Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Questions to ask?

Hi everyone!  After reading previous posts I think my family and I have decided a pacemaker may be best moving forward.  I've done a lot of research but am curious for no blocks/no structural issues (heart rate is slowing and I'm symptomatic/getting worse) what kind I should ask about and what other questions I should ask at the consult with my "second opinion" doctor?

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Decisions, Decisions/ NCS?

Hi everyone.  I'm a 32 yo female, one child (1.5 yo), and have been having symptoms for a few years now that have gotten significantly worse in the last few weeks.  I've had fainting spells my whole life, but while 26 weeks pregnant I fainted and was down and out for 4-5 weeks.  I couldn't stand without feeling extremely dizzy, was very fatigued, and had to basically lay around all day.  I was extremely active/exercising/eating healthy up until this point, so i...

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Keeping a record

I'm 12 days in to my new dual lead PM for 2nd degree block, set to pace at 60bpm. I'm feeling great and have much more energy than I did a fortnight ago.  My pacer check isn't for another month but do I need to keep a record of anything weird that I feel? I have been getting runs of fast beats which I assume are PVC's, I'm not unduly bothered by them and I did have AFib which was ablated about 4 days before the PM, so it could be related to that. I just didn't kno...

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Pregnancy

Hi all, 

I have had a pacemaker my entire life. I was born with 3rd degree congenital AVB and received my first pacemaker shortly after birth. I ventricular pace 100% of the time. 

I would like to start a family in the near future but am concerned about the risk of heart failure due to the added stress from pregnancy and the negative effects of RV pacing. I am scheduled to have an echo to check my EF but I was wondering how many women out  who are RV paced almost al...

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Coughing

Hello Everyone,

...Yet one more question from this Newbie.

I am one month post surgery for the implant of my Medtronic 2 Chamber PM for High AV Block-Sick Sinus Syndrome.

I am so sure that I feel my heart as it reacts to my PM. I find there is a temporary pressure/tightness in my chest, and then I cough in reaction.

Does this sound alarming or familiar to anyone? At my first interrogation, it happened, and the nurse said that nothing showed up on the interrog...

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Doctor

Hello everyone. I have a second opinion coming up next week and it was suppose to be with a certain doctor (Calkins) but i got a call today that they were suggesting i see Dr. Charles Love instead. Has anyone ever been to him?? This is in the US.

Thank you

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pacemakers and physical activity

   I recently had a Medtronic DDR A2DR01 pacer installed after losing sinus node funtion ( now atrial paced mostly) and am having trouble feeling good while exercising. #2 questions: 1. what are the best settings for otherwise healthy, fit individual who likes to exercise? 2. Is there a alternative "minute ventillation volume" triggered response pacer currently available that might work better for remaining active, since I feel weak running and biking since pacer...

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EP issues or PM issues?

New here, I have had my pacemaker for 4 years now. I went most of the time after, with no insurance coverage as none of my jobs offered it. I have noticed the last 7-8 months that I am becoming more and more out of breath upon exertion (to the point I gag) I am exhausted all the time, have what feels like heart flutterers, am gaining weight (I eat decent, stay active etc) and my legs are always swelling. In short, I'm miserable. I finally got insurance and my first stop was my EP.  W...

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To pace or not to pace.

Hi all, just joined having spent some time reading. What a support this club is! 

I'm a bit confused and could do with some help. I've had intermittent problems since childhood. There was talk of a pacemaker when I was 13. I had a murmur and an irregular heartbeat - that's all I recall but nothing ever happened for some reason. 

I had meningitis at 35, had some problems then, saw the cardiologist, had an echo but nothing came of that.

I've alwa...

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Hair Loss

Hello!  I had my PM implanted almost a month ago.  I have hypothyroid as well.  Has anyone experienced hair loss after having a PM?  Thanks!

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Wireless headphones

Any conerns for wireless headphones (like those now available for iPhone, Beats, etc.) and implanted pacemakers? Thanks, novice

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Blood donation

Hi,

I have pacemaker for 10 months now and was woundering, is it possible for pacemaker recipients to donate blood. I found in http://www.redcrossblood.org, that pacemaker alone is not impediment for blood donation. I just got answer from my local blood donation agency, that pacemaker patients cant donate blood without any explanation of the reason. So I'm wondering, has someone outside United States some experience with blood donations?

 

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Endurance

I am asking for your help regarding the right question to ask my cardiologist on Wednesday. I am going to be 6 weeks post op of having my crt-d implanted. I have no endurance to do any work. I am so much better than I was the day of my surgery, but after 6 weeks I thought I should be able to keep going.But,after 2-3 hours of housework, I need to take several breaks to do things that I thought I use to be to do without stopping. Also, today my son and I went to the mall and he noticed I w...

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Anxiety and raised RHR returns 1 year after implant

Hey all

I'm a fit, healthy, 56 year young male and love exercise. A couple of days ago my wife and I completed a 30km charity walk with relative ease. I have a 2-lead StJude PM treating occasional bradycardia caused by a Mobitz Type 2 heart block. 

My first PM anniversary is about to come up. I recall having had a difficult to describe feeling of anxiety or a sense of having a rock in my chest after the implant, but I persevered with exercise and only...

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Loop recorder

Hi-

ira possible I will have my pm removed and the doc wants me to consider having a loop recorder put in. As he put it, as I get less old, my flutters will become more frequent and it might be a good idea to stay on top of things with the loop recorder. 

What can you tell me about it? I know it's small and has a battery life of about 3 years.

thanks!

 

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Poor taste?

Every week I get a lovely embossed card in the snail mail containing an invitation. It's from the Neptune Society inviting me to be cremated and my asses scattered at sea...apparently they are offering a huge discount if I act immediately.

Shouldn't they at least wait til I'm dead...is their offer in poor taste? Why do I suspect my kids submitted my name to them. 

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MyCareLink Patient Monitor

I've got a MyCareLink Patient Monitor to upload my pacemaker data. Can someone tell me what kind of data it stores and forwards?

I'm wondering if I have an unusual episode if I can just go through the upload process and there will be a record for my doctor to see.

I've had it less than a year and I've only used it to upload when notified. Also, anyone know if I'll be billed for each upload?

Thanks!

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Chronotropic Incompetence and sick Sinus desease

I have sick sinus desease and Chronotropic Independence. They are suggesting that I Do EECP  1 hour per day for 35 days. I don't know wether I can do that with my situation.  I have a Medtronic ICD and the rate response is doing all lt can do this is my third ICD. I had 4 bypasses 25 years agoI have all the stents that they can put in. I can only exercise about7or 8 minutes.They say this will improve my quality of life. I am very positive about things but was wondering if any on...

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Breathlessness and dizziness

Delighted to join the club 

Had a pacemaker fitted in Dec 2015 and have since May 2016 suffered with dizzyness and breathlessness. I am having episodes of tachycardia in both atria land ventricular chambers and following my last pacemaker check and consultation both parties have left the minute ventilation sensor switched off . As I feel I require more oxygen the logic of this appears odd to me as quite small activity causes the breathlessness. Any advice would be mo...

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New Member with a couple of questions

Hi Everyone!

So glad to find this site. My EP says that she wants me to get a pacemaker as soon as I can qualify (Medicare). Background: I have Afib and take both an antiarrhythmic medication (flecainide) and a beta blocker (propranolol). I am not a good candidate for an ablation due to other health issues, so medication is the preferred treatment approach. 

At the moment, with these medications, my resting HR is 41-42 at night and about 47 during the day when active. I...

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