Hi. I have had my pacemaker/defib about 5 weeks. The lead for the left side has been shut off for a little over a week. I have to have it placed on the outside of my heart on Thur. How long is the recovery time for this surgery. How long does it take for the left side where the p/d was implanted to heal and feel normal again - does it ever feel normal again? There are still areas that are numb, but at the same time some areas that are painful and sting when I move my arm. I'm having a hard time with all this today, well have been for the past several days. Initially, I had to be opened up again the day right after initial surgery to replace the atrial lead which had let loose. Nothing has gone as I expected. The left side lead w...

 

Since I am very new to these feelings I came to the place where I know I can get some answers.

My visiting nurse was here yesterday and even though I had severe pain and pressure in my chest all vitals were great. Because I suffer from fibromyalgia she said that the pain is much more exaggerated.

Well today I ventured out with my sister to the supermarket and while walking around I started to feel as though my heard was going to pound out of my chest. My pulse felt a little racy and I started to feel kind of sick. I took a deep breath and waited a while and then felt much better.

I had these weird kind of feelings previous to the pacemaker from my bradycardia and 2nd degree av block. So I am not sure if wha...

 

i just had a pacemaker at age 60, i am very healthy, even with the second degree block had not much symptoms. this was found coincidentally at the time of a routine colonoscopy, when they put me in the monotor for the colonoscopy sedation they noted the skipping beats and sent me to the cardilogist. within a week i had the pm, no time to adjust. the surgery did not hurt I DEMANDED general anesthesia, the docs were upset at me but i was afraid of the pain. now reading some of the comments here i am glad i did.
i feel very weird, some palpitations and very scare that i have to live my life depending on a battery. my family history is unremarkable and the youngest of my relatives to die was 88 years old, i really thought i will fol...

 

Well my surgery took a little longer because they had to go back in and reposition one of the leads. Everything was good with last check before being released. Just trying to take one minute at a time. Haven't gotten much sleep because of a terrible gas pocket in my back for the past two days. I am usually a stomach sleeper so it will just take some more time to get used to the sleeping on my back.

Not really sure how I am supposed to feel the first few days. Most of my arms and chest feel as though a mack truck ran over me, but I guess that is typical of any surgery. I also have fibromyalgia which makes me much more sensitive to pain. The one thing I did notice was that the "brain fog" I had been experiencing is pretty much gon...

 

I'm officially allowed to drive again! I didn't even have to whine and beg. :o)

I had a quick follow up with the EP this morning, in and out in less than ten minutes. They said the incisions look terrific. Supposed to follow up with my cardio for my next regular pm check so no need to go back to the EP unless there's a problem. Yay!

 

I just got back from the Hospital. They did nuclear imaging of my spleen and liver. They will send the results to the hematologist to read the results. Tomorrow I am going to see him and he will go over my blood tests and spleen/liver checks with me. He is also going to check my platelet count again to see If the meds help to increase my platelets. If not then I will have to get a blood transfusion right before surgery. My PM surgery will be scheduled tomorrow for next week. My concern is if they have to give me blood transfusion before PM surgery so I'll have enough platelets so I dont bleed to death how will that effect the healing process? Will I heal ok? or will they be able to give me another transfusion afterward to keep up my plate...

 

I did call today and they told me the brand is Metronic?? She also said that it hasnt been recalled lately??? She did not know whether it was a 2 or 3 wire. They did say it would go under the breast tissue and the scar will be almost in my armpit. She also said once I've done the 30 day interrigation, I can get a local hospital rep to start doing them.

I just still feel like I'm not asking the right questions. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks
Andrea

 

Well had my appointment with the specialist today and I definitely need the pacemaker. He didn't want me to wait too much longer since I have been feeling pretty awful the last few days. I am scheduled tomorrow at 1:30 and will actually take my first taxi ride in years to get there tomorrow morning.

My sister drove us home from the appointment today because the doc didn't want me behind the wheel of the car. My sister hasn't driven since her hip surgery in 2004. We were trying to think of why I did all the driving and then realized that with her walker and bad left leg, it is much easier getting into the car from the passenger side. But she did okay, we took care of a few errands and I really can't wait until tomorrow to start f...

 

The hematologist took a bunch of blood and tomorrow i have to get spleen pancreas and liver checked through some radioactive test. He gave me some type steroids and supplement type stuff for Mal nutrition in order to help boost platelets. I go Friday back to the hospital to review all tests and have another blood test and if platelets still down I'll have to get blood transfusion in order to do my PM surgery.

 

My cardiologist came in and said my platelet count is severly low and they can not cut me open to do surgery. He is having the hemotologist come in to run tests and view options. I mAy have to get blood transfusion before they can do PM surgery.

 

Seriously, just trying to find out all I can about subpectoral placement. I've read all of the "keyword" searches, but am just wanting to know more.

Recovery time? How much longer and detailed the surgery is? Are battery replacements any more complicated? Problems? Issues? Regrets? People who have been through "standard" placement- how much more painful is it? What to expect? Restrictions?

I'm trying to plan an overseas trip (March 5th-14th), but the doctors also are demanding that my pacer be moved under my muscle due to complications that I've been having.....

UGH.......Help?

 

Im here at hospital on my i phone they just
took my ekg blood and blood pressure i almost passed out
my blood pressure droppes to 80/59 and i started blacking out it still low and i fuzzy cant wait to get this
thing in and feel better thank god for drs

 

Hi All, this is my 1st post. Still in shock from my experience.
I have just had my pacemaker fitted on Monday, how long am I likely to be off work (office based).
I only went to the doctors last Thursday with a chest infection and mentioned I had been having headache's, when he took my pulse he found it to be very slow (45bpm) and sent me for an ECG, they said ECG was very active and I needed to wear a trace monitor for 24 hrs, I returned this the next afternoon. At 4.45 had a phone call from the doctor telling me to get to the hospitals Cardiac Care Unit immediately as overnight readings where dangerously low, where I was informed that I would be under observation for the weekend and have a pacemaker fitted on Monday, Had a few ...

 

Hey there, my surgery is this morning at 11am. I have to be to the hospital at 9am. I did not sleep at all last night and I am so tired. I may fall asleep before they give me the I.V of goodies; lol. I am definitely nervous but I am trying to stay positive. I know will all be ok; still I am nervous as this is my first surgery. This no drinking or eating after midnight is no fun; I am so thirsty; I'm a big water drinker. I understand why no food, but I do not get the no water because water passes out of your system pretty fast; maybe 4hrs prior so your not having to pee or something. Any way Thanks to everyone for your posts and comments as they have helped me soooo matuch. Before finding this site I was truly lost and a wreck. I will post ...

 

Can anybody tell me what the St. Jude Medical RF Merlin@Home transmitter cost?. Does it work well?.

 

Please join me in wishing PaulB the best of luck during his surgery tomorrow. He is getting a pacemaker for the first time. :-)

Best of luck Paul! You will be great!

Wendy

 

Hi All,
I am 1 week post op today. I got my PM for SSS that came on suddenly and I was symptomatic and within 5 or 6 days of diagnosis I was in for my PM. I am 41 and kind of freaking out! I feel better heart wise except for some irregular beats when I start moving around a lot but I think they could be brought on by anxiety! I was a pretty anxious person before this but now I am taking xanax once or twice a day to help calm down. Every twinge or anything I feel I am constantly checking my pulse to make sure pacer is working! (it is of course) I am going to go back to work tomorrow for just half day and hopefully I will feel better because I will have some distractions other then sitting at home. I ws just wondering if I am the only o...

 

I finally read all my discharge instructions, aren't you impressed? LOL Some are standard, some are quite different from what I've heard from others here so I thought I'd share my doctor's take on follow up care...

1. Wound care- keep dry for 4 days. Shower ok after 4 days but no swimming or bathing until wound has been evaluated at follow up appointment

2. Activity
-no driving 1st month (I am soooooo discussing this one with him!)
-do not raise arm above head for 2 weeks but keep it mobile
-no heavy lifting (over 25 lbs), pulling or vigorous use of arms for 4 weeks.
-No golf for 6 weeks.
-Walk, cycling, other light activities ok immediately

3. follow up- wound check in 10 days, ...

 

Where there's a will there's a way! I just washed my hair two handed without breaking any rules LOL. If I tilt my head to the left and get my elbow up even with my shoulder, I can wash my hair pretty easily. Yay. I didn't want to keep pestering my hairdresser for a shampoo every other day indefinitely.

(happily sitting here with wet hair wrapped in a towel)

 

I am 25 and have been going through a lot of problems over the last year. In May I passed out and went to the E.R. I found that my heart's conduction system was not firing right. I went to a cardiologist. I had a heart echo, stress test, ekgs, and few other tests. He then had had me wear a 3 day monitor and then a 30 day monitor. From all these we found that my heart rate dropped into the 30's on a daily basis, had 3-5 second pauses, usually in 40's and 50's and is irregular. In addition I have multra valve . He wanted to put in a pacemaker then but due to my young age he said we could wait and follow my condition but if I had any more spells I would need to get a pacemaker. Since may I have become very sick with my digestive system and ha...