Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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New PM

Hi. I’m a fairly new here. I have been hanging around and reading many of the posting. I can’t tell you how helpful it has been. First it was just to help me get ready for implant day and now it’s been helpful in letting me know I am not crazy with many of my physical and emotional experiences since my Medtronic pacemaker was implanted on Aug 9th. I am 2 weeks post-op today. Wahoo! All has been going pretty well. I developed a rash almost immediately (of course I was convinced my body was reject...

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Upcoming implant

I am 37 years old and I have recently been told that I require a defibrillator (ICD). My surgery is scheduled for September 5th and I am very nervous about the procedure and the major life change. I am looking forward to reading some of the posts on this site to help me cope with this upcoming event. I am also interested to see how folks' lives change or don't change with this implant. I worry that I will not be able to keep up with my boys after this event. Any storries or words of wisdom/...

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Finally getting my pacemaker!

So for everyone who has been following my posts know how hard it's been for me! I'm finally getting my pacemaker on Monday! I know I sound crazy for being happy about this .. But it's just I will finally be getting back to my life. I will be able to live again. It may not be the greatest thing to have but if it will give my life then Im grateful. I'm nervous about the surgery Though but that's just part of these many things we could all live without! Thankyou for listening hope everyone is doing...

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Palpations?

I am a new member at 39 years old. I am very glad I found this club and I have some concerns. I had a pacemaker put in Aug 9th due to Bradycardia. I have been feeling fine thru recovery but today, my husband noticed palpation's while checking my pulse and heart rate is around 60 and up since I've been laying back taking it easy today twice I felt like pressure went to my head and got a little dizzy. Im nervous and not sure if palpation s is something to worry about. I went to ER two weeks ago...

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using left arm

i had surgery on the 16th (last thurs) and i don't go back to the doc till monday the 28th and i have to wear a sling till then..when i go in will he remove stitches then? i have a really thick bandage on top now and kinda wondered..what next? also will i be able to do dishes and laundry after monday? it'll be 11 or 12 days post op...i have bradycardia..hb at 40 and never had a clue it was my normal and now i feel knida blindsided by this whole ordeal..so quick

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Implant scheduled

I now have the date of Aug. 31 scheduled at Tufts in Boston for the pacemaker implant.
Now I can add this to my list of problems. I have poly neuropathy, pre-diabetic, pre-kidney failure, bone spurs in the neck and lower back. I can't walk without pain, I can't sit ( for long) without pain, I have to turn my whole body to look very far to the side, and I can't get a good nights sleep because of all the tossing and turning (now researching for a mattress to replace my water bed) I can't get...

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Infected or not.?

Hi, just had a pm put in 3 weeks ago. I had an aortic valve replacement 6 years ago. My concern is that my iinciscion site is still so sore and red. I was concerned that the site was infected and actually weat to an infectios disease md to see if it's infected. Cardiologists was clueless. I was told blood work came back ok, but doctor could not tell me defininatively that the site was not infected, or it was?????. I was put on IV antibiotics for three days and now on a continued regimen of oral...

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Nervous

Im coming up on my second battery change, and for some reason I am sooooo nervous. I was nervous for the first battery change and now I'm nervous for the second one!!! Uhg, I'm not new to it. I originally got my device the year 2000. Why am I so scared for these battery changes? I love this club though because it seems to be the only thing that eases my fears... Thanks guys :-)

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surgery 3 days ago

just had pm installed on thurs for bradycardia...kinda nervous about using left arm...wishing i could get the bandage off and see what's happening under there and shower!!

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Replacement

I had my defibrilator replaced yesterday. This is my third incision. The first was from the original implantation and the second was from a lead revision 18 months after the original implantation. My battery was dying so I had to have a new device put in. The first two incisions had staples but my third incision has been glued. I am in MUCH more pain from this third surgery than I was from the first two. Is this normal? I called the doctor's office and they told me that it could be due to scar t...

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Having knee Replacement surgery

Hi,

Anyone out there who has a pacemaker have knee replacement surgery. I am scheduled to have the surgery on the 28th of August and I am very nervous. Not so much about the surgery, but the complications and the effect the surgery could have on
my pacemaker and heart. Any helpful words would be great.

Thanks.

Trekkienurse

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Ablation with a pacemaker

Hello group, i was wondering if i could get some advice on my upcoming surgery, which is scheduled for sept 6, 2012. I have a coupleof concerns, such as how long is the recovery time at home and how long should i expect to be home. I know everyone is different I was just trying to get maybe an average assestment.

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re stomach pace maker

hi still waiting to see my consultant and hoping he will give me a date for my pace maker in my stomach at the min i look 6 months pregnant im fed up with it cant have a meal tried blending my food down but doesent work so i am keeping my fingers crossed it works i just feel sick all the time with not hardley eating bhope im doing the rite thing having pace maker in my stomach please tell me im rite thanks shirley

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Incision swelling

Received pacemaker 2 weeks ago. Now the incision feels spongy when pressed, it appears that there is a bump. Is this unusual and how long does it take to receed to the level of the rest of the skin around the incision?

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Post thoracotomy chest wall pain

Every day I wake up in pain. I guess when I sleep I don't move much but the entire chest wall pain when I breathe is not easy to deal with, I had 2 surgeries, The first on June 8th to install the BiV/ICD and they couldn't get the 3rd lead through the sinus vein (?) so 6 days later I had to have a thoracotomy to install the 3rd lead to my heart. It was definitely the worst surgery I have ever had, and I have had many. But this problem of chest wall pain when waking up is really bothering me. I ta...

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horrible experience with doctor

I got my pacemaker yesterday and I'm in alot of pain. Is this normal? I could not sleep at all last night in the hospital. This morning my doctor came into my room and took off a compression bandage that was across my chest and it hurt so bad that I flinched when she started pulling and her response was that I need to suck it up and deal with it. I was so furious that she would talk to me that way I started crying. I now have a huge purple bruise across my whole chest. I had a list of questions...

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Pacemaker

Hi, I have been reading posts on here for a while now and have really enjoyed the support that is given to each other. I had my 4th pacemaker implanted a week ago Monday, 7/30. It is implanted in my abdominal cavity. So far, so good, everything healing nicely. It has been a long road with a few complications. My body rejected the first two, they were implanted in my shoulder area and the leads through the vein, one in upper chamber and one lower chamber. My body formed blood clots on the wires,...

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heart surgery

has any one kiddney's failed after surgery,if so did they wake up,and how did it take them to start working again,thanks

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FINALLY :)

Good evening all.
I know it has been quite some time since I have updated you on my situation.
I am very happy to report that I just had surgery on the 31st.
It took me 3 months and traveling to a hospital 2 1/2 hours away to find a surgeon that would do my procedure, but I am definitely glad that I made the trip.
To refresh memories I was having problems with one of my leads not working correctly. Since the lead was 25 years old It was hard to find a surgeon who would do th...

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heart transplant

its been a year for my transplant,no more icd,feeling great just hope my kiddneys would wake up ,it vwas a long road,but made it threw the first year

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