Am going to get a pacemaker on Mon. the13th at Scripps Green in La Jolla, CA. I had four ablations for atrial fib and finally the last one took. Recently about 4 months ago, I started passing out...damaging my head. I'm okay now... The year before I had 'almost passing out situations. Right now, my life is crap..I don't know when I will pass out..I can't walk my dog, take a bus, drive etc. I had an almost passing out episode last Fri.l..I have a Reveal monitor implated about a month ago and I had it read...It read that my heart raced and then went down to 30 pulse. The doctor was there and said that I need a pacemaker. I am horrified and scared! How is this going to change my life? What about all the articles about infection and m...

 

Hi,
I'm 40 years old and had a dual chamber pacemaker implanted 6 days ago.
There were no issues with the op, although the first night was quite uncomfortable - with chest pain lying down. I'd hd a post op X-ray so the nursing Taff assured me that everything was fine. The pain at night has eased significantly but at night I'm still experiencing some discomfort when lying down - a sort of burning pain in the centre of my chest when I take a breath. I also have a bad headache okay, but this could be due to lack of sleep last night as I felt quite uncomfortable and agitated. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that what I'm experiencing is normal. I had an internal cardiac monitor fitted a few years go and bounced back from ...

 

Hello everyone! I am new to the site! I have a 4 year old (5 in June) who was born with complete heart block. We found out when I was 22 weeks pregnant. She had her PM put in when she was 4 days old. Macie has been a very outgoing normal little girl and the day I have dread since her first surgery has arrived. We found out today that her battery replacement will be this coming tues. We go in Mon for her pre op apt and for her to tour the hospital. The dr said her leads still look great however they test them in the op room and if they feel they need to be replaced they will. I am so nervous she however is excited. Trying to not let her see I am nervous and be excited for her. Anyone else go through this with there little one just w...

 

Hello . I'm new to the site and was hoping for a bit of advice. I'm 50 and had a PM fitted 4 days ago. I was told I could return to work in a week. The trouble is I feel so tired and this morning I feel lousy. I feel as though I have a bad hangover with headache. I'm worried I won't be fit for work next week. What is the normal recovery time after PM surgery? I work in the community, driving to people's houses for appointments. Many thanks.

 

well only a few more days of hell for me wednesday is the day i get my pm put in im reallyyyyyy scared but cant wait at the same time everyday is a struggle now with heart rates going from 160s to 30s and then i have fainting episodes from my mobitz 2 , just want these last few days over so its in and im home again no idea wat to expect and how im gonna cope but it cant be as bad as what im going through now i hope ;/ ..... any advice and comments would be great i need calming down having constant headaches at the moment from stressing about it all ...cheers karen x

 

Hey guys, Thank you for sharing your experiences on here. My mother just had her pacemaker put in 2dys ago. She says she is feeling a little strange feeling in her chest and pain and discomfort where the generator was inserted. I've given her ice packs and gentle reminders about using her arm. She had encephalitis last year and is struggling with short term memory still. Any thoughts for me so I wont be such a worry wart? How much pain did you experience? How did it feel? What made you comfortable? (Id love to hear tips on clothing that works best, warm heat on back to relax tight muscles? Did you feel weak for awhile? What caused irritation? How soon did you resume a little activity. What did you find to be the greatest challenge? Can you...

 

Hi all.
I'm 22 years old, had a pacemaker surgery due to my congenital AV complete heart block.That was about 6 weeks ago. In the first week of recovery, I had terrible nerve pains in my shoulder, then headaches and such. (In my RIGHT shoulder, and my pacemaker is in the left one). Had to go to the ER, but they just checked the pacemaker, and it worked well. So soon the pain stopped and I seemed to recover fully. But recently I started feeling very dizzy, especially everytime I stood up, I think it's a worse kind of dizziness than I used to have before the surgery, I almost pass out. Does anyone know what this might be? and if it's really not normal? or something I need to see my doctor for? Has anyone experienced it?

Bes...

 

Two weeks postoperative and feel weight in chest when walking a few blocks or carrying a load of wash with one arm down a couple flights of stairs. Never felt this before. I am set at 71 bpm with an Adapta DR pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome.
Any thoughts?

 

Just had my PM inserted April 25, 2013 and all is well.
I was awake for the whole procedure and could feel the tugging and probing. I was given medication through an IV to help me relax and numb the pain. The worst part for me was the nausea after the procedure. I have Sick Sinus Syndrome with long pauses between beats (5.5 second pauses). My heart rate average was 36. My new heart rate is set for 60 thanks to my PM. I am so thankful for this device and the Dr's who have inserted it for me:-)

 

only one week to go before i have my pm put in and im getting myself worried about being awake how much sedation do they give u and can u ask for lotssss im a nervous wreck in the dentist chair so god only knows what im gonna be like having this done awake..... just hope they make u very relaxed :/ , this is gonna be the longest week ever :( .. p.s hope you all dont mind me keep posting and asking stuff gotta feeling im gonna be bugging u all alot this week LOL ...with love KAREN X

 

hi im new today been reading up on here and looks great.. im having my pacemaker fitted on the 8th of may and im really scared excited to because ive been so ill lately i had fast heart beats and slow heart beats and mobitz type II , this has caused me to pass out alot get very breathless and ruined my life at only 40 would love some feed back on the op im scared about being awake and the after care when i get home .. thanks karen :) xxx

 

Hey all,

Well, I am 21 and scheduled to get a PM on May 20th. I am also in the Army and away from home, and needless to say, ridiculously nervous. Is there anywhere out there as young as I am with a PM? Anyone who has had to go through the surgery without family around? I just wish that my family could be here. Im kinda freaking out. I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that this is happening, and having to put on a smile and tell people that Im not nervous is really getting to me. I guess I just need to deal with it, but I don't know. Thanks for reading this I guess...

-A

 

Hi Everyone..... I posted about a week ago about my upcoming surgery for Monday April 29. I really appreciate the great responses with some of your experiences. I have to admit, I am still very anxious about it. I am an RN and have seen so many complications of surgeries in general that I am finding really difficult to focus on the positive (I am usually a very positive person....until now!) Has anyone any suggestions about how to get past this so I can walk in confidently on Monday? I want to be able to write back in here about a week from now and say that it wasn't all that bad. My wires have been in for 15 years and it is that laser that has me worried. Help! Thanks....Jan

 

it' s been 11 days now since i got my PM, i still feel tired and feel a little bit discomfort especially in my neck and chest area..i only have 4 weeks sick leave and my work usually do a lot of lifting and upper arm movement.is it safe for me to go back to work immediately?is there any possibility that the leads might dislodge from their position if i go back to work?

 

I had a very slow heart beat and idiopathic cardiomegaly which
gave me my first CHF experience. After being treated with
medication for five years, the medicine stopped working which
then gave my physician the criteria to intervene with the next step, a Bi-Ventricular Pacemaker. Mine is a Medtronic with
3 leads. Two leads are stationary and hooked into the right
atrium and right ventricle and the third lead is fed through the
coronary sinus vein on the posterior (back side) of the hear and
so to speak laid to rest there comfortably.

I was given the anesthesia medication propofal in which you
do not feel a thing and wake up without a headache. The sx
is Outpatient so you de...

 

I had a pacemaker emergency implanted on 4/19/13. I have alot of pain in my collarbone, cant stand straight, and just got to the point that I can go to the bathroom by myself. my left arm is still strapped to my body, but it hurts to take a deep breath. Standing with the right posture is impossible. But the pain in my collarbone sucks. The nurses in the hospital said it shouldnt hurt that bad but it did and does. 3 of the many umbing hots the Dr. did felt like he was jabbing my muscle or something wrong. They hurt so bad. Is any of thi normal? I dont see my cardiologist until May 1st.

 

Hi guys,

I am now 6 days post PM surgery and am going a lot better than I thought I would.

The only query I have is that I have this dull annoying pain right under my sternum. Could it be the leads settling into place? Also, I'm getting a little out of breath with the pain.

Anyone else had similar issues?

 

Just had the Av node ablated and got the new St Jude PM April 16th. I am now 100% PM dependent. Due to a steriod drug I continue to have outragous high blood presure. I am having a significant amout of pain which I don't remember have at the first implantation 4 years ago. I wake up at night with pain from my shoulder to my waist, is this normal? The pain is stongest just inside the left shoulder blade. I do feel stronger but it is hard to tell if it is any better now because of the pain, and high BP. Any advise? You all have such good advice and I do appreciate it.

 

Well tomorrow's the day for my EPS study, ablation and possible PM and I have to admit I'm getting a little scared. I'm SO not trying to go there but sometimes I just can't help it--what if they don't find what they're looking for?? I guess that's my biggest fear--I don't want to continue on the road I'm currently on. I feel miserable anytime I try to do anything even going up and down stairs sometimes. I guess I just need some reassurances?

 

Hello Everyone,

I am 75 years old, a type 2 diabetic and my heart doctor has been telling me my heart is fine, but I had to have a PM put in this last Friday.

Released from the hospital yesterday and now home relaxing with my husband and son. However, I still feel tired and kind of weak. I was just wondering if this was normal.

My son posted this note on my Facebook page that kind of tells what all happened to me on Friday.

Thank you and so happy I found your club! Betty...

My Son's Note:

Mom is doing better, but she sure scared the heck out of us Friday!!

I came into the house Friday and I was heading to the back and I ask mom how you doing as I walked by the ...