello,

I left a message last week about the problems with the pacemaker and what it was like to change one out. Well, I found out the fast way, Sunday I kept feeling worse and worse, so I finally went to the ER and found out that the pacemaker had shut down on the Tuesday before. They admitted me and put a new one in the next morning (Monday) and then kept me overnight to make sure everything was ok, I just got home, I am very sore but feel much better.

buttercupad65

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One Month Tune up and Overhaul

Okay,

Going in for my one month tune up and overhaul and was wondering what to expect? Questions I have for my doc are:

Why does that damn thing still hurt (although much better than two weeks ago. Now a 1 or 2 v. a 8 or 9)?

What limitations do I have? (Can I go mountain biking, will a face plant after going over the handlebars be a problem? Basketball, contact sports?)

I have been suffering fatigue since the implantation and have had a couple of f...

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Recovery Process

Good Morning!

I have a questions for you guys...my mom received her pace maker about two weeks ago. Her recovery is going well but she still experiences pain in the incision site. I was wondering if this is normal and how long it usually takes for the incision to heal and the pain to go away?

Thanks :)

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You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

Member Quotes

I am just grateful to God that I lived long enough to have my ICD put in. So many people are not as lucky as us; even though we sometimes don't feel lucky.