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Update to previous post

ICD has been in since March 2 - developed infection 6 weeks later - treated with 21 says of antibiotics - infection cleared but doc said there's a 70% chance it will return but ... Cardiolite stress test indicates no heart damage, angiogram indicates clear arteries.  

Doctor said 'extract it - you don't need it'.  Or, leave it in and don't worry about battery replacement.  But if infection returns he will remove it.  Not sure what readin...

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Welding

I have a medtronic sedrl1 pacemaker fitted and want to know if i can tig weld scratch start ?

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Aspertame connection

For most of my life I've been a very heavy caffeine free Diet Coke drinker. It's my only Vice really. But recently I've been wondering if there may be a connection to aspartame and heart arrhythmias. I have read a few things about a possible connection on the internet. Does anybody have any information about this? I would feel really terrible knowing that I did this to myself over the years. I have SSS. Just curious.

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Refusing the Pacemaker

I have recently been told by my second opinion doctor that I am a prime candidate for a pacemaker. This cardiologist said I have a 2nd degree AV blockage. I do have a slow heart rate since I have been an avid runner for the last 40 years. The recent Holter heart monitor said my BPM average is 42 with a mean of 31. The pacemaker diagnosis only came up when I went in for an annual physical. I do not have any of the standard symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pai...

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question

I went for my one week check yesterday and they said my pacemaker kicked in 49% since installed. Does this seem like a lot? My normal heart rate was running 47-50 bpm, with episodes of going into the 30"s and then would pass out. They set it at 60 to kick on. Wondering if when become more active if it will kick on as much?

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Carvedilol reduction reaction?

The doctor reduced my carvedilol from 25mg. 2X daily to 12.5mg. 2x daily due to low BP of 90/60 about 10 days ago.  The first week seemed fine but now I feel very nauseous, uncomfortable, and very tired the past 4 days.  It doesn't feel like it's getting any better.  Just don't feel well.  My lower back is killing me too the past 3 days but that is another issue.   

Any chance this could be due to the reduced dose of med...

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brain fog

I had a pacemaker implanted a week ago today and seem to be experienceing brain fog. Anyone have this probblem? I hope this not a lasting thing!

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Newbie with Emblem S-ICD

Greetings all,

I just got my Boston Scientific Emblem S-ICD implanted on Monday, June 12 because I have hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. I was diagnosed two years ago and so far have shown no evidence of VT and only one brief run of AF that was caught by a 30-day monitor last summer. I did have one episode of presyncope about a year and a half ago while walking down the street, but whatever caused it (VT?) was corrected before I could black out.

Having just disco...

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A newbie

Oh my gosh!  I am so glad I found this website.  I had my pacemaker implanted on Friday, June 16 after wearing a heart monitor for a week.  Had an episode of my heart stopping for 8 seconds which thank goodness the heart monitor caught.  Procedure was scheduled for the next day.  Still haven't had a lot of time to process all that has gone on in the past 48 hours, but after reading lots of comments on here, I feel so much better.  Thanks for the encouragement...

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Bouncy castle

Has anyone else been affected by the blower / generator of these??

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Pacemaker

Jan 22, 2015 received my pacemaker, started sotalol and cardizem, since then I am losing weight.   Spoke to my EP about it and he said that is ridiculous.  

Has anyone else had this problem?  

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Newby

Just received my first ICD yesterday.  I had been using this site in preparation for this event before joining.  Thanks to all for the helpful info.  Feeling much better now!!  Cheers! 

Ken

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Stupid question

I'm new to this whole thing.  If anything under 60 bpm is considered bradycardia (which I have), why is my PM low number set to 50?  I'm confused.

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SAME TIME EVERY NIGHT

Almost 7 weeks ago I woke up feeling a little off. I was in the middle of a cup of coffee, talking to my friend, and I suddenly felt an intense swirl and I passed out. My friend took me to the hospital. Luckily it happened again and I flatlined for 30 seconds. I was given a pacemaker an hour later. 

I was shocked. I am even more shocked by how well I adjusted. I had a few instances of fear when I felt weak to the point of being debilitated ... But for the most part I just feel...

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Electric shock.

Interesting thing happened to me the other day, i was working on my friends car, and ended up becoming ground for the coil on the car.  30k volts went up my left arm and knocked the crap out of me. 
Told my cardiologist about it about a week after it happened when i went in and he tested the unit to see if it had reset or gotten damaged. 
Nope it was fine as frogs hair.
So you can get a 30k high voltage jolt and it not kill your pacemaker. 
Though i wou...

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Heart rate

  So, nearly 8 months in with my pacemaker.  Back in October I was fitted with the pacemaker as my heartbeat was dropping down to 30 ish BPM and missing beats.  After leaving hospital I was still feeling very unwell and spent several weeks laid up.  Whilst laid up, my BPM was pretty much consistently around the 63 mark (my pacemaker set at 60bpm). As I began to feel better in the following months my activity levels increased. My BPM is now in the 80's and 90's at r...

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Jokes page

shame you got rid of this page...main reason I came here.  Miss it greatly...would lik to see it returned.

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Pregnant with Complete Heart Block

Hello!

I just celebrated my 1 year anniversary since being diagnosed with complete heart block and I am happy to say that my husband and I are now expecting our first child.

I definitely noticed the heart rate increase, which is totally normal, but over the first trimester, I've noticed some strange heartbeats - feels sort of like one or two escape beats (don't know whether that's the correct term) in a row that happen out of the blue a few times each&nb...

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Weird hiccup in morning !

I have a call into my doc about this... but while waiting thought I would ask " my fellow pacers" As you are all very wise. I have been having ( well, that I have noticed) for about 3 weeks, not every day but most days a funny hiccup after I wake up. Mostly right after I wake , or a few mins . It feels like its from my diapham ( sp) but today, i felt a kind of jolt on my right side kind of around my pacemaker ( is on the right) I asked for that becuase I am a lefty.  Not painfu...

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Interesting Case

Apparently I am an "interesting case" which in each use was followed by, you dont want to be an "interesting case".  What felt perhaps like PVCs from the description on this site they said were PMTs.  Would feel like it was skipping a beat then a big hard beat, when I was tired in the afternoon or evening was doing it almost every day.  Of course stopped the day I went in to talk about it. Take your car to the mechanic it doesnt break anymore. Was told...

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

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