Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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New Pacer, Dizzy & PVC's

Hi. I just received my first pacer (Biotronik Cylos DR) five days ago for bradycardia and 3rd degree block. I have other physical problems but I thought I would be feeling much better by now. I am SO tired that I think I could sleep all day. In addition, I am dizzy, which I wasn't until the PM. I went back to have my PM checked and they turned off the rate response to see if that helped - it didn't.

My question is, am I expecting too much too soon? Since I have other problems, c...

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Doing too much?

I'm wondering about the occurrence of PM patients pulling the leads out. I'm 5 days post-surgery and bustling around the house doing light house cleaning. I'm not having much pain, but am I doing too much?
AC

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Epicardial pacemaker

Hi

I am due to go and see my cardiologist in 3 weeks, because I have been having trouble with nausea and breathlessness when walking short distances. I know that a pacemaker is something that I will need for heart block in the future, and I think that it may well be sooner rather than later now that I am having these symptoms.

Because of previous heart surgery, I was told 6 years ago that i would need the pacemaker leads to be implanted on the outside of my heart, as so ma...

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Tingly at Incision Site...

I had my pm in on Friday, 11/21, now I'm experiencing a tingly sensation in the vicinity of my incision. Is this normal? Can anyone advise if that is just the healing process or something more sinister?
AC

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Excessive Pain during surgery/Lovenox

Hello,

My mother had pacemaker surgery at a major hospital in Boston Nov 12. My brother and I were there with her. All seemed to be going well and folks at the hospital seemed supportive. Although there was some comment from the docs/interns that she was being consciously sedated (and they wanted to make sure she stayed breathing on her own), at NO time did anyone indicate that the pain during the procedure would be excrutiating (sp?) and that the numbing/freezing whatever you call...

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Home again...

So I'm home from my first pm surgery. Rather sore, annoyed about the new lump on my chest (hubby says it's not really noticable), but overall doing well. It's very weird feeling something thumping around in there...I guess I just have to get used to that. Trying to stick to ibuprofen during the daytime - now that I'm out of bed the Darvocet makes me feel kind of spacey.

The kids (2 and 4) did well. My girl was very brave; I could tell she was holding back tears when they came to v...

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PM on Friday, 11/21...

Ok, so I go for my PM on Friday. I am a bit nervous, as one might expect. One, I hate having to have it because I'm only 35; two) any kind of surgery is a little scary; three) I'm worried about recovery and not lifting my arm for 6 weeks with a 2 and 4 year old.

The more I read, the less I feel I know about it all. My heartrate sits at 40 most of the time so I know it'll be pacing me 100% of the time. I see comments about the top of the range. I'm wondering if I even need a top?...

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calf pain?

Did any of you expierience calf pain after getting your pacemaker? This started for me 2 days ago. I did walk some that day but not that much. It doesnt seem to be going away. It is worse with walking. It is in both calfs.
Should I be concerned? Should I call the Cardiologist? I have my pacer now for 21 days.I am feeling better otherwise and actually had a pretty positive outlook today.Dont know how I'll feel when I go back to work though as its pretty physical.
Thank You all so much f...

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How long must I wait?

Hello I have a question.How long were you told to wait before lifting your arm ? I'd like to know from several people.Were you told to exersise the arm?I had my PM installed 10/27/08 and am returning to work Dec. 1st. I have a very physical job. I am a CNA at an assisted living facility and I will need to lift and transfer patients-some are very heavy. I am finding that the affected arm is getting weak. I dont think at this point I could lift that arm over my head.I am wondering when I can begi...

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Atrophy!

I had my PM place in July, I had it placed underneath the muscle to give myself some extra cushioning, because I am still young and really hard on my body. But I have started to get some really noticeable atrophy on my left side. No one seems to know what to say or do about it, and my cardiologist pretends its not even there when I bring it up. Has anyone else had anything like this

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Am I being unrealistic?

I go for my PM next week. I'm 35, two small kids (2 & 4), work full time in an office job. My doc said I could go back to work as soon as a couple of days after the surgery. Is that unrealistic? I will go on Friday, 11/21 and PLAN to go back to work on Monday. I'll only do two days then off the rest of the week for Thanksgiving.

My biggest concern about the whole deal right now is what to expect for recovery and being able to 1) do what I need to for my kids and 2) get back to...

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I had my 2nd surgery

Well, I had my 2nd surgery last Thursday to have my ICD repositioned. It was quite an experience. It took almost 2 hours because they decided to fix one of the leads while they were in there that had been causing diaphragmatic spasms and they had to cut out the old scar that was what they called keloid scaring (swollen and very sore to the touch)??! I was awake for most of the surgery so I was able to tell them when I no longer felt the spasms....and I did feel some pain even though I was pretty...

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Newbie from NV

Got my PM two days ago. The low end is set at 62 but my HR is staying above 70 - sometimes into the 80s. What is going on? Should I be concerned?

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about bioheart

someone recently wrote about bioheart and its progress in repairing scarred areas of the heart with your own stem cells injected into the heart. (bioheartinc.net), the publisher wrote on this to tell of her friend who is progressing quite well with this therapy. well, i've checked into it a bit more and if you go to the website of bioheart, i believe one of their testimonials as cited on CNN is quite unbelieveable. one of their anchors actually received the operation and is doing fine now....

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correction on bioheart

sorry. but it's
bioheart.com, not bioheart.net, somehow there was a mix up
thanks

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Newbie from Nevada

I am scheduled to have a dual-lead Mentronic (sp?) inserted this Thursday. I suffer from low heart rate and A-fib. I remain hopeful that the PM will help me feel better and eventually I can get back to exercise without paying for it in the evening. I'm nervous. What can I expect in the first few days. I work in an office and will try to go back to work in 6 days after surgery.

I am so thankful for this site.

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3rd Time Around


Hi folks,

I'm getting my 3rd PM (coated 2 lead) in about 2 weeks. You may recall my other 2 implants had to be removed because of either infection or allergic reaction. It's still unknown what the true cause of the inflammation and erosion was.

In case my problem was an allergy to titanium, the new one will be coated in a hypoallergenic material (PTFE?). So that's 1 big worry out of the way.

In case my problem was bacterial colonization, the the surgery wil...

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i got my ticker helper, i hurt!!!

hey got my pm on tuesday, and im still really hurting... i thought i was a surgery pro, but this hurts way more then i ever thought it would. did anyone else feel like their armpit was on fire and have an aching arm??? i think my armpit and arm hurt more than the incision...... this will get better right???

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next tuesday.....

well next tuesday is the day i get my pm! i am so nervous!!! just know it will be hard to not be able to look after my one yr old without a bit of help. how was recovery for everyone?? i really hope this will fix me, it has been a long five months of never feeling quite well.... i cant even imagine feeling normal again :) well wish me luck!!

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Sensitive Implant Area

PM was implanted 6 weeks ago. The steri strips that covered the site are just now falling off. I notice the entire skin area over the PM itself is red and tender, anyone else have/had this reaction? Talked to cardio office last week, thot I could start slowly on treadmill, etc. Since they didn't have opportunity to do stress tests prior to implant (was in cardio at 9:15 am, hosp at 10am and PM implant 2 1/2 hours later, pretty quick, lol) they have told me to slow down, no treadmill until mo...

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Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.