Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Recovery & Granddaughter

My first PM is schedule for Nov. 1 for bradycardia.  My husband and I (65 years old) watch our 4 year old granddaughter after school (2:30 to 4:30 PM) two-three days a week.  My question is would I feel well enough to have her here about 2 days after the surgery?   My husband would drive to go get her.     My husband will be here for any lifting and other things I may not be up to doing.   I figured as long as he is here it shou...

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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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First pacemaker coming up!

Hello, I am 23 years old and I have my pacemaker implant soon on Oct 6th. I was born with situs invertus and lived a very normal life, never had problems I just knew that my heart was on the right side and the organs as well. I live in Canada now and 5 years ago found out I have bradycardia (I was born with bradycardia apparently but never felt it or knew) so now Im told that Im going to have a pacemaker implant. I want to do it under the pectoral muscle because I dont want to see it tbh and...

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Nervous…

So I have a gen change this coming week and to say I've been anxious and nervous would be an understatement. I went from them telling me I had 6 months left on my battery in July to them saying I had 3 months left in Sept to calling last week after I was woken up out of a dead sleep from the most awful feeling double bass drum in my chest saying my surgery is next week. 
 

At this point I know they're not telling me everything, which they never do... but I can'...

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Day 8 post gen replacement and more fatigued now than I was in the beginning

Hi all, I posted here before but I'll repeat relevant information. I'm 59 and had my first pacemaker implanted when I was 41. Last Wednesday, September 8th, I had my second generator replacement. This time, they put in a different PM. I've suffered from fatigue ever since I had the first one implanted. The thinking back then was that this was due to dusautonomia which I was diagnosed with later. However that is pretty much resolved and I remained fatigued, extremely! And I spoke w...

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Just removed my bandage after my third pacemaker

Hi everyone! This is the first time I've posted. But I'ved appreciated the information I've gotten from all of you over the years, thank you! I was initially given a pacemaker at the age of 41, in 2005, due to bradycardia secondary to sick sinus syndrome. Later, I was diagnosed with dysautonomia, And there seems to be various opinions about whether the dysautonomia may have caused the sick sinus syndrome or vice versa or two separate things. I just had my second generator replacem...

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5 Days Later

Hello all,

I passed out at work last week and then woke up feeling fine. Went to ER and they couldn't find anything. Scheduled myself an echo on my heart (I had a mechanical valve put in Jan 2020) just to be safe and while driving to my appt my vision got foggy, heart rate elevated and arms turned into jelly. Lucky for me I was able to pull over and call 911. The team of cardiologists identified a Left Bundled Branch Blockage from my previous surgery that said can sometimes cause pe...

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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...

surgery report

Had surgery early July ICD/CRT-D and all seems well. I have one question if anyone could answer. From my surgery report seems the first two leads implanted properly but this was the explanation for the third lead. The conclusion described as successful but wondered a little what this means.

The third pacing lead advanced into the CS through the atteans sheath into aposterolateral position having a good pacing threshold very limited anatomy midposterior branch to narrow pass a wire...

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Magnet placed on pacemaker due Direct Laryngoscopy procedure

I had a direct laryngoscopy (removal of a cyst on my throat).  The anesthesiologist placed a magnet on top of my pacemaker to allow the surgeon to work with her instruments.  The reason was the throat was too close to the the pacemaker.  After the surgery, I noticed my heart was very weak, and my pacemaker was pacing at a fast rate.  I then consulted with my pacemaker nurse who did a repacing to slow down the rate.  I noticed though after se did that, the nu...

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Recently wired

Am 41 in couple days and was wired 31aug 2021. Sick sinus with severe bracchy. After procedure few days ago ive been experiencing a kind of strange and sometimes painful sensation sort of in the centre of my chest where it meets bottom of my neck. Is this something any of my wired compadres has experienced? Is it normal? Thanks for the site by the way

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In the club

Hi all:

I just had my device implanted a few days ago. Everything was fine and I am recovering well. This afternoon I noticed a lot of palpitations and I was wondering if this is common after getting a device. Any feedback is appreciated.I don't know if pain medicine is causing it, not sleeping enough or the device. It seems to be tapering off a little bit. Might even be dehydration. Thank you for letting me ramble.

Kris

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Non Healing Pacemaker Wound

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone ever had any experience with their pacemaker wound taking an extremely long period of time to close up and heal.
 

I had my first pacemaker implanted when I was 10 years due to frequent syncopal attack after which I diagnosed with complete heart block. I had VSD repair when I was 4 years old which the cardiologist is likely a complication following the initial open heart surgery. Fast forward, I am 30 years old now with no regular med...

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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...

Guitars, seatbelts, and subpectoral implant

Hi All!

Still working through my diagnosis (asymptomatic, vagal-mediated AV block) with my doctor but I wanted to float a few questions. I am in the "acceptance" phase and my goal is to get through surgery and recovery as easily as possible and get back to doing the stuff I like doing.

I am 5'10 about 140 lbs, fit but thin. One doctor kind of rolled his eyes when I asked about subpectoral implantation of a dual chamber PM. He says he does them, but said it's...

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Pacemaker - now or wait!

Hello,  I hope it was OK that I joined before I had my pacemaker surgery.  I wanted to get some opinions, please.    Dr. said I could wait 5 to 8 years before having it done. Dr. asked my opinion about waiting and I mentioned that it crossed my mind maybe I should have done sooner while I am younger (65) rather than waiting til almost 75 plus it should help with my episodes of being tired by pulse is low or BP is low.  Dr. said "OK, we can schedule it for ne...

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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 implant pain

Did anyone else have pain 3 weeks after PM implant?  I continue to feel pain along one side of the device and any type of clothing that even touches the area is very irritating.  I also feel like the device has slightly moved.  Am I imagining this or is it possible?  Seems like it shouldn't be painful this long after.

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St Jude’s 2 Leads

Hi,

I'm getting a PM on Thursday morning. Any words of wisdom? My heart rate isn't that low, but when I sit still for too long driving, my heart rate drops enough that I start to pass out--like 40bpm--and I can hardly stay awake.  Ugh!!!

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Getting a CRT-D Bi V end of month

Im Kris, 52, and I will be part of the club at the end of the month. I live in Atlanta and am fortunate to be getting this done at Emory. I have DCM and Lbbd and my ejection fraction is 40. I'm so tired and ready to feel better. Just introducing myself and so grateful for the support. 

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

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.