Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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On the transplant waiting list

So, I am now officially on the routine heart transplant waiting list. 

My SCA was what tipped me over the line to say: yes, put me on the list.

And now I'm just living my life as I have been for the last few years, albeit getting some stuff documented so that the lines of communication are clear to everyone if I do get called, and anyone who cat sits knows how stuff in my house works/is organised. My will and Powers of Attorney have been in place a long time, as has my Ad...

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Concerns about Pacemaker surgery

I am a 77 years old pacemaker receipent, who has felt horrible since surgery on Oct 5.  Prior to surgery I did 5 miles on treadmill within 1 hour, now I have a hard time working out. Everyone is using my age as a factor, so if i did 5 miles prior to surgery what is the difference between 76 and 77?  Is anyone out there having similar issues?

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1st PM, 5 weeks in, sub-pectoral implant, have a few questions

5 weeks ago, I had a sub-pectoral PM implant (Biotronik). I seem to be doing pretty well (was asymptomatic before hand, so hard to tell) but have some follow-up questions

1. I have a feeling of pulling at the incision site and it travels to the crook of my underarm. It gets worse with normal daily activity, so by the end of the day it can be bothersome. When will that feeling go away?

2. My scab has fallen off except for a small dot at one end. Is that a stitch? That area is...

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recent pacemaker insertion L111 Boston Scientific

I went to JH in Baltimore to inquire about low BPM alerts on my iwatch. Over a period of two days the watch warned me that my rate was below 40 for 10 minutes or more. Upon further review over the last couple three years my watch generated the same warning sporadically. I called Teledoc and after 8 hours the call was returned, the doctor told me to go to the emergency room. This was after I worked out at my Crossfit box on Sunday. I did half the workout called 12 days of Christmas as a precau...

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Replacement Pacemaker

I GET MY NEW DEVICE ON 1/14/22!!!

Is it silly that I am super excited 😄!!!

I really am, it's like I get another 10ish years!!!

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Survey Responses - Good News

Hello everyone, you may be surprised and relieved to learn that we have finally achieved our goal of 300+ responses to our Post Op ICD/Pacemaker Pain Survey.  Our closing number of responses is around 314 up from 247 at the last count, which is a good number of responses to work with.  I want to thank you all most sincerely for your help and patience with my posts over 6+ months.  We have got there in the end and I am absolutely delighted with the result and I hope you will be...

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Scar Itch

It isn't uncommon for scars to feel itchy following the healing process, this itchiness can last several months.  In my case 30-days after I had a severe infection and my pacer was removed and a lot of dead tissue was removed my pacer was re-inserted and hooked up.  It’s been 9-months and I have a nasty-looking scar but the past couple of weeks I have developed a severe itch in the scar area and along the collar bone I broke several years ago where a plate was inserted.

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Strange feeling at back of throat

Hi

I'm new to the forum, i had a pm fitted on 23/12/21.

Medtronic dual chamber to treat bradycardia after failed ablation for tachycardia. 

When i stand up, i get a strange pulsing burning sensation at the back of my throat.

I have never had any problems prior to the pm implant.

Any advice or idea's would be greatly appreciated. 

TIA

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Pacemaker/ICD Survey on implant pain

Several members of the Pacemaker Club have expressed a wish to know how many of us experienced pain following implant of our devices, the nature and extent of that pain and how it affected different age groups and gender.   

We are running a survey which is confidential and will not be used for marketing.  All members irrespective of whether or not they experienced post implant pain are welcome to participate, since this will help to provide a balanced, unbiased survey...

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Atrial flutter after generator change.

I just had my first generator change. I went in totally fine, except for the 100 percent heart block I have. During the replacement I developed an atrial flutter. My heart righted itself. An hour after the procedure, my heart went crazy, I went in to AFib, once they got it calmed down, the atrial flutter was back and stayed for another 3 hours until they tricked it with the pacer to get it back in rythm. Now home, I'm on meds to control the flutter, bit I feel like I can't take a deep...

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Pacemaker Club - post Pacemaker/ICD Implant Pain Survey

Dear Members,

Over recent months, several members of the Pacemaker Club have expressed a wish to know how many of us experienced pain following implant of our devices, the nature and extent of that pain and how it affected different age groups and gender.   

A survey has now been set up with the kind help of Club members and the link to the survey is given below.  The survey is confidential and will not be used for marketing.  All members irrespective of w...

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Upgrade to CRT seamless

I've mentioned lately that I had surgery scheduled last Friday to upgrade my PM (St. Jude 2240) to a 3-lead for CRT. Also St. Jude but we are still getting acquainted. The surgery was reported as a dream surgery with super easy placement of the third lead. Yeah, yeah, I was semi awake but in no pain for the most part and I heard three "Dammits!" so I doubt it was as easy as they told me. There were also several shoves right over the PM which I felt, but in my mind I'm saying...

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ICD implant

Hi, I've recently received an ICD implant with defibrillator (11/1/2021)   still healing...was wondering those that have had their pacemaker a while, how long did it take to completely heal. Doctor says after 6 weeks the swelling will go down.  I'm approaching week 5 and I feel like I still have a huge lump.  I told the doctor I was worried that the defibrillator would zap me when I'm driving and I could cause an accident.  He said I would feel different b...

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Pacemaker Club - post Pacemaker/ICD Implant Pain Survey

Dear Members,

Over recent months, several members of the Pacemaker Club have expressed a wish to know how many of us experienced pain following implant of our devices, the nature and extent of that pain and how it affected different age groups and gender.   

A survey has now been set up with the kind help of Club members and the link to the survey is given below.  The survey is confidential and will not be used for marketing.  All members irrespective of w...

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Nightmares

I've been having occasional nightmares since getting my pacemaker 3 weeks ago. They are very surreal. Part Bionic Woman changing into the Matrix (literally the whole dream pixelizes) when I think about the device failing. I know it is triggered with the knowledge that my heart would not beat sustainably on it's own if it fails. My rate had been down to the 20's. Then of course I can't get back to sleep. 

 

Roughly how long are people taking to mentally ad...

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Pacemaker Club - post Pacemaker/ICD Implant Pain Survey

Dear Members,

Over recent months, several members of the Pacemaker Club have expressed a wish to know how many of us experienced pain following implant of our devices, the nature and extent of that pain and how it affected different age groups and gender.   

A survey has now been set up with the kind help of Club members and the link to the survey is given below.  The survey is confidential and will not be used for marketing.  All members irrespective of w...

Read More...

Arm movement limits after pacemaker insertion?

Hi I am due to have a pacemaker on 30th November, and have just received some leaflets on what happens after surgery.

I am now worried how I will manage as I use a self propelled wheelchair (due to syncope, no motor deficits) and rely heavily on my arms and upper body. I am also a swimmer and run on an alterG treadmill. 

It would be awesome if the pacemaker enabled me to stand without fainting but I am realistic in my expectation and would be thrilled just to be less lighthea...

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Pain

Hi guys, 

i had my first pacemaker implanted on OCTOBER 28, i dont have pain on my incision but I have pain inside for sure, I can't lift my arm yet and sometimes when I walk/move or lay on my side of the pacemaker I feel the pacemaker kinda moving (thats okay I think I will get used to it). 
what is weird, is that today I've been having this feeling on my chest only on a very small part of my chest, a feeling as if a nail is going in when i breath deeper. Anyone...

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First time - New pacemaker

Hi, I recently had a Biotronik pacemaker placed one-week ago. The last 2-days I've had this weird "pulsating" feeling in my stomach that comes intermittently. It only lasts seconds but Im a little concerned. Is this common with a pacemaker? Is it just during recovery and the healing process? I'd appreciate any comments as I'm new to all of this! Thanks 

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Pacemaker Club - post Pacemaker/ICD Implant Pain Survey

Dear Members,

Over recent months, several members of the Pacemaker Club have expressed a wish to know how many of us experienced pain following implant of our devices, the nature and extent of that pain and how it affected different age groups and gender.   

A survey has now been set up with the kind help of Club members and the link to the survey is given below.  The survey is confidential and will not be used for marketing.  All members irrespective of w...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

Member Quotes

I am just thankful that I am alive and that even though I have this pacemaker it is not the end of the world.