Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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a quick question

Hello and happy holidays...Had my PM since June 11th and it seems that the connector is sticking out more then usual it may be because the swelling went down but not sure.Maybe I'm noticing it more. I'm not having any problems as far as my health goes but just want to see if this is something everyone else is feeling or is it in my head?

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CRT pacemaker history

I am waiting for an Av node ablation and CRT pacemaker for heart failure and A-fib. It was scheduled for 29 October, cancelled an hour before surgery time. It's been a huge jolt to me emotionally and physically but I am getting counselling which is giving me help/courage to return to the hospital on 10 Dec. I was told that I will be getting a Medtronic device, hope they have not given it away or lost it! Trying to use a little humour to help with the stress of all this.
Anyway, I have som...

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Hormones and Pacemakers

I had my PM implanted on October 1st for Bradycardia, 5 days after having ablation for Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia (1 week after discovering my potassium had dropped to a severely low level). I passed out in July for the first time, never even feeling close before. 3 years ago during my divorce my blood pressure was really high and I was put on meds. Prior to that I never had any medical issues. My PM was put in during an ER visit, my heart rate dropped to 30 after the ablation. My EP was...

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Tattoos

I am terrified of passing out, and the hospital will attempt a MRI. I know that won't happen, but... So, I decided to get a tattoo of my Medtronic PM directly over the PM. I asked my Cardiologist, and he said no... He told me, he did not want to have to worry about the TAT, when he replaced the PM, after the battery dies.

Has anyone had the same response? If so, are there any suggestions, as to how i can point out the PM?

Thank you.

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Afib

This is to Roy: I thank you so much for responding to my comment and questions! Thank you for the website you gave me. I will check it out. Wishing you better day today than yesterday and each tomorrow brighter still.

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Biotronik Entrovis DR-T

Does anyone on the message board have a Biotronik Entrovis DR-T pacemaker implant? It is supposed to be immune from the effects of an MRI. It is in clinical trials but is approved throughout Europe. I've had some issues with mine. Let me know. Comments welcome!

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Why did happen to me

Hello everyone, I just got PM 3 weeks ago. I'm still very sad...about this....I'm 43y old, healthy ,I dont smoke or drink and no drug, my family didnot have any thing about the " heart" problem....but I don't know why it happen to me . The doc didnot know why....my life is going to change sine that ( I cried almost every night)....Would someone tell me ....how long the PM use to work?.....do I have to sergury after afew years......am i going back to normal life?...

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Overwhelmed

Hello, I have paroxsymal vagally mediated atrial fibrillation. It started about 5 years ago. In the last year I have had 8 episodes that last about 3 to 4 hours. Three of those episodes have been in the last 10 days and I believe they were first triggered by the medication I took to slow my heart rate. I was taking it on a daily basis for a year and it became too much. Now my heart rate is staying in the 50s but my heart (or the vagus nerve) is so sensitive that many things will, it seems,...

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Electrical and Plumbing Problems

I have both types of heart problems, Heart attack, stent, congestive heart failure, ventricular tachycardia (hence the reason for the ICD). It has been nearly six months since everything happened. Will the emotional roller coaster that I feel I am riding ever get better? I was always a very strong person. Extremely healthy, independent, stubborn and tough. Now I am emotional, cry at the drop of a hat and feel waves of sadness. I'm good when I am at work but when I come home it starts. I hav...

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Merlin home monitor

ST JUDE TRANSMITTER HOME MONITOR.DO THEY CALL YOU WITH THE RESULTS AND IF SO HOW LONG AFTER THE READING?

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100% dependent battery replacement

OK - obviously having just had my implant 5'weeks ago this is not a pressing question but I am curious. If I am 100% dependent! how do they change my battery when the time comes. Will they just let my heart stop?

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First pacemaker questions :)

I am going to give you guys some of my background for my question. I had a Medtronics pacemaker implanted august of this year. This is my first device and I am 25 years old. I was diagnosed when I was 18 with SVT and bradycardia (tachy-brady) I had an ablation a few weeks later when I was 19 and it failed, I went into a-fib. I had two cardioversions and was put on medication. I also had a positive tilt table then and was diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension. Over the course of the years I have...

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Lack of improved ejection fraction.

I've had a biventricular pacemaker for 8 months. I recently had an echo and was disappointed to find that my ejection fraction has remained at 30%. That is what it was before the pacemaker placement.

My cardiologist was not able to tell me why I have had no improvement. I am able to walk a longer distance however, I have chest pain if I try to increase my exercise tolerance. I seem to have reached a plateau. I try to push past my limitations but have chest pain if I do.

Ha...

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Good Morning everyone

Hope all is well and hope all have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow.

I had a little setback Monday and had to have emergency surgery Monday night to replace my hickman line. Some how it broke inside of me. Of course I had to have a couple IV ports put in and of course they had a ton of trouble and had to use an ultra sounder to get them started.

I'm doing much better now and will be spending Thanksgiving with my family this year. The last two were spent in the hospital and I...

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Timing

I have a Merlin and know it send info between 2&4 am but what period of time does this info encompass

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pacemaker and stents-can they go together?

Hi me again! Does anyone know if the veins the pacemaker lead is in can be stented to improve blood flow? Or would this cause damage-either further to the vein or to the wire? Really need some advice on this. Doctor doesn't listen to questions and don't have the money to seek second opinion.
Thank you x

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Soldier with pacemaker

First time post thank y'all for any support. Here is my situation been on active duty with Army for 10 years now and have 35 years combined National Guard service and now have a pacemaker, while on active duty so the next step is. MEB then a PEB to determine if I am fit for duty I am 52 years old so any ideas what the out come will be.

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SVT

What is the ventricle doing during SVT? One book says that the AV node acts as a gate allowing only a fraction of the SVT pulses to get through. It sounds logical because causing VT would be a big problem. Any comments?

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Weird Question-Loud music and ICD

I recently went to a charity variety show that included a large live band that played for every performer and they were quite loud. We were in the second row from the stage.

My question...is it normal for an ICD to vibrate while the band was playing? It was an extremely odd sensation that was ok at first but became uncomfortable as the evening progressed. Anyone else ever feel this?

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Thank you for this site!

Just wanted to express my thanks for this site. It has been a tremendous source of great information for me. I just had a PM installed a little over a week ago without much of a warning.

I have been struggling with Vasovagel Syncope for 18 years where I would have episodes that were pretty severe averaging a couple times a year. I have seen many doctors, prescribed different medications but nothing helped. I was sent to the autonomic department at the Cleveland Clinic as my last...

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You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

Member Quotes

Do feel free to contact the manufacturer of your device. I have found them to be quite helpful when I have had questions and concerns.