Hello all well had my surgery on 2nd October and got back home last night. Its all good! Apart from my left shoulder feeling its been hit by a bus, I already feel better. Thanks to all for the support before I had my PM surgery. I went in to hospital feeling positive. I had alot of tests done before the surgery and they found my heart was pausing quite alot so I and the surgeon are pleased that I now have the PM. Looking forward to feeling alot better over the coming days and weeks.
Cheers
Kiwi

 

Well, I got my PM implanted on 17Sept08- two weeks ago.
I panicked about 2 weeks before the surgery that maybe I shouldn't go through with it, but I managed to get a hold of myself after a few days and not chicken out. I said to myself: you're going to get it (PM) and you're going to love it. That philosophy appealed to me in a wryly humorous way so that I was able to just accept going through with it.

The procedure went very well. I only experienced minor discomfort and only if I moved my arm. The sedation wore off in a couple of hours and I felt I was ready to go home. Of course, I had to remain in the hospital for 24 hrs. for observation. The only thing really bothering me was severe itching. I am allergic to the adhes...

 

Had been feeling tired and short of breath for several weeks. Finally went to family doc on 9/4, EKG showed heart rate around 40. He set appt for 9/11 with cardiologist, BUT he called their office all day to be sure the cardiologist actually looked at the EKG he faxed. They said, get her in here tomorrow a.m. 9:15 am was in heart doc office, 10:00 am admitted to hospital, 12:30 pm Pacemaker was implanted. I continue to say ALL IS GOOD. Timing was absolutely everything. Heart rate dropped down 30-35 before procedure. Prior to all of this, I had been doing 2 miles on treadmill or taking daily walks. I ignored the symptoms, never in a million yrs thinking it was my heart. I tell the story to anyone that will listen so everyone will l...

 

Hi all
I was just told on Friday, I need to have a pacemaker, totally unexpected and I am scheduled for surgery this week! I live in Brisbane Australia, and am a 45 yr old female. I'm feeling very nervous and I am still in shock from this news from the cardiologist.

About 18 months ago while flying on a plane to NZ, I had what was diagnosed at the time as a vasal vagal episode. I passed out and seizured for about 2 minutes but my husband said he thought I had died. Apart from an EEG requested by a doctor, to make sure I didn't have epilepsy, it was never followed up further.

Recently, I have been feeling dizzy for the last few months while walking and feeling like I am going to fall over. I went to the docto...

 

Greetings:

Well, I am finally getting my PM on October 24th. I've had 2 more fainting episodes since my last post. One, I was 8 weeks pregnant. I had a seizure during that episode and was out for about a minute.

I'm worried about surgery. How long does the whole process take? I would like to be completely asleep... is this the process?

Any advise is helpful. Thanks guys!
Sarah

 

Hi I started having pain in the right side of my neck the day after I came home from the hospital. Not an ache A Sharp pain!! I went to my EP and he checked my device and said all is well. That night The pain completely move to the left side except not only in my neck, but behind my left breast,in my back,down my arm I thought I was having a heart attack and I couldnt take a deep breath. I also have MS so the EP said I was fine and my Neurologist never called me back. I am so ready to go to the ER. Anyone else experienced this Help!!

 

Hey there everyone. I'm a 30 year old F diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and LBBB (left bundle branch block). I just had my ICD installed yesterday (YES, YESTERDAY). I'm home now and feel like I ran a huge marathon but otherwise I'm doing pretty great. I wanted to say HI to everyone since I've been lurking for a few weeks behind the scenes... :) So...HELLO!!!

 

To sonkitty-
I think recovery time is different for every patient. Some feel l00% better within a week of pacer implant and others it takes a lot longer. Your heart and body are adjusting to the pacer and that takes time. Don't let the Drs tell you you should feel better right away....rare I think if you do.

Not sleeping is probably what is not helping your energy and the whole adjustment of having a pacemaker. I too had problems sleeping for weeks after implant. I was real paranoid and was constantly taking my pulse, couldn't sleep on left side, etc..and from what I've read all normal reactions to the life changing event we have all been through. Trust me when I say it will pass. Just give yourself time and when weat...

 

Hi all, (post op 12 daays) I am recovering slowly, I think they must have really done some diging and poking around in there. I am going for my first check up tomorrow, hopefully I will get some answers on what they are going to do with the lead they didn't get in. I need that lead, I have a lot of shortness of breath with any task.

Anyways....my left arm is continually "falling asleep" being numb and lots of that pin and needle tingling, is this normal after implant?

Thanks.

Lisa

 

Had a pocket revision 6 months after battery change. It is now almost a month and feeling very tired. Dr. stated some people bounce back faster than others. However, I am so glad I did it as the last surgeon botched it. I had leads poking and pacemaker top pushing through skin and traveling PM to underarm.
Now, the original surgeon placed it deeper and I don't feel any pain. Did any one ever have a PM pocket revision and what did you experience and how successful was it?
Thanks

 

Hi all, just giving an update. I had my surgery for my ICD on Wed. They sent me home yesterday. I was in recovery for a long time. When the Dr. finally came to see me, he informed me that they couldn't get the third lead in, that my viens were to small. So now they are going to consult with another cardiologist to see if it is feasable to try again, or whether they have to do an "epicardio" (I need to look that up, I am not really sure what that is). Anyways they say they can't do anything for 6 weeks as they need what they did to heal up, they are worried about infection. I am in so much pain, and the only thing I can take is tylenol extra strength. I can barely stand up, it hurts so much. Last night was rough, I ended up sitting...

 

Well hello, I am larry age 26 and have just got the new hot model ICD from Metronic installed about 4 weeks ago. I am doing good and have stuck by the Docs note of not doing much with the arm at all. I will be starting back to walking with my MP3 player in the next few days.

The Surgery-

Well I am in the hospital room and the docs come in with a grin and tell me there is no anesthesiologist. Me never having surgery I was like that is cool and they walked out of the room. now my friends and girl friend were there and did not say anything. I go down to surgery and they put me on the table. They give me half of the bag of good stuff, but I can still hear the music and the people talking. One of the nurse's ask me if...

 

I am starting to feel better after getting my pacemaker 2 weeks from tomorrow. However, I'm guessing that since maybe the swelling is going down in that area, I can 'feel' the pacemaker now?? I didn't have the sensation of anything in my chest before, but now I do. I am finally able to sleep comfortably on my right side, but reading that some people had their pacemaker flip or move scares the heck out of me now!

Is this weird feeling just me getting used to it and the swelling going down? Does sleeping on your side or using your arm (but not lifting it over your head) have any effect? I hear leads pull out - I hope it takes more than an accidental lifting of the arm for that to happen.

Thanks for any incite.

 

Me...almost 40, single working mom of 2 boys. 2000 I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Meds worked for awhile. In 2003, I got a pacemaker, which put me in afib. They have never got me out of it. Anyways I have been going down hill for awhile, no energy, tired alot, and it's hard to even go for a walk. After work I am just tired, poor kids have to deal with me. My current EF is 25%. I am going to get a bi-ventricular pacemaker defibilator on Wed Sept 3. I have not been sleeping and I am very anxious. I have no patience, I am trying not to give up on myself, but I am worried. I tell all my friends I am fine...I am stubborn and hate asking for help. I was told the afib will not go away but they are hoping to get my EF up. I nee...

 

Hi. I'm new to the Pacemaker Club and very thankful to have found you. I had my pacemaker inserted August 14 after an ablation on the 13th apparently stunned my heart. I believe things happen for a reason, but I'm still sad about it all and a little scared. I have a question that I'm hoping someone can answer. Last week I developed chills and a fever. My doctor put me on antibiotics and my fever broke yesterday. I also noticed that my left arm was very swollen. My doctor gave me laxis for two days which helped. But now I have a lump on my neck and a hard painful lump under my arm. My shoulder has also been painful since the surgery. I was just wondering if anyone else experienced this and is it something to be concerned about.

 

Hi. I just had a pacemaker implanted 8 days ago. Totally unexpected and of course, totally scary to me. I am 47 years old. I was told my heart rate was slowing down a lot and getting pauses. Now after having the pacemaker, I feel like I'm constantly aware of every breath I take and always walking on eggshells. I got a couple quick pains in that area today and of course it freaked me out and had to call the doctor. I saw him yesterday and everything checked out fine. How long 'til I start to feel normal again and not let this control my every waking moment?? It's even hard to go to sleep at night 'cause of my paranoia. Help !

 

I'm wanting to ask quetions for my Mother In-Law. She needs a pacemaker right away. The doctor here, in Canada, have her on a waiting list for 2 years. We are wondering if there is somewhere, where she can go to get it done sooner.?

 

Hi there, first - I would like to apologize because of my English - I hope that you will underestand me... I am from the Czech Republic (Europe), I am 22 years old. I had many (5) ablation of sinus node. Each ablation took a lot of hours (from 6 till 9 hours). First I had 2 normal (endocardial) ablation of SA node, then 1 endocardial and epicardial ablation of SA node too, then 1 surgical (thoracoscopical) ablation with take away the phrenicus nerve, because I had the nerve really very near the sinus node. I had inappropriate sinus tachycardia with average heart beat about 130-140/min (during 24 hours holter monitoring) and then I had multifocal SV tachycardia (from 180 till 250/min) and onetime I had ventricular arythmia as well. And then...

 

I received my ICD/pacemaker on July 22nd. The 1st week I felt pretty good, just a little discomfort at incision. As time goes on I feel more tired and draggy and am wondering at what point do I call the doctor and tell him about this. I have started walking 3 or 4 times a week for 30 minutes and am wondering if maybe I should back off some. In order to get my walk in I'm getting up a half hour earlier than I normally did but I'm also falling into bed earlier so I don't think it's a lack of sleep issue. I haven't seen the doctor since I left the hospital but will probably have an appt. in the next couple of weeks. Do I wait or call? This is all so new to me, I don't know what to expect. TIA!

Gonnie

 

My husband had his pacemaker/defibrillator about 2 weeks ago, and he still has radiating pain to his shoulder. My question is that does anyone know what he will feel if the pacemaker does anything, and also, what will he feel if the defirbrillator kicks in? He is still very sore, and really can't do much but sit around. Would like to talk to someone that has had this done. He has a refraction of 19 so he had to something, I hope the pacemaker makes him have more energy.