Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Supporting Heartbeat International

As an American, I have been extremely fortunate to have received an implantable defibrillator at the age of 17, which has continuely saved my life for the past 12 years. I am also grateful for the access I have to patient groups/forums, and resources to self educate myself about my heart disease.

On this Giving Tuesday, I encourage you all to consider fellow patients in countries, which may not have access to these life saving devices.

There is a wonderful organization, H...

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thinking back

i came her in 2006 shortly after my emergency p.m. insertion. i was pretty upset back then. the shock was immense. anyway almost ready for replacement...nine years later. no issues. lucky lady. to-day i spoke to a fellow pacer bionic beat who i met back then. it was great to talk to her. she said hello jessie and i said you must have dialed the wrong number and she said jessie from the p.m. club? what a surprize! i had just read about pookie who i am in touch with quite often or am aware of wha...

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Welding coat

I am interested in the welding coat discussed in the forum. Please contact me on my email...racetechmd@gmail.com. Thanks

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Day/night settings

My St Jude pacemaker has a different setting for day and night. Does anyone know what time the change is made?

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1st Pacemaker Replacement

Hi Everyone!!!!!!

It has been quite some time that I have visited here.

For about the last year and a half I have been going to get my pacemaker interrogated every 3 months and FINALLY (without any warning) I was told on November 26th that I need a new pacemaker and it is going to be on Friday, December 4th!!! I don't even know if I am in EOS (end of service) but does it really matter???

I am beyond terrified. I say this because of what I went thru 11 years ago...

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Effect car seat belts have on pacemakers

Hi Everyone,

I am a Product Design Engineer student studying for my final year at Loughborough University. Currently my work is focused on the effect that car seat belts have on pacemakers. From my understanding the problem seems to lie mostly in discomfort whilst wearing a seat belt and the potential danger of the pacemaker being damaged in a collision.

I am in the early stages of the project, currently conducting my initial research. I have constructed a questionnai...

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Keloid scar

I have had my PM since august this year. My scar was fine at first now its gone to a keloid scar. It can be painful and sting at times. Has anyone else had this? My gp has gave me pills and cream. having read about it it sounds like I might be stuck with it. due for a checkup in January.

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struggling

i had a pacemaker fitted in September due mainly to long pauses in my heartbeat at night combined with Afib palpitations. I get along ok with it during the daytime and am swimming and walking everyday. During the evening however when at rest I am finding my heart rhythmn uncomfortable at 60, some big beats make me feel as if I am on a swaying ferry......this makes relaxation difficult. When I go to bed eventually everything settles nicely. Any advice?

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Biventricular/CRT pacemaker, pacemaker upgrade

Hi!

First time posting :) I'm 23 and have had a pacemaker since I was 14 to treat atrial fibrillation, at which point my ejection fraction was still strong (55%) I have a congenital heart disease (tetralogy of fallot, pulmonary atresia, VSD) which necessitated the pacemaker.

I pace 100% of the time on my right side and after 6 months of testing docs have realised my EF has come down to 35%, i have a long QRS duration and quite significant ventricular dyssynchrony and next...

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Skipped Beats on EKG

For the second time cardiologist said EKG showed skipped beats. He asked if I felt them and I said no. He said pacemaker (Medtronic dual leads since 2011 pacing 100% of the time) covers them. So strange and scary that heart could be skipping beats and I don't feel it. Have to ask PM tech on next visit. Does this seem unusual and what does it mean?

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Want to say thanks!

Last week was my 1 year anniversary of being paced. Just two weeks after my 55th birthday, I found myself in a hospital with a heartrate in the low 30s and unable to catch my breath. When the doctor told me he was going to put in a pacemaker, I was shocked. I always believed pacemakers were for old people, and at 55, I sure as heck didn't feel like I was old. After the implant, I could feel the difference almost immediately. I could breathe, I could walk more than 25 feet without feeling like I...

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Nasal Cauterization

Been having frequent nosebleeds that drip into throat and cause spitting up clotted blood. Before my ENT appointment, I wonder if having the nose cauterized using an electrical method is safe for pacemaker. Anyone have this done? Thanks

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epicardial ablation

I'm scheuled for an epicardial ablation in January. I've had pacemakers for 25 years and a couple years ago had an ICD implanted. I was having episodes of ventricular tachycardia. It was a good decision because shortly after that I began having more episodes and syncopy with a shock. I'm on some pretty toxic meds and they want to see if they can get some of the scar tissue off my heart with this type of ablation. Has anyone else had this type of ablation?

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Medtronic EnRhythm and Minerva Software

Hi there,

Just wondering whether anyone has been fitted with a Medtronic EnRhythm Pacemaker with Minvera software.

If so could people please share their experiences regarding it as I will be fitted with a Biventricular pacemaker with Minerva in 4 weeks time and what to know more from a "patients perspective".

Kind regards,

Daryl

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Want my pm turned off!

There is not a lot of data on whether or not I have the right to have my pacer turned off by choice. So I am wondering if anyone has the answer to this. It basically boils down to law and ethics.

Almost two years ago, I had my pm implanted. I have experienced worse (yes worse) quality of life with my PM. I am 30, and I want more. I want this thing turned off.

It seems pretty logical to me to ask to have it turned off to see how well I can function without it. Seeing...

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probably new to this

Since having had surgery (hiatal hernia) earlier this year, I've been very tired, light-headed and had several episodes where I would feel weak and then break out into a cold sweat. These have lasted anywhere from 5 - 40 minutes. No tightness in chest, pain or other symptoms and haven't fainted or blacked out.

went to my pcp and after noticing that my heart rate went from high-50's during check-in to high forties a short while later did an ekg which showed my rate as running between...

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I join tomorrow

Hello,

It's 22:45 in Scotland and tomorrow I join the club. Wish me luck.

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Pain under my breast

Hi I had a dual chamber pacemaker fitted 4 years ago and it's been fine, but the last 2 days I have a pain and very sore to touch just to the right side of my breast. Can anyone shed any light on it for me please ?

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dependent or not

My EP assures me that I am 100% dependent on pm in atrium but not ventricle. I had a routine ECG through my GP who said I was not pacing. I then had an Echocardiogram at the clinic, and the radiographer said I was not pacing. I mentioned this to EP who stated that they were not reading it properly! So I wonder who is right? My PM is set to 50 beats per minute, very slow. I would like to know for sure, but who to ask?!! Cardio/EP has the reputation of being the best in Australia.
I wo...

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Shock/Stabbing Pain

Hi! I've had a pacer for 18 years and I'm on my second device. My implant is on the right side. Recently,I've had a random shock/stabbing pain that will go on for a few seconds. It's hard to tell if it's my pacemaker but the pain is coming from around that area. I've also started to feel my pacer actually beating and today i could see it moving while beating. I'm not sure if this is common and I'm just noticing but I can't recall this happening before. My doctor is sending me for an echo to chec...

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You know you're wired when...

You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!