Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

Post Message!

Very nervous bout my surgery for a pacemaker/defib

Hi everyone! Im 26 yrs old and I have CHF and Cardiomyopathy. Im scheduled for a pacemaker and defibrillator Thursday December 8th. Im very nervous and anxious. I dont know what to expect. I read other peoples reviews on it and it has given me mixed emotions about it. What should I expect once im out of the surgery table? Im I going to be in a lot of pain? Whats the recovery time? Are you restricted of much during the recovery process.. Thank you in advance for your time on reading and replying!...

Read More...

Still very tired

I am a 53 year old teacher/manager (Soooo busy at school) and 10 days into my bionic life. I have been very tired and am a bit worried about going back to work tomorrow. Pacemaker works fine. Set to kick in at lower than 60bpm. I feel best at 60bpm. It is when my pulse rate is above this that I have palpitations which I imagine are the extra ventricular beat I had been experiencing before which would than lead to bradychardia. Seems to me my PM is doing better than my own pulse!
Any advice...

Read More...

Pocket revision under muscle


Hi Everyone, I wrote a post here a few weeks ago about how upset I was with ICD battery change. It stuck up so bad on my chest it was really uncomfortable. After the surgery I started to have severe phrenic nerve palpatations that made my whole body shake and interfered with my speech. The Doctor tried to adjust it several times with no sucess so I went back into surgery 3 weeks after the first surgery. They changed my battery to a boston scientific, which it thinner then metronic, they ha...

Read More...

icd

Hi: Can someone please tell me how much it is going to cost me to get an ICD. The doctor says 50K but I have part A and B of Medicare, do I still need to pay 10K or should I get supplemental Medicare-I don't even know if Mediacre Supp covers it. They are really confusing me.
Thank you!

Read More...

Recovery Time

Hello! I am new to the group, and have found this website to be very helpful. I am an active 25 year old, an I am having my pacemaker but in a couple weeks. I have has some fainting spells lately and learned that my heart has been beating in the mid 30's. I find myself very tired mid afternoon, so I'm hoping the pacemaker might help this.

Although I realize the pacemaker will help me feel better, I'm still a little apprehensive. From what I read the procedure seems pretty easy. The t...

Read More...

Thanks for being there.

I passed out at dinner on Monday night. Ended up at the ER and was then addmitted for observation and tests. By the end of the day Tuesday, I was scheduled to get a pacemaker Wednesday morning. This was not supposed to happen to me. I am 51 and a runner. I have no health problems. Got a great check up in July and ran a half marathon in October. My resting heart rate was in the 40's. My doctor and was very proud of my accomplishments. Over the last 2 years I lost 80 pounds, dropped my bloo...

Read More...

Epicardial ablation and pacemaker implant

I am 41 living in the Chicago area and am waiting for my current dr. to find a hospital and doctor to do an epicardial total ablation on my sinus node and put in a pacemaker. (I have severe IST).

Has anyone had any similiar experiences?

Read More...

Just Joined the Club

I just got my pacemaker on Friday evening. I'm 37 and while I've had a history of occasionally passing out, I led a very active lifestyle (cycling through NYC traffic 14 miles every day to and from my two jobs and college), but my episodes had suddenly started to get worse and less predictable. I went into the ER, passed out on the tilt table and had a 6 second pause.

Now I'm wondering about recovery. My wound is healing very nicely (no real pain, just some tugging when I shift p...

Read More...

I got mine

Arm and L/side peck sore. Not to bad, and the happy shot ( never had surgery before ) was awsome. No pain pills for me. Just tyl.
Thanks all, now I"ll get back to living.

Read More...

Getting my PM on Wed.

After nearly 25 years of misdiagnosis and the wrong meds, my docs figured out my epilepsy was actually a heart condition with secondary seizures from the lack of blood flow to my brain. If only someone had ordered a tilt test all those years ago...

And so at a fresh 40 years old and two kids under 8...I head to the hospital to get stuffed for with a PM for Thanksgiving. Any advice for planning my recovery? I'm hoping to avoid general anesthesia at all costs (I get sick every time).

Read More...

What now?

I have had several syncopy episodes in my life. I will turn 50 in one week. Latest spell - fell out of computer chair - met tiled kitchen floor very hard. Extremely busted up face from forehead to chin - go to ER - long story short - felled Tilt Table Test - scheduled for Medtronic Pacemaker Insertion. had this - one week post op now - what should I be experiencing or not experiencing? I have what I believe is Tegaderm over the incision area. How long before this 'wears off' do I take it off? I...

Read More...

side effects

Hello, I am new to this... and have had my defibulater/pacemaker installed since May and have just found out that my heart is pumping the same as it was when I was diagnosed with cardio myopathy so I was wondering if the pills for strengthening my heart are needed anymore- amiodrone, ramipril and bisoprolol

Read More...

Post Operative Conditioning and Healing

Hi Everyone,

I am working on a program both pre and post op for anyone getting surgery. However, having just had a pacer and lead procedure, I am designing one specific for pace and defib recipients.

I would love to hear from you on when you started to add back any forms of exercise, including your approximate age.

As well, are there things you did different the second, third, or fourth time round that aided your recovery.

I like to speak direct to th...

Read More...

pacemaker

Hi, my name is Karen and I’m 45.  I had a phone call from a consultant on a Friday at home; he asked me to go in Monday to have a pacemaker fitted as my heart had stoped for 2 beats then 4 beats then 7 beats, this was 3 weeks ago.

I was sent home with a small booklet and told all my tests would be done later as it was important to get pacemaker fitted . I am panicking as I have a lot of questions and worries.  I work on a OAP ward in a hospital and have...

Read More...

battery replacement

Hi ,
I just had my first replacement battery put in and I'm so upset! I think it looks so much bigger then the original and it seems like the wires are sticking out. I've talked to my doctor and he has suggested going back in and placing it under the muscle. I am 45 years old and active and I guess I am a little vain but I hate having this right on my chest. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I am wondering how different it will look. Does it really hide the battery if it is under t...

Read More...

Latest news about work.....

Hi all
Just to update you on how I'm getting on back at work. This is my 3rd week back (went back 6 weeks after PM implant).

The Occupational Health Dr at work (UK) is only allowing me to work 4 days a week, for 4 hours each day (8.30-12.30). I have to say I find I am exhausted by 12.30 & am really pleased he has put these restrictions on. Initially my manager wanted me to work my full hours as soon as I went back but after 2 days I was already running into problems with exhausti...

Read More...

Still somewhat in Daze

Hello I am the recent recipient of a Pacer, and am still I guess in shock that I have one. I am 38 and am pretty active and this all happened in my eyes pretty quickly. I have Hemochromatosis and have been strictly following the phlebotomies when we saw on my blood tests that the heart marker was high so I went to a cardiologist who put me through the passes and quickly had me do a nuclear test and 24 hour heart monitor which triggered me to go see a Electrophysiologist who scheduled an EP...

Read More...

Got my new pacer and lead on Thursday!

Hi to All,

I hope this positive post gives encouragement to those anticipating a new pacemaker or similar procedure.

My pacer tripped 5 days after my last appointment in August, and as I was in the middle of my board exams - my cardiologist and I had agreed to delay my next appointment.

Well, a week ago at that said appointment everyone panicked and next thing I knew I was in the OR.

For some of you who know me, my story has been eventful, stressful an...

Read More...

medtronic

After having the defibrillator I have to agree the actual pain level is very low as a matter of fact I was given oxi's and haven't needed to use them. My defibrillator is made by the medtronic which from what I see it's very common company here. I do have one question it's been ten days since the operation and I still have the patch on how much longer till they remove the patch ?

Read More...

Still feeling like dirt 9 days out

Hi all,
I had my ppm implanted 10/25...surgery was uneventful. I guess maybe I wasn't prepared for the recovery, but I still feel horrible. There was some question as to whether or not my thyroid was to blame (I am hypo-- take Synthroid)-- but check earlier this week showed no adjustment needed to my thyroid meds.
I am exhausted, feel week, my HR goes up a lot when I merely walk... I feel so frustrated!! Check of ppm today also showed that it's working fine.
Was anyone else this t...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

I swim, scuba, garden, hike, climb, workout, play with the kids, play tennis, baseball, basket ball and rollerblade with mine with no problem.