Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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caffine/Coffee/Dleep

Hello every one, Still above the dirt... 2 wire pm still doing a good job. My question short and brief. Does coffee wake you up.
I do not even seem to be effected by coffee. And another question. They still have my pm set st 80 fixed after 2 years. Any one else in this same ride?.
Pete Damron
Texas.

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sniffles

Hi everyone well my surgery is tomorrow 1st am sooo nervous now just want it over hope i dont get put off again as iv got the sniffles not much of them but its there started yest hoping it dosnt develope further before tomoz not sneezing or caughing no temp just snuffly anyone else have there pm done when they had a bit of cold? i know you get antibiotics iv so suppose i should be safe that way.

kimbo

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Another good article on patient education

Hi!

Here's another good article on patient education, this time by Dr. Kevin Campbell:

https://drkevincampbellmd.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/helping-patients-successfully-weigh-options-effectively-discussing-risks-and-benefits-prior-to-procedures/

I read the study he mentions about ICD patients, and it seems that since this has been published more and more cardios have started thinking about how to better inform and prepare their patients. It was about time!
<...

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All you need is love !

1. Missing a heartbeat when you think of him/her.
You think it's: Love
Medical possibility: Tachycardia which may lead to ventricular fibrillation and Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack).

2. Restless trembling of hands, feet and other body parts.
You think it's: Love
Medical possibility: Parkinson's Disease

3. Constant smiling.
You think it's: Love
Medical possibility: Bell's Palsy

4. Absent mindedness, forgetfulness, inability to f...

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Hello New Family!

I am so amazed at how wonderful and helpful everyone is in this forum. Thanks in advance to all.
I have just turned 70 and due to a six month period of daily and frequent PVC's that lasted a long time and caused my blood pressure to become very low (50's/40's &some 36's) they have decided that a PM will be the best solution for me. It will be implanted next monday 3/4/13 as an out-patient. Eight years ago I had a minor heart attack, however still have 90% of my heart functioning and a healt...

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Military

For those who are interested in military service with a pacemaker, the only option I have found is State Guard service. Not every state has a state guard service.
State guard is focused on serving the state you live in. You will not be deployed over seas let alone out of your home state and you wont be paid at all, in fact you as the recruit have to provide the uniform in most cases. However there are some benefits to joining the state guard, like gaining rank and experience and transfe...

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questions"

I received my pacemaker on January 1, 2013. due to heart block. I have an exhausted feeling most days Doctors have cut the Lopressor I'd been taking for 20 plus years, from 50 mg twice a day to 25mg twice a day Last week the cardio doctor thought I could be dehydrated and stopped the water pill I had been on for years. This has seemed to help, but still tired . I turned 70 a week before surgery and had led a very active lifestyle. No doctor seems to think anything is wrong, just time will...

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mamogram

Has any of the women out there with a PM ever had a mamogram? Is it painful to have one with all that pressure and pulling they do? Any suggestions/thoughts etc. would be appreciated.

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Morning people

Had a ruff day yesterday. First thing after getting up, I had to take some nitro and that is how the rest of my day went till around 2pm and had to go to the ER. They pumped me full of pain meds and sent me home. I will be heading to New Orleans today.

Passed a bad night with chills and sweating my butt off but no fever. I'm thinking I have another infection in my hickman again. This crap has to stop. I'm at my ends again. Getting up at 12:30 am is not good.

Ya'll taker ca...

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magnetic clip on a necklace

I just received an expensive 18" bronze necklace as a gift that has a magnetic clasp rather than the traditional lobster claw clasp. The magnetic clasp is small but has enough power to hold a weighty necklace together. If the necklace travels so that the clasp migrates to the front, it will probably be about 3" away from my pacer. I have never worn such clasps since I had my pacer implanted 8 years ago. I did a search of old posts and did not find anything to give me and information. Has anyon...

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Nebraskans

Are there any other Nebraskans in here ?

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Aviation related

I am now 2 months post-op for a PM and Defib. Im told by docs that i can "never again" fly helicopters. Ive also been told "no more skydiving." (3 decades of both of those.) At least I can still ride my scooter, otherwise, what's the point?!?
I am interested in taking up Powered-Parachute flying, but don't know if my devices will be compromised by the vibes and/or proximity to a high-powered 2-stroke engine on/near my back.
Do we have anyone on this site with this type experience?...

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new member here

hello my name is scott i am 41 i had my pacemaker put in about a year ago. Two years ago i had open heart surgery for a blood clot on my mitral valve after some complcations i had to get a heart ablation then i was passing out again my heart rate was in the thirtys i was told i have left side heart faliure and 3rd degree heart block now ive been tired alot and getting dizzy when i lay down and sometimes i feel my heart beating irregular my pacemaker works 97 percent of the time on top and 30 on...

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Checkup



Hi folks

I haven't posted news in a while but will say I am off tomorrow to Hobart. A five hour drive, for my PM check and Cardio check. My husband Brian also has to see the same Prof for a yearly cardiac check..

I feel ok. I just get so terribly tired but I think it is because I have too much to do. My husband has a lump on his spine and a spur which he sees the specialist about on 23 March. Brian is crippled with pain leaving me to do all the hard yakka.<...

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pacemaker dependence

I went to my dr. today and got ok about pacemaker shifting. The problem I am now faced with is that my heart top is only working on its own 14% of the time, the bottom only 6% so the pacemaker is doing most of the work. what happens if the pacemaker has to do 100 % of the work? I was told not to worry that the battery had about 10yrs on it, does the pacemaker still do the job of your heart? all of my check up signs are perfect so i have no problems with any thing else. thanks for everyones help...

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Pradaxa blood thinner and Chemo.

Hi, folks not such great news as had a tiny cancer rmoved and lumpectomy and now chemo. :( and Radiation and the pacemaker will have to be removed from the right side to the left so most of this year taken up and having difficulty coping but just have to, as chemo.starts this week.
Just wondered has anyone else had chemo with a pacer and blood thinner?
All the very best
Phyl.

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What is the famous pacemaker in France?

Hi everyone,

I just started to work with the company which made parts of elements in the pacemaker. And as I know there are some quiet famous companies like Guidant/ Medtronic/ St. Jude medical/ biotronik/ Sorin Group etc..
However, I wanna know if there are some famous pacemaker companies in France? I looked it up on the internet, but there seems no have much information about that.

Does anyone can kindly give me some answer? or how I should find the information?

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US Healthcare Billing Practices

Just read an informative Time Magazine (March 04, 2013 issue) article about why US health care spending is so out of control. In the article, the reporter touched on medical devices and how these are typically marked up 2.5 times the cost.

I gained a better understanding of how my own hospital bill could top $185,000.00 for 2 days stay. You read that correctly, $185K for 2 days hospital stay without any complications and having a CRT-D implanted. The goods news was I have excellent...

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Conscious of Heart Beating

Should I be feeling anything from the normal operation of my pacemaker? At various times (there is no pattern) I am conscious of my heart beating. The episodes last for a few minutes at a time. I have an ADDR01 Adapta DR Pacemaker implanted for bradycardia 12-18-12. I had been fainting occasionally before I received the pacemaker. I am an 85 year old active female in generally good health with hypertension, hypothyroidism and type II diabetes. Thanks in advance for any input you can give m...

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Wait and see approach?

I had a pacemaker/icd implanted 11/29/12. I have IHSS/Cardiomyapathy (open heart in 2000 to filet the outflow track) I've recently developed an issue with frequent fainting due to rhythm issues. Thus the implant.

Unfortunately it took a few weeks for the device check folks to figure out why I was feeling such a strong "snap" in my torso. The "fix" was easy enough: turned down the voltage. After a number of other adjustments in my settings I'm feeling much better. (for that I'...

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You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

Member Quotes

I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.