Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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The Famed SIX WEEKS Has Arrived!

Today is officially six weeks from my pacemaker implant of January 11.  This week I have been easing into raising my left arm up more little by little and today I can do a full arm raise. 

Like many here, I was totally unprepared for what I would go through, surprised that I even needed a pacemaker ASAP (a what?!), led to trust it would be routine, and told I could take Tylenol for any discomfort. Two mornings later I was in the ER from not managing the pai...

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Mitral Valve repair

Can anyone share an experience on Mitral Valve repair and the "back to normal" life that I am led to believe will result after the operation. I can barely walk across a room without getting exhausted. I cant bend over without nearly passing out, I sleep with an oxygenator to combat waking up gasping for oxygen (it works beautifully) I suffer from sever E.D., my toes are tingley numb, fingertips too, and I force myself to walk any distance. I was diagnosed with moderate regurgitatin...

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Atrial Flutter

After 2 months of atrial flutter, I saw the cardiologist yesterday and am having my fourth ablastion this MondaY. THANK YOU NHS.( 4 days wait). Bloods and swabs etc. taken for a general anaesthetic in out patients.

I have had a flutter ablation previously on rhe right side. I have had two fibrillation ablations.

What did I learn?

Atypical flutter  - this time in the left atrium. Why? residual effect of the two fibrillation ablations. Still some electrical activity in th...

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Easy replacement

Hi y'all, replacement surgery #1 was yesterday, Feb. 8th and it was easy breezy - just like you said it would be.  So thankfull for your knowledge and guidance.  I won't be kayaking for 6 weeks :0).

I now have an Azure XT DR MRI. 

It is in the original pocket - so no pain from that.  Plus have not had any on the incision and am following all my doctor's requirements to ensure it all stays good and healing as it should. The app is loaded and fun...

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10 day post op pain

Hello all! I just had my first PM placed last Thursday, I am 30 years old and had a dual lead PM inserted. My incision is healing nicely, however, I've been having some hot, pain, tingling, and numbness down my left arm into my fingers, under my left breast feels very tender and sore like it's also healing from something? Right under my incision the skin hurts to touch, isn't hot or red,  but extremely painful. I also am having a hard time still managing some pain in the left...

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Antibiotic pouch

I just had a different Medtronic pacemaker placed December 27th and am having some strange pain beneath the surgical site that gets worse when any amount of pressure is applied to it. It's definitely not infected so I was wondering if it could be the antibiotic pouch breaking down or if anyone else has had similar pain? I'm hoping it goes away because it's very uncomfortable. 

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New Dual Chamber Pacemaker

I am revising my post from yesterday as I now realize it  was a bit  confusing

I am attaching the cardiologists notes for clarification

Questions:

HISTORY

 In 1997 they put in a single chamber pacemaker due to a tick byte. I had third degree heartblock. Initially my pacemaker was pacing 77% of the time and  went down to 1%. I was in great shape...execizing and no issues

This past May, I had open heart surgery due to a leaky aortic valve and ne...

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Tricuspid Valve Repair - Regurgitation caused by PM Wire

Hey everyone,

I read some of the previous forms around this but couldn't find any recent ones. I was wondering if anyone has any experience getting a valve repair? I haven't been able to find as much online about a repair vs a replacement. I am mainly curious about recovery and the patient experience.  I have had to get a wire removed before and it was brutal for me, but I have never had a valve issue until now. So mostly just trying to figure out what to expect.

&nbs...

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Rehabilitation from Thrombosis

Hi Everyone

I have written a couple times on this excellent forum and would just like to ask for some advice on rehabilitating from Deep Vein Thrombosis.

It's been 18 days since I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my Subclavical vein, at the site of the entry of the leads of my Pacemaker. This happened 6 weeks post operation. I initially injected Hibor (Heparin) for 2 weeks and then I was thankfully moved onto Apixaban. I was offered the choice of Warfarin or A...

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open heart surgery for a mitral valve when you have a pacemaker

Has any one out there had to have open heart surgery for a leaking mitral valve that has alredy got a pacemakerr? I certainly would like to hear from you.

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Pacemaker placement

Hi, I am 47 years old, My pacemaker was installed at the end of March after a few episodes of Asystole and a 12 second pause but no real cardiac diagnosis prior. My question is perhaps in the wrong section but wasn't sure where was appropriate. I have lost about 60 pounds since my pacemaker was installed and because of this there is literally no "meat" between the pacemaker and my skin.. I feel like I need to constantly protect it because it is right under my skin.. I guess I am...

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Post-op recovery/pain advice

Hey all,

My partner (congenital complete heart block) is 6 months out from a box change (his third) and although the wound has healed he's experiencing a lot of pain/sensitivity in the area, so I wanted to reach out and ask about others' experiences.

How long was the surgical wound bothering you?

The surgery was pretty intense (more than we expected, as the surgeons decided to both remove some historic scar tissue and bury the box deeper than his others had been) but...

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Any Leadless pacers out there?

Considering the dual Avenir in late spring at Cleveland since they are experienced with it.

Has anyone got one - single or dual? How was surgery?  Did they remove the old leads?

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Surgery

I have sick sinus syndrome with bradycardia and infrequent tachycardia. I'm 76 and very active. I filed horses hooves yesterday and wonder if there are magnets in a side grinder. 🧐 I'll get my Biotronik pacemaker next Monday. There are so many things to learn. I've been reading as much as possible from unhappy campers as well as those who have been relatively complication free. I think mental attitude has a huge influence and I'm optimistic because I'm asymptomatic mostly....

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mitrial valve surgery when you have a pacemaker

Has anyone out there had to have a mitrial valve surgery that already had a pacemaker? 

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New pacemaker

I had the micra AV implanted awhile ago, but ended up needing to switch to a dual chamber pacemaker with leads. I just got the new one put in yesterday and am not sure if this pain is normal. Of course I have the usual pain at the incision site, but when I lay down or sit just wrong, every single breath I take is excruciating upon inhale. I told my doctor this and he was not listening to me and told me to give it 2 days. I just can't imagine this being a normal thing. Laying down is worse...

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pending spine surgery

Hoping someone on this site might have had spine surgery.  Either the Kyhoplasty or the Vertebroplasty.   Did you have any problems?  Or was everything ok?

I beleive i would like the one that uses the balloon to block the glue from my spine.  Since i am sensitive to all glues.   The PA in the spine doctors office said i have a compression fracture and need to have surgery to fill in the space.  In order to hopefully not to have anymore f...

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Post surgery restriction

So I had my pacemaker implanted 11/21. I'm still a little sore. For the most part I seem to be doing okay. I have my first follow up appointment tomorrow. I was reading through the literature that came with my Boston Scientific pacemaker. There is a list of restrictions on power equipment listed in the pamphlet. I will talk to my doctor at my follow up. I am a little concerned when I return to work. I work for a business that sells and services lawn and other power equipment. I work as a...

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Difficult Surgery

I had my ICD fitted yesterday and it was an incredibly traumatic experience. 

I was supposed to have dual chamber ICD fitted by due to complications they could only get one lead in.

Basically, whenever they tried to place the lead in certain positions I started to feel my throat close up, like I couldn't breathe and started getting dizzy. The only way I could describe it is slow suffocation.

The first time it happened I tried to wait as long as possible before sayin...

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POST PM IMPLANT

Had a Medtronic W1DR01 PM implanted one week ago today. Everything is fine. I am noticing a rash on my chest up to near my neck and down around my armpit. Anyone ever experience this? I'm just using Benydryl for the itch. It's better when I wake up in the morning. Very strange.

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You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

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.