Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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Skipped Beats 6 weeks post pm

Posted this as a comment but decided it should be a new Post instead.
I've had the PM for 6 weeks now. My 6 week check was scheduled at 7 weeks so I have to wait the extra week.
Everything has been really fine up until today. I'm running a Wilderness First Aid class and though I'm busy I'm not doing anything strenuous. I started feeling funny and checked pulse- slightly fast and not pounding, but skipping a beat every 6-8 beats. This has continued on and off for several hours but now t...

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PM implant

Hi, I had my PM implant 6 weeks ago. It is now swollen near my armpit and when I press on the swollen area I can feel something hard. Is this normal or could it be that the PM has moved?

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Surgery while wearing a pacer

I am having minor below the belt surgery contemplated in the near future. The daoctor says that they will just place a magnet over the pacer and that will stop it until the surgery is finished. Then they remove the magnet and the pacer is supposed to start up agin on its own. Has anyone out there ever heard of this?
Thanks
Ken

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Having a heart cath on Friday

Hi everyone, Those big episodes of A-fib are hopefully going to be a thing of the past when I have a heart cath on Friday. I'm not freaking out really, because so many of you were so kind to share your experiences, and it's supposed to be a pretty straight-forward procedure. I am just in wonder about how someone who doesn't smoke or drink, who eats a vegetable-based diet, exercises and has been on Lipitor for over 5 years, can need a pacemaker and then a heart cath for suspected blockage(s). I'...

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Possible Infection ?

Hi All,
I just passed the 1 month mark of my PM implant. All seemed to be going well enough but I've had a spot on my incision where (I think) a stitch was that suddenly got red. Yesterday I pushed around the area and some pus and blood came out. Not a lot but it did catch me off guard.

I'll call my doc this morning but was wondering - has anyone else had this happen and if so how concerned should I be? The rest of the incision looks fine, just this one spot.

A...

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Just had mine put in.

Hello all,
I am so glad to find this site.
I just had a pacemaker put in 8 days ago. I am surprised of how I am feeling I keep hearing stories of people who got one and they say they feel great it is the best thing ever. For some reason I thought I would be so happy. Now I am very happy to not have skipped beats and total heart block any more but there is some part of me that feels kinda sad and a little scared that a batterie and leads is what is keeping me alive. So I feel bad for...

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21 day monitor

Hi all,

Back in August I had an ablation, for my A-fib. Now my EP, wants to set me up with a monitor that I wear on my belt. If I have any irregularity, I am supposed to press a button, which would set off the recorder in my PM.

Has anyone had this monitor? How comfortable is it to wear?

I have a rather rough and tumble job. So, how sturdy is it?

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Worried about surgery

I am scheduled for a pacemaker. I have a fast rhythm in one chamber and too slow in the other. I feel great, have no symptoms except maybe a little dizziness occasionally (none since last Feb) I am just so up tight about having this done as I don’t have symptoms. My ekg and monitor, which I wore for 24 hours, showed my heart stopped for 3 seconds several times. Have any of you had this done when you had no symptoms, not tired or passing out. Also they told me I probably need to go on...

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av node ablation for IST

I know that many of you had AV node ablation for atrial fibrillation. In my case, I don't have that, but inappropriate sinus tachycardia. I've had 6 ablations (including 2 SA node modifications and 1 complete SA node ablation with implantation of a pacemaker). Nothing helped. My EP now suggested AV node ablation. My other EPs told me that it could cause asynchrony and that it wasn't a good choice for someone my age (I'm 27). But this new EP says that he can avoid that with what I believe is resy...

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Best/Good hospital for ICD implant

hi, I had my ICD implanted in 2003 at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. Its almost time to be replaced. But I would like to find a hospital thats good at replacing leads if need be along with the ICD implantation procedure. Just in case. Taking the leads out scares me. Anyone recommend a good, better, best hospital anywhere in the US? Thanks.

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10 day checkup

Wow! I am sooo excited! I had my checkup today and my dressing removed and all is great. Healing very well excpet for one stitch left in and was told they would take that out at my next appointment if it is still there. My settings are perfect with no adjustments needed. My PM has kicked in 60% of the time on the top lead, but very little on the bottom lead which I thought was a lot but just tells me that "yes I really need this thing". I feel wonderful, without any of the early symptoms....

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Just got a pacemaker

Hi just found this site and read some of the previous messages. I got my pace maker last Friday and thought I'd feel great but I don't!! I had sinus bradycardia and have my pacemaker set at 60, expected to feel full of energy and my palpitations to be gone but neither has happened!! Feel a bit depressed about the whole thing and kind of wish I hadn't gone through with it since I don't feel any better. I have a strange pain in my throat like a stabbing pain/lump when I bend over or lie on my side...

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Can you see your PM?

I'm 35 years old and might be getting a PM. My primary doctor told me to prepare for one but I have to see what my Cardiologist says. I see him in 2 days.
Can you see your PM when you wear tank tops and such? I have seen some that look very obvious. Just wondering if they can implant them deeper so you can't see them.

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Muscle soreness

I had a PM put in August 16 and I'm still tender and sore. I don't even like the seat belt (w/fleece cover) touching my pm site and if I bump it it hurts a lot. I'm usually really good about handling pain, but this seems to be going on too long. My doctor is so vague about recovery time and I know it varies for people and because of body types. Any input from your experience would be great.
Thanks!
Tina

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How long were you off work after your PM implant?

Hi everyone,
I am pretty sure that I will be receiving a PM but wondering how long were you off work?
I only work 3 hours a day in a preschool class at a school district and my job is not that stressful. I am wondering how long I need to take off work.
I just got this job and I don't want to take more than a week off.
I have 4 weeks off in Dec/Jan but long story short I can't wait that long because my husband broke his back in July and we will be running out of medical ben...

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Finally It's my turn!


Hello!
Finally I'm on a count down to having my PM implant. I leave tomorrow morning. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 Tuesday morning but we live 165 miles from the hospital so we will have to spend tomorrow night in a motel. I'm excited and a little anxious at the same time. I'm suppose to only have to stay overnight so I'm hoping to be home on Wednesday.

We spent the weekend at the cabin with all the grandkids and their spouses. We had a great time and the tim...

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Sickness

Hi I was reading some of your postsvand would like to ask a question.
My grandson, who is eight, had his PM fitted Tuesday past. Tonight he was sick, but he had done a lot of walking and I think may have overdone it.
Has anyone any knowledge of post op sickness?

Regards
Ewen

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Just recieved a PM

So I just got a pacemaker put in on wednesday. I had a horrible experience. I'm 26 and this is nothing like id hope it turn out to be. I've been having horrible chest pain like a heart attack... doc said that's not uncommon because I have a screw in my heart and it could leak enzymes which could cause chest pain. I've been having weird rhythms that I can feel. My heart rate was at 34 before surgery now its set at 50. I have a complete heart block. To me it feels like my heart is trying to go bac...

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Recovery Still?

So I had surgery for a PM in June 2010. My first PM. You all have welcomed me with open arms and offered up great advice with some of my physical and personal issues. I appreciate it more than you could imagine. It's hard to talk to somebody who doesn't know what you are going through. As much as they try to support you, its just not the same as talking to somebody who has a PM.

With that being said, as I mentioned, my PM surgery was 6/2/10 and I am actually coping much better now wi...

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Newly "wired"

I'm now a full member after having my pm implanted on Sept 30th. The ep doc & his team were great and so far everything seems to be going well. Like a lot of people, I got conflicting info when it came to showers, driving, when I can return to work, etc. My dr, the nurses, everyone was pretty clear on not raising my left arm above my shoulder while the leads (I have a dual chamber pm) get attached. Now I'm a bit paranoid so here's my question - would I know if a lead came loose? I'm up and a...

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I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.