Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Newbie

Hi everyone,

Wanted to introduce myself. My name is Erin, I'm 34, had my pacemaker implanted May 3rd due to brady. Still dealing with some swelling, pulling and heaviness in my chest from the device. I'm also having some pain in my left arm. Anyone else have that problem?

Look forward to hearing from you!

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Pain relief?

What are some solutions to pain? I have had pain where it feels like a needle in consistently stabbing me and other very sensitive pain in my scar area. It hasn’t gone away at all after 3 months.

I went to a check up and I didn’t get to meet with my doctor, just his physicians assistant and I told her that Ibuprophen doesn’t work at all and I’m still in a lot of pain. She told me that it was normal and to take regular Tylenol. I did and it didn’t he...

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Medtronic pacer on 5/3

Hi - just found this group. I hope I can contribute and as well hope you can relieve my anxiety

8 days post op - I took my pulse and it is skipping really bad. 3 beats skip 3 beats skip 2 beats skip.... The pacer is set for a low of 70. It wasn't this bad when I was in a-fib... don't know if this normal or not... all new to me and I don't want to be a pain in the ### with the doctor - already took them to task for failing to update my cadiologist and general practioner.

A...

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Are leads always stitched to a muscle?

Hi, it's me again! Sorry for so many questions and I really appreciate the advice I am getting on this forum.

I found out 8 days ago that I needed a PM after having worn a heart monitor for 6 days and being diagnosed with SSS. My surgery was 3 days ago. Between being told I needed a PM and getting it fitted, I researched alot and thought I had a good idea what to expect but I didnt read anywhere about the leads being stitched into a muscle in the chest, nor did my doctor tell me about...

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So sore 48 hours after implantation

Hi, it is 48 hours since my first pm was fitted, i really was over optimistic and thought I would be feeling much better by now. I am only 31 and thought the recovery would be quick and easy but the area is so sore I can only lie on my back, if i stand or try to lie on my right the pm feels so heavy and the area feels really bruised and today i feel like i have toncilitis :(
I can hardly move my left arm, i didnt realise that they stitch the leads to a muscle and it feels like it is the mus...

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Possible toncilitis?

Hi, i had my pacemaker fitted 48 hours ago and this morning I feel like I have got toncilitis coming, has anyone else felt like this?

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Brain Surgery with a Difribillator

Hello , Can anyone help me? I am posting from Spain. My friend Paul has the icd and he suffered a brain bleed 6 weeks ago. If was touch and go and thankfully he has been on the slow road to recovery. We visit him 3 times aweek or more in the hospital 2 hrs away by car.He was on holiday here at the time of the incident. Today we have had the wind knocked out of our sales by the Doctors saying that he has heart failure and that they do not know if he will survive! Paul told us today that he feels...

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Im being held together by glue..help!!

Day five of pm...it was implanted to give them more options for drugs with afib...still having afib..even after sotilol...had a flailed ablation and failed drugs.
Little down today...but going togo put my sprarkly flipflops on to remind me to shine through it all ..the good and the bad.
Still trying to de-glue my body!! If only they would have applied the glue pads in the right areas to give me an instant breast lift...but noooooooo! Instead the girls are now starting to become one!

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sharp stinging pain of scar

Hey there.
Had my pacemaker for 95 days so far and I keep having this terrible pain almost every day.Guaranteed im 18 and not going to sit still for months of recovery. I went to class 2 days after surgery (and my teacher still deducted 10 pts for missing...crazy lady). It feels like a sharp stinging of the incision. I can't decide if it is just the skin and the scar of if the pain is deeper. Anyone have this? Any topical remedies or anything besides 3 tylenols which don't help.

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heart and shouder

Hello i am heaven i going on one year with my pacemaker still the same been in and out of hospital since 2011 and 2012 m shoulder still fronzen my heart doctor is going to do other stress test on me again after that i am going to see a shoulder doctor hope he can tell me what wrong i am going on two year with this shouder wish me luck and thank you for all your support,god bless you,heaven

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suggested pacemaker for T7 spine injury

Hi everyone!

I am wondering if you can help me about my aunt’s situation and if you can give me a feedback if a pacemaker would be a help in her situation.

My aunt’s name is Mirna, she’s 63 years old, with T6 and T7 spine injury she acquired 30 years ago from an accident. Because of her injury she has so many complications in the kidney and dysautonomia.

Currently she is experiencing seizures; the reason why her doctors suggest for...

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Coincidence or what?

Thanks for all your encouraging comments on my "post op pain" thread. Much appreciated.
On the first day out, I felt rather good and went on a nice long walk. Even worked up a bit of a sweat which showed the PM was doing its thing.
Then came Saturday. OK at first, even the shoulder pain eased a bit. But then came incredible abdomen pain, breathlessness, sweat. So I was rushed off to hospital in an ambulance and during the ride I was given a good dose of morphine. I can tell you that m...

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feeling great!

still feeling great since my sternal wire removal. slept flatter last night than i have in years :) just catching up on sleep still tired all the time! hope everyone is doing well

Elaina

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How soon did you shower?

I know to be careful of raising my left arm. And I've seen people say they used plastic wrap or waterproof bandage for awhile... but how soon after surgery did you take a normal (plastic wrap -free) shower?

Today is day 10 for me.. I still have all my steri strips (probably because they haven't gotten wet during all my "bird baths.")

I want to avoid infection... but could use a real shower!

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Post op pain

Just had my implant two days ago and was wondering what others experiences have been regarding post operation pain. The area around the implant is very bruised and the area is very sore, uncomfortable and stiff. The pain does dissipate with pain killers, but I am trying to keep medication to a minimum.
The PM is working fine and I was able to go for a nice walk yesterday and felt really good whilst doing so, but the pain is a bit of a worry.
Thanks
Bermard

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Pic of maybe infection

Okay I posted some pics in the member gallery of it, its kinda hard to see because of the flash and the glue, but its something I do have an appt early friday morning to go to the dr, but i would like to know what everyones opinions are

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Infection maybe>?

so its been almost a week since my PM was inserted, It was closed with surgical glue but on the end i can see a little yellowish greenish stuff forming under it and was wondering if anyone had pics of what it would look like infected or if i could send a pic and see if any of you think it may be infected my nurse said it might be moisture under the glue but theyd have to see at my appt on friday also when i get checked for the weird feelings and pressure ive had on my chest and neck area, any in...

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anxiety

Has anybody ever suffered with out of the blue attacks which leave one feeling nervy, shaky, bad headaches and generally down?  They started two days after my operation and then began to fade after a couple of weeks, but have returned without warning and are getting worse. I was orginally admitted with stomach pains but it was found my heart beat was too low and needed a pacemaker. To say it was a shock is putting it mildly.   Any assistance will help me get my head aro...

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Weird feeling in chest

So i got my pacemaker friday morning came home saturday morning and was feeling GREAT til early this morning(monday) and now i feel this weird feeling in my chest and sometimes throat area its like a tightening when i take deep breaths and sometimes it feels like someone is sitting on me also there is another weird feeling that i cant really explain but i just know i dont feel right on the inside also i get a weird sharp throbbing pain in the middle of my chest and also im very sore now around t...

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How much does sugar effect heart rate?

I have to admit the only thing I had this morning at 9am was cheerios...then around 4pm I mixed up some peanut butter and marshmellow fluff.   I know - not the greatest diet, but I was planning a better dinner later.

Afterwords, I was doing chores and my heart just felt pretty fast. I took my heart rate and it was 95.

I have bradychardia, so last week I got my first PM. My PM is set for 50. No rate response.

I’m used to being in the 4...

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You know you're wired when...

You prefer rechargeable batteries.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.