Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Post Message!

Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation Pacemaker ICD

Back story: 61 year old male, athletic, run half marathon, good shape

Problem: 2 years ago started having ventricular tachycardia (VT) for no apparent reason. Did all the known heart tests. Heart and circulatory system normal. Doctor said it was genetic.

Solution: Started taking 120 mg sotalol. This worked for about a year. VT returned and more frequent. Ablation #1 could not get my heart into VT. Installed a single lead ICD.

Six months later multip...

Read More...

cancer surgery with a PM

Hi friends!
I've had a PM for 3 years and now I need to have surgery for prostate cancer and the Dr wants to use the Da Vinci Robot technique. I feel anxious and was wondering if there's anybody out there who's had to have surgery not related to the PM and what precautions the Dr should make.Thanks!

Read More...

Thank You

Thanks for all of your input. I know some of you are worst off than me. I've had to retire and was restricted from driving for 6 months.
It's been hard accepting the fact that I have heart problems. I have had therapy but wasn't very helpful. Therapist ended telling me his problems. How can I improve my EF? I have cardiomyopthy but no blockages. Clean arteries. The ICD is implanted for when the heart goes too fast or to slow. Been having all kinds of skipped beats lately . It's making me v...

Read More...

my CHF and pace maker

OK EASIER FOR ME TO TYPE IN CAPS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET CHF FROM A VIRUS. WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED MY EF WAS ONLY 10. OKAY FAST FORWARD 8 YEARS, I HAD TO GO FOR OTHER SURGERY AND MY DOCTOR IS THE TYPE IF YOU HAVE EF HE DOES NOT WANT TO DO ECHOS. BUT I HAD TO HAVE ONE DONE. I WALKED INTO HIS OFFICE AND HE TOLD ME COME WITH ME HE HOOKED ME UP TO THE MACHINE, I ASKED WHAT IS GOING ON?? HE SAID LISTEN YOUR EF IS 45 NOW. I SAID WHAT???? HE TOLD ME HE HAS NO IDEA IF IT WAS THE DEFIB THAT STRENGT...

Read More...

tattoo on thigh?

Hello. I'm 19. And a HUGE pitbull lover. I want to get a tattoo of My dog on my left thigh, I have a pacemaker/defibrillator on my left side of my chest. Would it affect anything if I got it on my thigh? It's probably gonna be bigger than a softball but not much. And do not tell me not to get it that I will regret it , because I won't regret it. My dog is like family. Oh and not to mention, I have 2 tattoos already that I've gotten while I've had the pacemaker/defib. One is on my foot and the ot...

Read More...

Considering Pacemaker

70yrs old, 2 mechanical valves, afiber 2 times a mth, 3 ablations, now considering a pacemaker. Would like to know more about the pros and cons, perfectly healthy otherwise, very active, golf, tennis, etc. Appreciate any info I can get.

Chat name TXCardiac (I am new to this site)

Read More...

My Story

I have posted this before but since I just turned the big 40 I wanted to post again for encouragement to you all ! :)

The Shock of My Life
Being born with a heart defect was just a blessing from God. At 2 months old I underwent transposition of the great vessels (Open Heart Surgery - Transposition of the great vessels (TGV) is a group of congenital heart defects(CHDs) involving an abnormal spatial arrangement of any of the great vessels: superior and/or inferior venae cavae(SVC,...

Read More...

Request for interview

We received the following request via email...

I’m writing an article to be published next week, on what to expect after getting a pacemaker. While I’ll be interviewing medical experts, the story also needs the perspective of someone who actually lives with a pacemaker and can describe their experience.

Please circulate this request among your members so I can include one or two of their voices. Our phone interview would take about five minutes. The interview would ha...

Read More...

Induction Cooktops


.....Hi All........
I have just installed an Induction Cooktop ( Hob) and after over a week can confirm NO adverse effects on my St Jude PM.

There still seems to be some confusion between manufacturers litigation clauses in information and the practical fact that a pacemaker is extremely unlikely to be affected by these brilliant appliances.

Picture,..back in 1973 when Westinghouse marketed its first Induction Cooktop at a colossal $1500 !!!.....who would have t...

Read More...

Here I Go Again

Hello!

I am a 35 yo woman fitted 9 days ago with a dual chamber pacemaker after months of complications due to vagal bradycardia. I have suffered for months from extreme dizziness and near fainting, and I was so hopeful that the pacemaker was going to make that go away.

However, I am still getting dizzy when I stand up. I had a blackout episode a few days ago that landed me back at the doctor's office for a setting adjustment. However, I am still experiencing dizziness t...

Read More...

Trouble Sleeping

I had PM implanted about a month ago. Since then I have not been able to sleep as well, either waking up at 2am or not being able to get to sleep. I take ambien to help but do not want to be dependent on that.

i am 54

Anyone else experience this and does it go away.

Read More...

Implantable defibrillator has moved position

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help? My mum had 2 stents fitted 4years ago and was fine until April this year when for 3 days she was going into cardiac arrest. She had an implantable defibrillator fitted which thank god hasn't had to do anything yet it was fitted below the collar bone but seems to have slipped down to her breast. Is this normal? Has this happened to anyone else? The wires still seem to be in place We are still learning any help would be much appreciated.

Read More...

tired

i am just plain tired and depressed from living with someone with heart disease. sometimes i feel like this has been going on for so long that i don't know what normal is any more. but i continue on at this thankless time of my life. there is no support whatsoever except maybe this group. any ideas? jessie

Read More...

I don't feel different

I'm a 20 year old college student.just 2 days ago I got my pacemaker implanted. Since surgery I still feel the same, tired and fatigued. I was wondering if anybody had the same problem. It's like this throbbing in my head with a tired feeling. Am I suppose to feel different weeks later or was I suppose to feel it right away? Someone help!

Read More...

New Member with new device

Just had a St Jude ICD implanted early August, did not have any time to do the research on the device before the op. In doing some after the fact, I have found a number of articles regarding recalls of St Jude electrical leads, should I have any concerns?

So far I am feeling 100% better after the implant, your comments will be most appreciated.

Limey 42

Read More...

For my 80 year-old grandmother

Hi everyone. My grandmother is 80 years old. She is now diagnosed with a weaker heart and we were told by the doctors that the solution for it is to aid the heart with a pace maker. We are now confused whether to go ahead with the surgery or not? Will she be able to manage through the surgery and later well and good? She is very old (80), diabetic for almost 40 years now and has slight problems with her kidney functioning. Please help. Your advice is most valuable. Thank you

Read More...

Donr

So how did your big event go? I went to the HOF website and didn't see any pictures from it.

Hope it went well and you survived it. Looking forward to you being back on this site again.

Missed you.
Kathy

Read More...

new mom

Hello everyone

My name is Marjolein and I live in the Netherlands with my husband and my 2 girls. My youngest one is 5 months old and was born with a congenital heart block. When she was 1 week old, she gets a pacemaker.
She is doing better now.
I can't find much parents of children with pacemakers in Holland so i'm glad to find this website.

I would like to have contact with other parents who have a little child with a pacemaker. So I can ask their experience a...

Read More...

Where to find travel insurance?

I had my pm inserted 6 days ago. Was planning a trip to the U.S. in early November/2014. Now my travel insurance will not cover anything "heart related" while I'm away for a week. My doctor says I should go, and the surgeon says "no problem" re. travel.
Should I risk it? Any comments or suggestions?
Thank you.

Read More...

EMF testing

Few hours after my first post for a while been doing some research about electromagnetic field testers as going back to work soon and my company would like some help and so would I as i work in motor trade/diesel engineer, work would be willing to buy one. Has anyone got a EMF tester are they any good any specific makes and models? Looked at the Osun from the page I am in the UK. Thanks

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

Member Quotes

Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.