Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

New Pacemaker - shifted in chest

Hi all - I can't tell you how relieved I am to find this site. I am a 52 year-old woman and I had to have a pacemaker implanted on Cinco de Mayo (May 5) because of a Bradycardia episode. I had a similar episode two years ago, but medical staff didn't witness it and couldn't diagnose why I had passed out a couple of times. This time, I went to the ER as soon as I started feeling weird and I passed out in triage as they tried to take my temperature. The Bradycardia happened again several times and...

Read More...

Lenghty Surgery

I will be having a serious lenghty surgery scheduled for June 2 2011. Will my heart doctor okay this surgery with my pacemaker which I had implanted 5-2007. The surgery is approximtely 6 hours long. The doctors doing the surgery have contacted my heart doctor for approval. I am very concerned about this.

Read More...

Thunder and Lightning!

Hi

As a new pacemaker individual I was wondering if thunder and lightning affects our pacemakers. Probably a ridiculous question but I don't want to take any risks ;-)

Sylvia

Read More...

Sore butt!

Hi all
I've just had a pacemaker installed as a Sacral Nerve Stimulator. So basically mine is implanted in my butt! So now the swelling has gone down I find it quite uncomfortable.

Is this normal? I'd be interested to hear about other experiences.

Thanks

MarkT

Read More...

Strange Sensation

Hi folks, has been a week today since my 2nd ICD implant. I have been told that I only pace in upper chambers although have never felt anything. However I have noticed to completely different sensations over the last few days.

1) occasionally a regular kinda twitch just about inch above nipple height which I am guessing is pacing?

2 a strange stinging sensation, only happens very occasionally but feels slightly unpleasant in approx the same location.

(nb. the 2...

Read More...

rishi

I had may pacemaker put in about three weeks ago, after 13 years I had a complete av heart block, but over the years, by some miracle, my av node had repaired itself.  I spoke to my PM Tech and he advised to have it changed just in case.  This depressed me.  So I had it done.  I had no problems after the opperation.  I had funny feelings on my left 2 fingers; is this because of my operation or is my nerve inflamed?  Will this go away?  I am...

Read More...

Fear of the Unknown - Reassurance

I just wanted to let folks know who may be facing surgery for the first time that it wasn't as bad as I had feared. I'm on Day 13 of my recovery, and I return to work tomorrow morning, bright and early:). So far, so good. I posted two pictures, one the morning immediately following implant, and one from today. The purpose of the pics and this quick post is only to reassure those who may be facing the same thing I was facing two Sunday nights ago. I was terrified, and there's really nothing...

Read More...

Incision Revision???

HI, Just had my 2nd PM impanted on May 2nd. My other posts describe a bout with pericardial effusion (now abating well) and issues with my EP. I decided to switch EP's and 1st give the same group a try but another location in the metroplex in which I live. This new EP saw I was upset with a rediculous amount of "puckering" in the new incision - not even scar tissue has developed yet. I told him I was not ready yet to wear turtlenecks in the summer :-0 He's agreed to redo the incision (next...

Read More...

Heart Palpitations

My mother is 87 and just received a Medtronic pacemaker about 3 weeks ago for sick sinus syndrome. She no longer has fainting spells but is experiencing heart palpitations/racing heart beat up to 115 beats per minute which lasts about 15 minutes each episode. This usually occurs upon exertion. We have told her that she can't do much of anything for about 3 more weeks as that is what they told her after surgery. She has gone to emergency but they just end up sending her home. We have called th...

Read More...

Recovery... the long and winding road

Was doing some computer cleanup and found a letter I had wrote mostly to myself over a year ago. Updated it and figured I would post it here for those it might help

Mortality: That funny thing that slaps you in the face when you suddenly realize that you are not immortal and that your body will not last forever. Worse than that it is that thing that reminds you that you have things left you wanted to do.

Mortality slapped me in the face almost a year ago when after my se...

Read More...

Post Surgery Limitations

I was advised by my cardiologist not to lift my left arm above my shoulder or even move it rapidly. How long will these restrictions apply? I had surgery 8 days ago.

Sylvia

Read More...

Replacement ICD

Hi, I'm 37yr old female and had ICD replaced yesterday, (first ICD implanted Mar 2005 after birth of my 2nd child). Although the consultant said the new device is slightly slimmer it is also slightly wider. It felt like an awful lot of tugging around occured during the surgery and eventually they made the pocket a bit bigger to accomodate ICD. Although I feel well it feels extremely bruised and tender ( a lot more so than I remember last time). Is this common? Also the implant looks much mo...

Read More...

Dizzy in Grocery Story

Hello Friends,
Am 9 days post a lead extraction and pm replacement. Initially got pericardial effusion (fluid in paricardial lining) and went into ICU for bottoming out BP. Yesterday had clean echocardiogram and EP says I am recovering well now. Tonight I went to make short trip to grocery store. After only 5 minutes, got a couple of very sharp pains in heart area, and got very dizzy - no vertigo, just sensation of going to pass out. Found place to sit and felt better. Mgr. brought m...

Read More...

pain and recovery

I just had my surgery on May 6th. Since I am left-handed my pacemaker was put on the right side. The back of my shoulder hurts and arm hurt. It’s like it is really sore and it really hurts to move my arm.

Are these normal symptoms?

Read More...

Hello

I had my pacemaker fitted 4 days ago as an emergency. Still cannot believe it - everything happened so fast. The symptoms had been missed by so many doctors.

Read More...

Recovery

Hello my name is Wade, I am 14 and had my pacemaker put in at age 8. The first surgery was a few years back and I had to be rushed to the ER because my parents thought I was having an asthma attack. I really had a complete heart block that my doctor of 8 years some how failed to notice. He said I had a case of asthma just like any other kid. After my surgery no symptoms of asthma were ever noticed and they are still gone, But when I had my second surgery over the summer 2010 something strange ha...

Read More...

Feeling the PM

Hi All,
Just had my PM installed 10 days ago. Still very sore at sight and toward arm. I was wondering if anyone feels their PM go off. When it is workong in the top part I barely feel it just a light tapping toward the upper inside of my left breast. When it is working in the bottom of my heart (no technical knowledge clearly) I get a shock feeling at the lower inside of my left breast. . Very noticeable, and uncomfortable. The PM clinic says all my numbers are good and say they've never...

Read More...

Transplant

Hi,

I’ve just joined the club and wish I had seen this site when I had my pacemaker six months ago ... it would have given me such comfort and support to know that I am not the only one with "weird" symptoms after surgery. It has taken me almost the whole six months to recover and they still have to get my pacing correct.

Anyways, to cut a long story short ... I wanted to know if there is information out there or anyone (with a pacemaker insitu) who has had ma...

Read More...

Left Arm Agony

I had my pacemaker put in 3 days ago and woke up with excruciating left arm pain. The back of the shoulder and the bicep throb with pain. The lower arm is numb, as is the thumb and next two fingers. When I move the arm pain shoots down to the tingling fingers. I can't sleep, and I doubt this is normal. The pain level has not abated at all. I'm taking 800 mg ibuprofen 4 times a day. Has anyone else experienced this , and what do you suggest I do about it? HELP! Thanks............

Read More...

Headaches 7 days after Pacemaker

Greetings from the royal wedding UK!! Great information, I am 54 y old male, I had a dual lead pacemaker fitted on April 21. Since 26th been really suffering with severe headaches for 4 days. Is there any link? or did any other members suffered similar post op symptons or have any tips? thanks

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You’re officially battery-operated.

Member Quotes

I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.