Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Boston Sci. Latitude Monitor

Good morning all.
I got my PM last month and not sure about the Latitude monitor.
I have it plugged into landline beside my bed. I check the functioning of it from time to time by pushing the status buton on back for more than three seconds and all is go with it. But I never see any of those indicators light up I.E. the one where it is SUPPOSED to light up if it is in the process of performing a reading or has performed a reading. So, I don't know if it works or is just taking up much...

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disability

can anyone shed some light on disability how hard is it to get disability when you have a three led pacemaker defibrillator I have had mine for 3 months now ,I can't seem to work like I used to i get tired quickly and plus I've been under the doctor's care for over 1 year and a half,do anyone out there know anything about this please help ,thanks

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Occupation

Can anyone help me to give my bosses a list of work related items that I should be aware of. I am an oilfield maintenance electrician and up until I received my pacemaker I had an apprentice to work with me. Now because of the risk of getting to close to a magnetic field (like the inside of an energized panel), the boss wants me to work with a journeyman instead. Any ideas on how to change his mind and get things back the way they were.

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Magnetic Name Tag

Hi Everyone,

The management at my place of work has given every employee a nametag that is to be worn at all times while on the job. It is secured by a very powerful magnet which goes behind your shirt and sticks to the name tag. Is this safe for me to wear?

It is on the opposite side of my chest across from where my pacemaker is located which is approximately 9 inches separation.

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too early or failed?

Hi.
Everywhere I search on the Internet I read I should feel an immediate improvement after CRTD. I certainly don't feel any better. Is it too early or has it been a waste of time? Implant was 40 hours ago and I feel even more tired and weak than before.
Thanks for reading.

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Please help

I'm trying to find out if it is illegal to sell a CRT that's never been used, to a private party in the US. My uncle passed away last year before he got to use it. So my aunt held on to it. Not knowing what to do with it. Then finally brought to my attention recently. So I'm just trying to see what's the best thing for her to do. Without breaking any laws of course. Can anybody help us out please?

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Alcohol...

Just curious of how many of us have imbibed the brewskis a few too many and what reactions your heart or devices had. Also if your doctor could figure out on your interrogating which nights you went "livin the night life" so to speak.

I probably had a few too many this weekend, to the point I was expecting a hard core hangover the next morning, but I didn't have one. Wonder if sparky helped in that factor....hmmm.

Anyway, looking for some of the forums thoughts on drin...

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Re-positioning Pm

My cardiologist rang this morning and said they will secure pm in the pocket as it has moved quite a bit and looks like it has flipped over. He said they could tell by looking at both xrays that I had lost a lot of weight since I had pm in 2011. There was no mention of twiddlers syndrome. He also said leads were quite tight so they would give them a bit of slack. I havn't got a date yet, I will let you know when I do. I will have an over night stay. For those of those that asked for a phot...

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time before work

how long after surgery before you return to work

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MICRA leadless PM

Anyone interested in the new Medtronic MICRA leadless PM can find a discussion of one member's experience in their study.

Runningmama wrote it buried in a thread about 5 down from here entitled "Electrical Impedance."

She & at least one other member are involved in the Medtronic study. So far there are fewer than 100 enrolled in the US (As of February 2015.) There is at least one other PM producer who is in the study stage for marketing a leadless PM.

If there...

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Do you still go to a cardiologist?

Since getting my pacemaker a few years ago, I just see the electrophysiologist who did my EP test and implanted my pacemaker -- I don't go to a cardiologist.

Is that pretty normal, or do other folks still see a cardiologist?

In case it matters, I was diagnosed with bradycardia, chronotropic incompetence, a 2-1 AV node block, and escape rhythms.

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Electrical Impedence

Hello Wired Family!

I have my 3 month interrogation coming up and sadly, I still do not know what electrical impedance means on the report. My research coordinator has attempted to explain it to me, and I don't think I'm stupid or anything (LOL) I just can't understand the concept and what the electrical impedance part of the interrogation report is and means to me and the device? I know if anyone can shed some light on my brain some of the pros here can :)!

Thanks!!!!

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Insurance Question

Hi there, I've read through some of the insurance posts and I've googled insurance, travel, and pacemaker, but still am not completely clear. So I'm hoping that maybe somebody has some further info for me so I know the right questions to ask before I call the insurance agencies to make sure I get the info from the horse's mouth - so to speak.

I am Canadian, I know that other countries will be able to take care of me if I need care while on a trip. My concern is not wanting to mortgag...

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CRT-D Implant

Thanks everyone for your reply to my questions.
I am fortunate to have a "dream team" of Physicians at a Boston teaching hospital. I was not aware of my LBBB, which was present for years.My physiology was so unique it took 3 procedures to finish the job. After a week my EKG showed no LBBB but a normal EKG. The doctors are amazed. So as it has been stated, I can live with the minor discomfort & scars for a normal life.
Thanks everyone.

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Question

Does anyone know what the EGM's stands for on your interogation report? I went for my interogation today and on the summary sheet at the bottom under Episodes summary it says

Counts EGM's

PVC's 60 28

this was since Tuesday after my Merlin sent in a report on the 2nd. I have not seen EGM on my other 2 reports. Not worried just curious what that means.

Thanks!!

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Picking at an old scab

Recall a month or so ago we had a thread about costs for a PM in The US. As usual, it morphed into a general discussion of costs.

My comment about the general costs for anything medical in the US is a fiction - w/ very few exceptions.

I just was cleaning up a bunch of old mail & found a statement from my hosp for a procedure performed on 18 Dec 2014. The procedure was an endoscopic exam of esophagus & stomach. Bill was $7,444. Insurance will pay $1,451. The rest w...

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Predaxa

Has anyone taken predaxa anticoagulant ?
I was given it because Rivaroxaban gave me a nose bleed daily,
But I find this predaxa gives me what feels like stomach ache,
It's. An awful feelings Cross between feeling nausea and windq

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Driving to work with thoughts

Driving to work this morning for some reason many thoughts went through my head about my issues and how I ended up here. First I would like to say I read everyones post daily and find them all interesting and some helpful to my situation.

First I was diagnosed with Junctional Escape Rhythm around 2008 and was told not to worry it is a "Normal, abnormal heart beat" nothing to worry about. So a few years later and symptoms becoming a little more intense my doctor on base did a few EKG's...

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Ciallis

Is it ok to take ciallis with blood pressure tablets and pacemaker ?

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Medical device bracelet

Hey guys. I'm a pacemaker newbie (just had it implanted in December) and some family and friends are suggesting that I get a medical device bracelet/necklace. My cardiologist never mentioned it to me. Do you all have them?!?

Thanks!

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You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.