Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Newly wired intro

Hi there!! 

I'm a 34 year old mother to four young kids (5 year old and 2 year old triplets) and I just had a pacemaker implanted a week ago. 

I have a pretty crazy story how I got here but the short version is I had a "fainting" episode 2 years ago, a loop recorder implanted little over 1 year ago, started midodrine 1 year ago, and then I had an 18 second sinus arrest. My cardiologist is amazing but never would have predicted I would be a Sick Sinus Syndro...

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adult congenital ep

I met with an adult congenital ep today for the first time. WOW!!!! I wasn't sure going in if I just wanted to talk to him and see what insights he had or transfer my care but that's a no-brainer, I am absolutely changing to the congenital practice. A few takeaways I thought some of you  who are like me and have been paced long term would be interested in ...

- he does annual xrays to look for early fractures in leads

- he does Holter on everyone a...

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2nd attempt at pacemaker - advice

Had a biv-icd implanted it had to be removed 2-1/2 weeks after implantation due to infection (pocket infection).

Felt great while I was on pacemaker and had started getting energy and drive back that I had not had in years.

I'm relatively young (53). Due to my arrythmia my doctor wants to reimplant.

Having a hard time being convinced to do so.

1 - expense - I am worth more dead than I am alive

2 - infection was rough and had complications

3 - do not thi...

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CRT

Hi again,

My first pacemaker was implanted in 2008.  Last year, it was recalled for sudden battery depletion and a second one was implanted.

A month ago, was feeling generally lousy and my family doctor found my blood pressure to be 80/50 with no change if I sat or stood up.

After an echo, ecg etc, it was determined that they need to replace the whole thing and add a wire going down the back of the heart to try to get the ventricles to beat in unison.

The sur...

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Fall

Today, I was walking the dogs as usual, had stopped and before I knew it, I was face first in the grass!  My husband saw it all, not very graceful!  My chest hurt terribly.  I was not short of breath or anything!  Crazy!  Now I am wondering if I had an event!  I feel fine.  Came home and decided to send a transmission, just in case and I'll call the doc tomorrow.  Of course, I ache from falling, but am worried something inside may be damaged . Anyth...

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Feeling my pacemaker work

Hi all. 5 weeks post op and from 2 hours after having the PM fitted I started having flutterings/palpitations in the bottom of my throat/chest. 

Anyway, my pacemaker nurse said it's my PM kicking in, which I find strange seeing as I'm paced at 50bpm and it's apparently used less than 1% yet I have the flutterings daily for a few seconds at a time??

anyway, I just had them then and got my oximeter out and my pulse was around 90-105 whilst I was having the flutterin...

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Thank you

David and Angry Sparrow - thank you both for reaching out to me. I appreciate your supportive comments and look forward to ongoing chats concerning your valued experience having pacemakers.

Regards,

Ron

 

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New pacemaker

I am 65 years old and received my pacemaker seven weeks ago. I am still feeling very sore - not sleeping well due to pain even though I take two Tylenol before bed . When I am stressed my heart feels like I just drank too much coffee. When I walk any distance( from one end of the mall to the other for example) I feel like I have done some kind of sprint - only I can breathe deeply. Walking up and down the stairs at my house gives me the same feeling. By evening I am exhausted - but can't...

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Any other young people with a PM?

Are there any other young people with a pacemaker? I'm sure I'm not alone, I've just never met someone with one that's my age. I'm 23 years old and I've had this thing since I was 3. Gone through 3 battery changes and I've only gotten the whole device replaced once (in 2016) I'm an architecture intern here in San Antonio and I studied at Texas A&M University (Go Aggies) what're some of your stories?  I've always felt so unique, it'd be...

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What to expect with EP for tachy-brady syndrome?

Hey all, I've posted here before. I have recently got my results back from a new cardiologist(didn't exactly see eye to eye with the old one). Just had a tilt table and 14-day monitor done.

So, the tilt table test. I was told it was a negative response, for the most part I felt fine during it, and didn't seem to provoke much of any symptoms, and I guess I responded normally.

The 14 day monitor/event log showed "severe bradycardia during waking, active hours"(...

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Pain in middle of chest after 4 weeks

I had a pacemaker put in for low heart rate (bradycardia) on November 2 2016,  Just a couple of  days ago November 28 I started having pain in the middle of my chest and once or twice over left pectoral muscle.. It is not extreme but pain nevertheless. I have been walking fairly regular since end of week one. Does anyone know if this is abnormal.. 

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CRT Implant

I'm scheduled to get a crt implant in Dec 2016.

I'm doing my homework.

On this site, one member claimed her pacemaker/defibullator was the size of a deck of cards!

My doctor is implanting a Boston Scientific CRT( pace maker and defibullator in one).

He said it was the size of a half dollar and the thickness was 3 quarters thick.

I have left bundle branch block with no symtoms, reconsidering if I need the implant.

I do have an enlarged heart caused f...

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One year today

Well it's been one year today since I had my pacemaker implanted. The beginning of the year was a bit of s struggle but since I have run two marathons, gone to Mexico and the Bahamas for the first time and best of all watched my son get married.

In the beginning I cried many days thinking I wasn't going to ever get back to my old self but now I am.  Other than having s small bump and scar on my chest you'd never know this little device is in there working 70% of th...

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New Member of "The Club"

Hello all!  I've read a lot of postings about folks who were surprised by their PM, but I'm the opposite.  I was born with a Weinkebach and I've managed to live with it for 39 years.  The PM discussion started when I was 10, but my parents chose to put it off.  I'm glad they did.  

In June, I "retired" after spending the last 19 years doing the greatest job on earth...as a police officer.  I woke up one morning and my body told me...

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Pacemaker size/feel

Hello, 

Here to bother you all again. as most of you all know that i recently had my generator replacement. my first pacemaker was Vitatron JADE 3SSI. it saved my life and lasted 10 yrs. during my replacement they didnt change the lead. my new generator model is Medtronic EN1SR01(Ensura SR MRI). my main concern right now is. its been 22 days and whenever i try to reach my right shoulder by my left hand i can feel the pacemaker solidness in my left chest. it is a very discomfort kin...

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Medical Marijuana

I was  diagnosed with myasthenia gravis optical.  Does anyone know effic marijuana would have on our pacemakers ?

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smartwatch

Does anyone know if there is there a pacemaker friendly smart watch on the market?

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Underarm Pain 3 Years Post-Implant

Hi all! This coming April will mark three years since I got my PM (while on vacation in Greece!)  A few months ago I started feeling a burning, painful sensation deep down in my left armpit (PM is on the left.)  When I push in on it, I feel a slightly hard bump that I can move, like a cyst perhaps. Nothing similar on the right side. Had my doc check it, she couldn't feel anything and wasn't worried.  But it continues to hurt, especially with movement.  Anybody had...

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Weakness/fatigue

PM inserted 11/22/16.  For the past month or so, I get extremely fatigued.  I have been back for my 3 month check and they tell me all is well.  I just don't have the energy I used to have and it is depressing.

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MAMMOGRAM

HI

Just a line to say I had my first mammogram with a pacemaker in and it was totally fine. I'm small busted and skinny up top and a little worried that it may have been more difficult. However the nurse was great very careful and we managed to get the Xrays with a wee cameo shot of the PM !

So for anyone concerned make sure the nurse takes their time and is gentle and all will be good.

Jane

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You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.