Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Just found out today

Hi- My name is Candi and I am 31 years old. I was diagnosed with Left Ventricular Non Compaction in March. We just found out today the people with LVNC have a higher rate of cardiac arrest so I guess I'm getting a defib on June 2nd. I put off the implant until school was out because of not being able to drive after the implant. I am very worried about recovery time. We have 5 horses, 2 young children and I work with children so you can see we are very active. It was horrible after having t...

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sleeping soundly

What a great resource this site is for those of us just joining the pacemaker ranks. I am a 49 year old with a medtronic dual lead pacemaker. I am one week past implant. I am a quick healer and pretty healthy and am feeling pretty good now except for being sleep deprived. I am a side and belly sleeper and just cannot get comfortable on my back. I've tried to sleep on my right side but feel like the incision is being stretched. I've tried wedge pillows behind my shoulders and knees and Ambien as...

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I just got a pacemaker a week ago...

I am 48,and was having fainting episodes several times a month...once in a patient's room!When my pacemaker was inserted,I felt better almost immediately.Now,a week later,I have returned to work,and feel exhausted.I am freaking out that maybe my pacemaker isn't working,or maybe a lead slipped.I check my pulse,and it is always over 60.Is this normal..did you find yourself "hypersensitive" for a while?

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New to PM

Hello All,

Iam 39 years old and Iam going to have my first PM on Wednesday.I have had a 2:1 av block since childhood but never any symptoms but now Iam dizzy all the time and have spells of nausea so my doctor has insisted that I need pacing.
Iam worried how it will effect me afterwards as I have a 3 year old and I still want another child.My cardiologist has just said everything will be better after.Iam also worried about recovery time and the possiblity of getting depression. A...

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To the ladies!

I was wondering if any ladies would be able to answer this question for me. Have any of you had a breast reduction after having a pacemaker? If so how was your recovery and was it more complicated?
Thanks,
Tammy

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recent surgery and comments


Hi All,

I had a dual chamber pacemaker implant exactly two weeks ago . Two days after implant, I suffered very strong diaphragm twitches as a result of which the kick in rate was adjusted from 60 to 50. I have had no twitches since then , however am suffering from pain in my left arm which at times becomes severe. I have also slight neck pain.Has any one had similar experience? Is this a short term pain or likely to persist?Like to hear from any one with similar experience or ot...

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Urgent Help Needed Complex Case

I am in need of some urgent advice regarding my Father, who has the following condition:

* serious congestive heart failure (20% of heart working)
* 20 yrs ago 4 bypass, with complication of staph infection in chest, loss of most of breast bone, and dorsal flat reconstruction
* coumadin use 5-7 mg per day for 20+ yrs.
* diabetes on insulin with 8-9 A1C
* blood clots in his heart currently and at least since 2006
* received 4th pacer 3 yrs ago which is a combo...

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#3

yeah,this my third pacemaker since aug.'95.I needed the main lead replaced(original)so they replaced everything.FINALLY going back to work after 5 weeks.Anybody know where I can find pacemaker jackets?

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5o yo doc

Thanks to all that responded. Went ahead with the pacer yesterday thought I would trust the EP didn't want to miss time from work or stop driving cause I might black out. He told me it wouldn't get better, funny my symptoms were from multiple PVC's and the pacer wouldn't cure that so I am on flecainide an antiarrythmic that is what has made me feel better but according to the EP( electrophysiologist) I needed the pacer to be safe. Over night at the hospital it paced 29% of the time. It's the med...

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bi valve pacemaker defibrilator

Hello all; i am very happy to find this site.. i am a 72 year old male . i have a guidant pacemaker tha woks well for the last 6 years I am a symptomatic but I have a low ejection fraction of about 25% My cardiogolisrs office , called me friday and told me he wanted to send my records to st barnabus hospital in livingston new jersey and is recommending that I have a bi valve pacemaker defibrilator implanted in me..I am very hesitant to have this done because of all the recalls of medtronic lea...

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What were they doing?

During my recent pacemaker implant, I was of course heavily sedated but woke up during the procedure to a lot of pain - it felt like something was being jammed into my chest (above my left breast). When I started talking (hello that hurts!) the doctor said that I shouldn't talk because it could collapse my lung. What I'm wondering is...what was he doing? I thought the leads were fed in through veins, so what could collapse a lung?

I read in someone else's post here about the surger...

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New pacemaker

Hi Friends,

Do you have also problems too make an appointment bij the
pm-controller.? Last nov. I had problems with my pm.I felt terrible,specially at night.My doctor could not find anything and he has too made an appointment fo me.He talked with my cardiologist and I got a holter for 24 hours. Two months before that my pm-controller asked me if I had an accident.He thought there was something with one of the leads.He discussed it with my cardiologist and changed something of the...

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Helping my Dad!

My Dad had a defibulator/pacemaker implanted 3 weeks ago. He is 77 years old and doesn't use the computer but I am worried about him and found you all online. HE doesn't really have any specific complaints but just generally does not feel good. The incision and site he says he cannot even feel anymore. He does really have any energy, wants to sleep all day and no zest for life or going back to work. I think he is just in a funk because this is life changing and one of his first realities to agin...

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Thank-you

I am still pretty fragile(3 weeks post implant). It is very comforting to know that my problems for the most part are not unique. I went back to work last week. I still do not have the stamina that I would like, but being back in the office was therapeutic. I am moving on, albeit slower than I have anticipated. It is easier to move on having had the benefit of the comments from a "caring group of new chatline friends". I had an appointment @ PM clinic thurs. and my ventricular setting was set lo...

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Sleeping problems ~ settings?

Hello, I am new to this site and just registered. I received my dual chamber pacemaker 3 weeks ago. My heart health problems are "new" in the past few months, my heart block developed suddenly along with syncope symptoms. The recovery time seems dreadfully long, but I believe my recovery is halted somewhat because I am having trouble sleeping. Prior to receiving my pacemaker I rarely had sleepless nights. I have enjoyed being able to sleep well and wake refreshed. I imagine part of my trou...

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No stamina and very sore arm and neck

I am now 2.5 weeks past PM insertion and I was told by my medical people that "some patients are back to work within a week". I have a desk job and tried to go back to work half days last week. I found the following: I have no stamina. Secondly, I have a very stiff and sore neck. Thirdly I have a weak and sore left arm. Is this normal?


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Recovered?

I know some of you have had complications but I seem to have been one of the lucky individuals for whom the surgery and recovery went smoothly. I'm 3 months and 6 days post implant and this morning over coffee I noted that I was completely physically unaware of the PM, surgery site or anything out of the ordinary. The incision is completely healed with very minimal scaring - really just a line about two inches long. No discomfort from the PM pocket. No awareness of pacing. I have full mobi...

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How should it look?

Hi

I am always asking questions! Getting on for five weeks after my dual chamber pacemaker was put it. The area is still a bit swollen but the bruising which was very bad has almost gone. I am concerned about the site - it is very raised and I can feel the hardness of the pacemaker protruding on one side much more than the other. This is visible as well.

The scar is raised and hard like a bone on top of the raised site of the pacemaker - it just doesn't feel right. Hav...

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still very young

First i need to thank you all for existing; ever since my heart block (15 sec. in arrest) and emergency PM on Friday, 29th I've been recovering at home and your messages here have been a Gpdsend of informatin and support.
I've never had any heart problems so I am very new at this and puzzled by my new life as a bionic woman.
Physically I am pretty well (though still weak) but emotionally I am a wreck. When will I feel normal again?
It's been almost a week and I am still tired an...

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won't need a pacemaker anymore

i was told by my cardiologist that i will need a new heart because of my left ventrical collapsing, anyways i have had my pacemaker since i was just 6 month old and i am now 21 going to 22 what i need to know is that if you know anybody who has had a pacemaker for more than 2 decades and then have it removed from them, no longer needing it, i need to know if i will be the first person in history to have my pacemaker for more then 2 decades then not needed anymore.

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You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.