Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Sex

Any males had trouble having sex with the current meds you take ? I'm 38 and I have ....... Pradaxa - Sotalol - Enalapril ....... Can't get a good erection or keep one since I've been on this medicine and I'm sick of it ....... I hate this pacemaker - these meds and can't even have sex with my wife .......

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Hi

Just saying hi to all. I just joined today. Actually "got wired" in June of 2013. Have had idiopathic cardiomyopathy since 2003, but was controlled with medications. Recently had routine echo, which showed heart had enlarged significantly and EJ was 24. That's below what it was before initial diagnosis. Hence, the trip to the electrician and a diagnosis of CHF and installation of ICD. Things seem fine so far. Ran across this site by accident and thought it might be a good thing to join....

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Nervous

Had a stroke 2 years ago. My doctor is now telling me I need to have a pacemaker. I don't feel I need one, but what do I know. I have so many questions and really don't want to do this period. The wife suggested a support group might set my mind at ease if I talked with another person who had the same questions, what ifs, concerns regarding my future, work, fun, etc. I have all these things racing through my brain 24/7.
So hear I am.

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New here...

Hi..I am new here, but hoping this will do me some good.

My heart history is very complicated and a long story- but the quickest version I can give is: I got into a car accident 7 years ago when I was 22 that should have killed me; I had severed my coronary artery, ruptured my tricuspid valve, had 3 rips in my heart and suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, I crossed paths with AMAZING doctors and had emergency open heart surgery which saved me. After that I had PVC's that slowly got...

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Back to work!

I survived my first day back in the clinic! Everything was fine, in fact, the day passed quickly. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement, it is appreciated!

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Alternative of Pacemaker

Can you suggest us Any Alternative of Pacemaker.

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Lucky me

Hi everyone. I'm a 63 year old fit and slim male new to the Club. On the morning of June 21st I collapsed in the shower at our North Wales beach house, then again outside whilst loading the car prior to a 3hr drive home. Quick visit to local doc who told me my BP was very low at 90/60 and to delay drive home for a short while plus go and rehydrate and lie down. Collapsed again back at the house then twice more by which time my wife had called 999. Paramedic arrived in 3 mins and detected ectopi...

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Could there be a setting problem

Thank you everyone for your concern. Inga, your posting was most helpful.
Just to reiterate...I was put on Coumadin AFTER the stroke occurred. (Should have been before - Hah). I had just had a serious operation and of course blood clots naturally, but more so and went to my brain within hours of the operation. That was 13 years ago. That's how long I've been on Coumadin/Warfarin. I was told to take a 81mg aspirin too. As far as Plavix. ...when I had a stent placed last September. I...

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Using all three leads

I haven't posted in quite a while. I had a CRT-D implanted January 31st this year. Just a little over 6 months. I am monitored at night by St. Joseph and they do a down load every 91 days. It was a hard sugery for me as the device is pretty big and I chose to have it placed underneath my muscle so it would not show. I am small so getting the opening big enough was a challenge for the surgeon. There is a bump or mound there but no one would notice. I am just now getting back to normal, what ev...

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Update on my Afib

Hi All,

Well, my rhythm is finally normal. I got my PM on June 6th and it's working fine but my heart's been out of rhythm. I thought the Dr was going to shock the heart to reset it, but has been giving me tons of meds. The PM Clinic says my heart has been in rhythm for over a month but the Cardio says it's still out of rhythm...until last Monday.

The Meds he gave me are making me really sick. I have uncontrollable diarrhea (20 to 30 min or less after I eat ), nauseous,...

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Shoulder and Site Pain

Hi all,
Has anyone had any difficulty with shoulder/joint/site pain and have had the luck of insurance covering physical therapy?

I've had my PM for just shy of 4 years and have always had trouble rotating my arm after the surgery...but it wasn't until joining the gym that I truly noticed how uneven my range of motion was when compared to the other arm...and its hurts!

Thanks for any info!

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Club spirit

Hi all!

The question popped up here, why mostly the same members always answer all the questions. In my opinion this is definitely not because only certain views are allowed or welcomed, but rather because quite a lot of members never really actively engage. So, I thought it would be a good idea to remind people of what Blake posted under "club spirit":

Get Involved
Post messages
Reply to postings
Upload your photo
Join a chat session
Send private...

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Still not feeling great.

Hi all.

I'm 5 weeks out from having a PM implanted for bradycardia. The monitor recorded my HR in the 40s at night and 50s during the day. I also have neurocardiogenic syncope diagnosed after passing out during the head tilt test. Everybody told me how much better I would feel after having the PM fitted and how much energy I would have. Well, the energy level hasn't improved much, if any, and frankly, I'm having periods of rapid heartbeats now that I didn't have before. Also when...

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hacking pacemakers...

Ok, hopefully some of our tech oriented members will be able to address this issue. I just saw a report about a hacker's convention, and one of the hackers talked about being able to hack into pacemakers... hmmmm that doesn't sound good at all....just wondering about the possibilities and /or repercussiions of such...should we as a group be concerned about this..? I'm not sure why a hacker would do this unless just to prove that he or she could...But, what if anything can one do to avoid or...

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Low rates

Question--could the slower heart rates 40's 50's and an occasional high 30's (only at night) be the reason I feel so crappy during the day?? sometimes I notice that my HR will dip into the high 40's and 50's during the day at rest (don't know what it's doing other times) but I'm beginning to feel so tired sometimes. (if needed) would a PM help with that?? I'm beginning to feel like an 80 year old weighing 500 lbs ha (i'm only 53 and weigh 213 which is way too much but last year I didn't feel lik...

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Do I need to do light duties?

Hi all just a question if anyone knows I am due to go back to work on the 21st August from having 6 weeks of due to having a pacemaker fitted work have asked if I am ok to be doing everything as normal or light duties to start with I am a full time hairdresser please advise if you know. I am still sore does this take time to go ?

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Jokes

This one isn't very good, but I guess it's a joke LOL:

A man comes home from work and can’t find his wife. After looking all over the house he finds her in the bedroom as naked as a jay bird standing in front of a mirror looking at herself. She had recently had a pacemaker installed.

The man yells at his wife “What are you doing?”

The wife replies “I had a doctor’s appointment today and the doc checked out the PM scar and in the course of the exam he sa...

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7 wk PO update- Infection in pocket

Greetings all - I'm just waiting out a 10 day course of antibiotics in hopes it kills off my infection. Not a lot of improvement thus far. The doc said I am getting the equivalent of an IV dosage in oral pills of Clindamycin HCL. Cultures and CBC were normal. Infection is localized in pocket. No fever or chills. Friday is day 10. The doc will decide next step, although he explained PM and leads likely will be removed and new set implanted on right side. Left side infection will be treat...

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ERI

Hi. I am a 62 year old female with Medtronic PM placed 2005. 100% dependent. I have 1-8 months left on this pacemaker. I have been seen by 2 cardiologists & 1 surgeon. since April as well as monthly in office follow ups.. I want to have the PM changed now rather than wait for ERI & neither Dr. will do it . We travel internationally a lot due to my husbands work. The Drs are completely insensitive to my pleas. Has anyone had their replaced before ERI

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Returning to work

I will be returning to work this week after 6 weeks off post pm. I am the sole nurse practitioner in a very busy rural health clinic and am very apprehensive. My patients are complicated with multiple medical issues and I am responsible for all clinical decisions, prescriptions, etc. It is also time to do the annual budget, grant renewal, and we are implementing a new EMR. The thought of returning is overwhelming. Did anyone else feel this way after surgery? I have enjoyed my time off and fee...

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

Member Quotes

Just because you have a device doesn't mean you are damaged goods and can't do anything worthwhile and have to lie down and die. In fact, you're better and stronger. You're bionic!