Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Had PM surgery 11/1/21,.,Questions

Hello Everyone, I had my PM surgery  this past Monday!  I am doing great!  Only mild discomfort.   Except, I am having a hard time sleeping because  I sleep on my left side.  I was told not to sleep on that side because the pacemaker is on that side.  I didn't think to ask how long.  Does anyone know if I have to wait a month like I have to wait to raise my arm over my shoulder?    Is it normal to still feel f...

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Placing third lead to LV

Hi everyone, I will be scheduled for surgery soon to replace my dual chamber pacer(4th one) with a biventricular pacer (CRT-P). My surgeon says it can be done as long as the coronary sinus vein can accommodate the wire. I'm 91 years old and I think this surgery will give me better quality of life, Doctor will do venogram prior to surgery( venogram/contrast) to see if that vein will be adequate size for lead. I'm just curious, how common is that problem an issue? I hope it's not of...

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my pace maker

Hi. I got a valve replaced 2017 and May 11, 2021. It was defective. I also got a pace maker on maker 14, 2021. It is getting used to it.  How long will I forget it isn't there. It hurts a little when I move. I don't say anything to my wife, she worrys about me. I believe every thing is difficult for poeple getting over this pace maker. My heart doctor has nothing to me how this.  I will give it a year.    

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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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Anyone had a pacemaker placed on the right side?

Hi there. New to this group and am scheduled for a pacemaker in 2 days on Friday, October 29th. I am 49 and this is my first pacemaker. I live in Lafayette, Louisiana.

I am curious if anyone here has had their pacemaker placed on the right side before. My electrophysiologist is recommending this due to me being left hand dominant. I have extreme confidence is my doctor and his reasoning, but it means a longer lead wire I would think.

Also, I do go hunting on occasion and sure don&...

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Nervous about a pacer change!

Hey guys! New here. Thought it would be helpful to hear other peoples experience with pacer changes / surgeries to help me ease anxiety. 

Heart block since birth, pacemaker inserted when i was 2 months old. Last time I got a pacer change was when I was 7 in 2001, it has been a long time since it has been touched! It was also changed in a different country to where I am now, Philippines in fact, so I know that there are lots of technology changes that has happened. I'm...

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Questions for surgeon

Hi everyone,

I think this is the greatest site ever for those of us who have or plan to have devices to help them. I'm 91 years old and on my 4th dual chamber pacer. The last one was placed in March, 2020. Recent cardio testing (Echo's etc) have shown the need for a biventricular pacer. I'm convinced this may help because I do have shortness of breath, sweollen legs and ankles and the tests show 45 percent fluid in my lungs. I have cardomyopathy and controlled glaucoma and k...

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New Bruise

All of a sudden today a brusie or red blob showed up under left breast.

Hade PM installed two weeks ago today.

Sent to Cardiologist a picture just now, but it is night here, so will not hear back probably until tomorrow.

Surgeon did say something about blood settlng down below the incision, but this does not sound like what he meant

Has anyone else experienced something like 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...

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PM juts out into armpit

Hello all,

Appreciate you all sharing your experiences. 

First PM (Medtronic) on 10/6/21 for bradycardia since birth (now 65).  Previously believed it was due to me being an athlete with usual daily range 30-59.  98 while doing 35 mins on stationery bicycle.

I am both petite & slim.  Also have very thin skin from 35 years of Prednisone therapy.   EP picked the only area with some padding which very close to the top of armpit.  I also ha...

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Pain

Hello everyone.

I had my pacemaker fitted 8 weeks ago. All is fine except I am still suffering from pain in the shoulder and around the area of the pacemaker. It is worae6at night when in bed. Is this normal.? I would have thought the pain would have gone by now. All bruising has disappeared but the pain remains. Any help would be good. Thanks. Myles.

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Surgery to move existing pacemaker deeper in chest

Hi everyone,

I'm 91 years old, I'm new to this group and had my 4th pacer placed (Medtronic) almost 2 years ago using the existing leads(not metronic) which are almost 35 years old. It's a dual chamber pacer. Two weeks ago I visited a vein doctor to discuss my leg swelling. He gave me some advice which was helpful and he also took a look at my pacer. He is a well known cardiac thoracic surgeon at a hospital that specializes in heart conditions and heart surgery. He's not...

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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...

First night sleeping questions

Just came back from ICD implant. Had my surgery at 6AM in NYC. Out by 2:30PM. Was relatively quick and was out the whole time. I have some soreness and was wondering if I can sleep on my right side. 

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recovery concerns

I had my icd implanted on sept 28th.  I was also put on a beta blocker and a blood thinner.  Blood thinner began on oct 2nd to let wound somewhat heal first.

over the past couple of days I've been feeling achey and skin sensitivity.  Like I have the flu, but I don't  have a fever.  

Maybe I'm just stressed and that's what's causing this.  But can anyone else describe how long it took them tonrecocer from surgery?

&n...

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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...

Post Surgery for t-shirt wearing gal

So I live in t-shirts. They are cheap and comfortable. I don't really own any other kind of shirt that I would consider comfortable for recuperation. They are planning to implant a CRT-D on Oct 22. Do I spend the next month learning how to put on a t-shirt one  handed without lifting my left arm?  This will be my first experience with a cardiac device. 
Thanks in advance for any insights. 
Stevi

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Do I really need a pace maker?

I was born with a large heart which my pediatrician said I grew into.  My Heart rate was 42 as a kid  and is now 30.   I have no symptoms.  I am not tired, I play golf 5 times a week and I feel fine.  I passed out once 25 years ago but after a doctor visit they had no answers.  I now believe that was when my heart was slowing from 42 to 30  because there were times I felt dizzy.  I was in the Army I could run 35 miles a week.  Anyway I just tu...

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Pacemaker

How your pacemaker has affected their lives in positive or negative ways? 

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New PM muscle twitch/spasm with each heartbeat

Hi. I just received my first PM, a Medtronic Percepta Quad biventricular 3 lead CRT-P device. It was implanted this past Wednesday, Sept 22nd. Since I woke from the surgery, I have noticed that every heartbeat causes my abdomen and chest to twitch or jump. I had mentioned this to the nurses while I was in the hospital, and none of them seemed concerned. Today, after poking around online, I don't think it's normal. So I contacted my EP this moring to ask if this was normal thing or not...

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I feel so blessed to have this little gem implanted in me. When I think of the alternative it is quite overwhelming sometimes.