Most Recent Messages in Surgery & Recovery

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5o yo doc

Thanks to all that responded. Went ahead with the pacer yesterday thought I would trust the EP didn't want to miss time from work or stop driving cause I might black out. He told me it wouldn't get better, funny my symptoms were from multiple PVC's and the pacer wouldn't cure that so I am on flecainide an antiarrythmic that is what has made me feel better but according to the EP( electrophysiologist) I needed the pacer to be safe. Over night at the hospital it paced 29% of the time. It's the med...

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bi valve pacemaker defibrilator

Hello all; i am very happy to find this site.. i am a 72 year old male . i have a guidant pacemaker tha woks well for the last 6 years I am a symptomatic but I have a low ejection fraction of about 25% My cardiogolisrs office , called me friday and told me he wanted to send my records to st barnabus hospital in livingston new jersey and is recommending that I have a bi valve pacemaker defibrilator implanted in me..I am very hesitant to have this done because of all the recalls of medtronic lea...

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What were they doing?

During my recent pacemaker implant, I was of course heavily sedated but woke up during the procedure to a lot of pain - it felt like something was being jammed into my chest (above my left breast). When I started talking (hello that hurts!) the doctor said that I shouldn't talk because it could collapse my lung. What I'm wondering is...what was he doing? I thought the leads were fed in through veins, so what could collapse a lung?

I read in someone else's post here about the surger...

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New pacemaker

Hi Friends,

Do you have also problems too make an appointment bij the
pm-controller.? Last nov. I had problems with my pm.I felt terrible,specially at night.My doctor could not find anything and he has too made an appointment fo me.He talked with my cardiologist and I got a holter for 24 hours. Two months before that my pm-controller asked me if I had an accident.He thought there was something with one of the leads.He discussed it with my cardiologist and changed something of the...

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Helping my Dad!

My Dad had a defibulator/pacemaker implanted 3 weeks ago. He is 77 years old and doesn't use the computer but I am worried about him and found you all online. HE doesn't really have any specific complaints but just generally does not feel good. The incision and site he says he cannot even feel anymore. He does really have any energy, wants to sleep all day and no zest for life or going back to work. I think he is just in a funk because this is life changing and one of his first realities to agin...

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Thank-you

I am still pretty fragile(3 weeks post implant). It is very comforting to know that my problems for the most part are not unique. I went back to work last week. I still do not have the stamina that I would like, but being back in the office was therapeutic. I am moving on, albeit slower than I have anticipated. It is easier to move on having had the benefit of the comments from a "caring group of new chatline friends". I had an appointment @ PM clinic thurs. and my ventricular setting was set lo...

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Sleeping problems ~ settings?

Hello, I am new to this site and just registered. I received my dual chamber pacemaker 3 weeks ago. My heart health problems are "new" in the past few months, my heart block developed suddenly along with syncope symptoms. The recovery time seems dreadfully long, but I believe my recovery is halted somewhat because I am having trouble sleeping. Prior to receiving my pacemaker I rarely had sleepless nights. I have enjoyed being able to sleep well and wake refreshed. I imagine part of my trou...

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No stamina and very sore arm and neck

I am now 2.5 weeks past PM insertion and I was told by my medical people that "some patients are back to work within a week". I have a desk job and tried to go back to work half days last week. I found the following: I have no stamina. Secondly, I have a very stiff and sore neck. Thirdly I have a weak and sore left arm. Is this normal?


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Recovered?

I know some of you have had complications but I seem to have been one of the lucky individuals for whom the surgery and recovery went smoothly. I'm 3 months and 6 days post implant and this morning over coffee I noted that I was completely physically unaware of the PM, surgery site or anything out of the ordinary. The incision is completely healed with very minimal scaring - really just a line about two inches long. No discomfort from the PM pocket. No awareness of pacing. I have full mobi...

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How should it look?

Hi

I am always asking questions! Getting on for five weeks after my dual chamber pacemaker was put it. The area is still a bit swollen but the bruising which was very bad has almost gone. I am concerned about the site - it is very raised and I can feel the hardness of the pacemaker protruding on one side much more than the other. This is visible as well.

The scar is raised and hard like a bone on top of the raised site of the pacemaker - it just doesn't feel right. Hav...

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still very young

First i need to thank you all for existing; ever since my heart block (15 sec. in arrest) and emergency PM on Friday, 29th I've been recovering at home and your messages here have been a Gpdsend of informatin and support.
I've never had any heart problems so I am very new at this and puzzled by my new life as a bionic woman.
Physically I am pretty well (though still weak) but emotionally I am a wreck. When will I feel normal again?
It's been almost a week and I am still tired an...

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won't need a pacemaker anymore

i was told by my cardiologist that i will need a new heart because of my left ventrical collapsing, anyways i have had my pacemaker since i was just 6 month old and i am now 21 going to 22 what i need to know is that if you know anybody who has had a pacemaker for more than 2 decades and then have it removed from them, no longer needing it, i need to know if i will be the first person in history to have my pacemaker for more then 2 decades then not needed anymore.

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thanks for the support..

I POSTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO AS A NEW MEMBER AFTER HAVING A PM PUT IN AFTER 3 UNSUCCESSFUL ABLATIONS AND JUST HAD GONE THROUGH THE SURGERY..I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT HAS RESPONDED. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN GREAT AND VERY ENCOURAGING IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME..KIM

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WHY DO I HURT

Dec. 13 2007 I had a Guidant ICD implanted. Within a week I had to have the a hematoma on the site evacuated. Since that time I have had pain (level 8-10) at the site each morning and pain (level 3-6) during each day. I actually do feel better after the installtion of the defib' except for the site pain.
The installation physician can give me no help and has dismissed me back to my Cardiologist. His only solution was to remove the difib'. Relocating he said wa...

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SURGERY ON UTUBE

Dont forget to go into Utube on the internet and type in Changing The Beat in the seach box to watch the 1 hour video on surgery and complications with pacemakers etc. Dont watch it if you cant stand the sight of blood. Cheers Peter

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Recovery Update

Hey,

I'm an active 45 year old and just wanted to add a quick note to say that two weeks out from my lead replacement and new PM, things are still going well and I feel almost 100%. Every now and then I'll use my left arm a little too much and my site will start to ache, but I still have about 10 pain pills left from when I was released from the hospital so that's covered. :)

Even thought things have gone pretty smooth, something about checking in here from time to time...

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pain

I just discovered this site and am happy to see all that has been written as it helps me to understand myself and my concerns. It has been 4 weeks since surgery. It came from out of the blue. Totally unexpected! A doctors visit, a cardiogram, to the hospital, and next day surgery. I still have pain, a burning pain at the site. It's not intolerable, but causes me concern. Also, No energy. Early on I was taking walks but now don't feel like doing anything. Maybe I am depressed. They gave me a chem...

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Pain

Well it has been 9 weeks since my surgery and my swelling has finally gone down. I am very happy with how things turned out with my surgery but there are a few things that are a little wrong. My scar is a little lumpy and itches like crazy at times. And there are times where I have shooting pains in my arm pit area. You cant see pacemaker except for when I lift my arm you can kinda notice a little difference in the area. Has anyone experienced anything like this?


Thank...

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Females

Hello I have a question about wearing a bra. I am 3wks post-op and am now wearing a strapless bra. I have heard that some people can never wear a regular bra again because it rubs against the scar. Does anyone have any experience in this?

Thanks,

Holly

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heart failure / ICD healing

I am almost 3 weeks post op from a bi-ventricular pacemaker/defibrillator. I was checked at the pacemaker clinic last week and they said everything is fine. However, I feel somewhat out of breath and my heart is racing a bit (up to low 100s) when I'm just walking around normally. I'm in heart failure, but this feels worse than it did before the ICD. Is this just a part of the healing process or do I need to call the dr again? I appreciate your thoughts.

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