Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Heart Echo

Recently had a heart echo and it did not come back like I had hoped. During my Heart Attack, my EF was 30%. Four days after, I had v tack and ended up with an ICD. They did another echo about two weeks after my HA and EF was in the low 40's.

This echo shows my EF at 30-35. I know many people here have lower EF's but I am concerned that mine went down. I exercise faithfully everyday and am even to the point of jogging for 10 minutes at a time. The rest of my 60 minutes is walking...

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hi all

Its been a while since I visited. Had my second pacemaker implanted in 09 (Medtronic dual lead). No problems until recently. I began having 5 minute or so runs of VTach. Only around 160 bpm but enough to feel uneasy, including irregular beats and shortness of breath. Went to emergency room yesterday with one that was much longer in duration. Of course by the time I got there and was put on monitors the event was over and I had a nice steady beat and very normal sinus rhythm on the monitor. Cardi...

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electrical tool

Hi, I have just had a pacemaker fitted 2 weeks ago, can anyone tell me about using electric drills, grinders etc, also I have read that chainsaws are a no no ? Does anyone know if cordless tools are any safer to use ? ?

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healing well

Good Morning all! It has been 2.5 days since my PM was put in and I (now) feel pretty good, although the incision itches! IT is raised and angry looking too. So far, I am not getting dizzy or anything, but I do still feel my heart "flipping". Is that normal? My hr is set at 60-150 and I was running in the low 40's up to 170 (with extreme exercise). I also get flat out exhausted a few times a day. I will even fall asleep sitting wherever I am. Is this part of the healing process also? I have been...

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My dad

Hi all

My dad has been blacking out for a few years and has had all sorts of tests including tilt table. Earlier this year he had a reveal monitor placed In his chest which showed his heart was stopping for up to 10 seconds, causing the black outs. He then had a pacemaker fitted in May this year and has been great, no blackouts and seemed to be getting his confidence back. However, today I took him and mum shopping and he went as stiff as a board and just fell like a plank of wood to...

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Driving License Revoked For 6 Months post ICD fit

My husband had his ICD fitted in the UK earlier this month & was told by the doctor he would not be allowed to drive for one month post fitting, DVLA has now informed him he can not drive for six months & has had his license revoked for six months, pending checks ect!

Does anyone know of any ways this time period can be shortened?

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Replacement box

hello my very good friends - I am having my 4th pm on the 5th November, - bonfire night - hope everything goes without a hitch. My consultant has requested that he does the op and nobody else not sure why but I am having one that does everything lol, maybe the washing up, dusting etc. lol lol lol not sure if I should be worried by his instructions or highly honoured. - Hope everyone is feeling better and looking forward to santa. bit early I know but while I am in this frame of mind...

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Just got my PM two days ago. Surprise.

Hi, my name is Danielle. I am 25 years old and just received my first pacemaker two days ago (10/28/13). It was an emergency surgery and wasn't expected on my part. I knew a pacemaker was a possibility in my future after having two ablations, just wasn't expecting it Monday. I went in to my EPs office to discuss some results of a heart monitor and next thing I know I'm being told my heart is stopping for more then 6 seconds at a time along with being in junctional rhythm almost always. I was tol...

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questions on new pacemaker

Hi, I had my first pacemaker- a BIOTRONIK Evia- on 10/9. I seem to be healing well just have a few question. The last few days I am noticing a sting/pinch- like feeling where the pacer sits. It is short-term and not painful, just annoying. Anyone know if that is just the healing process?
Also, I was used to feeling my heartbeat all the time ( part of the hazard of dysautonomia). The first 10 days or so things were quiet and nice. Now I am starting to feel the beats again, mostly in the morn...

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Magnets 2

Reading the posts about magnets I had to grin and thought I would relay this story. Got home last Friday from the Thursday AV Node ablation and the Medtronics CRT implantation and while standing at the dining room table, my dear, dear wife pulls an item from a bag on the table and says "let me show you what I bought at the gift shop yesterday during your procedure". From the bag, she pulls a fourteen inch magnetic address block (the numbers magnetically stick to this block). After taking a few s...

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magnetic nametag

My work just started making everyone wear magnetic name tags. I thought it would be safe to wear it on th opposite side of my pacemaker but on the back of the name tag it reads "caution-magnetic device do notuse with pacemaker"
What do you think?
is it safe as long as its on the opposite side of my PM?

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shoulder and arm pain

I would really appreciate any input. I know I went through left arm and shoulder pain five years ago when I got my new first pacemaker. But now, after five years of no pain, it is back. Nothing I have tried gives me much relief. Anyone else have this or have any ideas? thankyou, Ann

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Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If yo...

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Just a quick check in

Hope everybody is doing good.

Still in and out the hospital. Had trouble last week with fluid and had to go in for a couple days. Also had another echo scan of my heart. Not much of a change there. Just a little bit lower. Had a PM read done and they adjusted that some. That was a first in over two years. The EP and cardo doctors are talking about adding a 4th wire now. It seams that the wire to the left side of my heart is not working all that good anymore were it is located at. That...

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sss and feeling of heart racing

I have a pacemaker for Sick Sinus Syndrome. I get the feeling often of may heart racing. I will check my pulse and it will be at 92bpm. Im just wondering if that means my heart rate dropped so low that it caused the pacemaker to kick on. Does anyone experience this or know why im feeling this. My bpm is always at 92 when I have this feeling. I only notice this if im relaxing (sitting or laying down).

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Learning To Adjust

I have three concerns: (1) I must move a lot in my sleep, because the battery pack shifts, sometimes it's side ways. I'm afraid to reposition it for fear I may twist it. (2) I'm in the ministry so I'm in constant need of my laptop. However, I get so many strange sensations and ultimately fatigue. I stopped using it and turned to my Kindle Fire. How do the rest of you handle this situation? (3) Last, is there a Support Group in the Chicago area? If not, are any of you interested in bein...

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A Brief History of Medicine



2000 B.C. -- Here, eat this root.

1000 A.D. -- That root is heathen. Say this prayer.

1850 A.D. -- That prayer is superstition. Drink this potion.

1940 A.D. -- That potion is snake oil. Swallow this pill.

1985 A.D. -- That pill is ineffective. Take this antibiotic.

2008 A.D. -- That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.

2013 A.D. -- Will that root affect my Pacemaker ?

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heart zings

I just had a av ablation and pm implanted. The second day I began having electric zings in my heart in different positions, lying flat on the floor and sitting primarily. Also the pain in my shoulder seems more intense than most people describe. Has anyone else had these issues.

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New Member, getting a pacemaker December 3rd

Hi Everybody,
I'm a 35 yr old male and I have been living with afib which has been getting progressively worse for 7 years now. The Dr's believe it is caused by scar tissue from the heart surgery I had when I was 3. They have tried countless medications, I've been cardioverted at least 10 times and they have tried 4 ablations with little to no success.
They will be putting in a biventrical pacemaker on December 3rd, a few weeks later they will be doing an AV node ablation.
I'm ju...

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Good Afternoon :-)

Just wanted to say a quick "Hello".
Not been on the site lately so l am hoping all my "old mates" are doing well.
l have been fine just oh so busy, have been house hunting & finally we have the one we wanted but what hard work !!!
Am busy packing for my hols today we are off to S Africa tomorrow (weather permitting) so as you can imagine plenty going on at the mo'
Hopefully when we get back at the end of next month, the house move will go smoothly & l will be a bit more activ...

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