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Defective Devices

Many of us feel like we may be walking around with a disaster waiting to happen in our chests. The following excerpts from an article on defective devices will not help those feelings but it is something very real that we have to consider. The article was of great interest to me because it tells me many things about what my recourse may be in the event I get a defective device as my replacement pacemaker, which will probably be in 2008.

From the Austin American Statesman - “The ca...

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chat

hi it is 10:10 here at night i am going to chat if anyone wishes to chat maureen i got kicked off and could not post or go to message or anything. must be my computer sorry susan

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chat

hi it is 10:10 here at night i am going to chat if anyone wishes to chat maureen

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coffee and stress

Hope one of you can answer this for me. Because of a severely enlarged atria and a failed ablation, I was given a AV node ablation. Before that, I had been in afib almost continually for several months and my heart rate would go from thirties to 140. My question is this. I do not feel it because my upper heart is blocked and the lead from the pacemaker goes directly to the ventricle (the atri nowl is always in afib). Will coffee and stress cause more problems to my heart now that I have my pm.?...

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Does anyone feel like I do

Hi
My 1st PM (with only one lead) was put in DEC 1989 for Bradycardia .I had a 2nd one put in 7 yrs later .In that time I experienced SVT and was put on Digoxin .I was better for a while and then I started to pass out and went to the ER where I was admitted into CICU and the Dr said I need a new PM but with two leads now because of heart block.I continued to feel weak and even passed out a few times .I was readmitted to CICU again where I was sput on the Tilt Table and diagnosed w/ Ne...

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Magnesium

Hi all,
I am a relative mewby-Mar 07.
I don't post much stuff myself ,but I enjoy reading all the replies from the regulars to help all the people who are unsure and worried about whats to come.It's great that you continue to help out others, many years on :-)

I have done a bit of reading about Magnesium, and from what I read it is a fairly important for electical cunduction in muscles,including the heart.
Has anybody had any experiences with Magnesium and electrolyte l...

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Fun? for the day!

Here we go again. Just got home from a short trip to Longs drug store. I am certain it has happened to most of you, but I call it the Joys of a Pacemaker. You guessed it. As I went out the door the alarm sounded loud & clear, and the young man came running after me with everyone nearby turning to see "who stole something"...I don't even carry a purse anymore...just pockets. As I tried to explain that it was just a pacemaker, the young man looked with a big question mark in his eyes. Here is this...

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ICD/PM testing

Would anyone be interested in the formation of a group to provide independent testing of ICD's and PM's at cost only. Its an idea thats in its infancy but might clear up some questions for us about recalls and such that manufacturers aren't always honest with us about. BEST TO EVERYONE
papaknight

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Longest Implant Time? I'm up to 21 yrs now..

hi all, just found this group, although a little late really! I've had a pacemaker for a long time, certainly the longest at the hospital in London I have my check-ups and I was wondering if anyone knew the current 'record' for the longest implant?

I had my Siemens pacemaker (St Jude bought Siemens Medical years ago) implanted in April 1986 when I was 11 years old for Bradycardia. I've been fit and healthy ever since, its used regularly (I can feel it) and I have been for regular chec...

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How Doctors Think

There is a good book out called "How Doctors Think" by Jerome-Groopman,MD. It really gives insight into the process used by busy and incompetent doctors. The author is chief of experimental medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and teaches at Harvard Medical School. One of the interesting points he makes is that most doctors have your diagnosis figured out in the first few minutes in the office. After that it makes little difference what you say as far as making any differen...

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lawyers

abyone have any experience with lawsuits and ICD or pms? It looks like thats where we're headed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Kirby

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Medication

Hello i have a couple of ? i went to the ep on the 28th and he put me on theophlline to get my heart rate up has anyone had this drug before and also I am an EMT and would like to know if anyone in the medical field has had a pacemaker put in and did it effect the job they do?

Michelle

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navigator interference

Good Evening Friends,
I love this club! I find myself visiting at least twice a day even though I have a very busy life...it's great to have a pm family!
Hopefully, someone can answer this question. We have a car that is less than one year old. The car has a pretty extensive navigation system.
This has given us problems since day one. They fix it and then it goes off again.
Does anyone know if a pacemaker could interfer with the new car navigation systems?
Many thank...

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BOSE ENTETAINMENT CENTER

HI, I have a pacemaker/defibrillator, I want to purchase a Bose entetainment cd/dvd entetainment unit. Has anyone had a problem getting a rapid heart beat with this unit. I know it has happen to me a few time when I was at a wedding with very loud music. I don't play music loud, but would like to know if this could effect my pacemaker. Any info would be appreciated.

jbkeys

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kickboxing

Before I got my pacemaker, I was taking a kickboxing class. At my 6 week check up he said I could resume all normal activities, but I didn't think to specifically mention the kickboxing class. Think it's okay to resume that?

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Sorry to hijack the site for a question about nature medicines

My father has been fitted with a pacemaker in June. The problem is that he has brain cancer. He has had radiotherapy and we have given him alternative medicines ie Q10, Essacia tea, mushroom, drops, oxygen drops, coral calcium, shark tablet, seleno.

At the beginining of the week I was informed that people with cancer who take Flex seed oil have had good results. We gave my father this yesterday and brown liquid came from his nose (sorry it sound horrible). Since this has happenend...

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Upset over scar

I'm really bothered by my pm scar. Hubby says its not that bad, daughter says I'm obsessing. I just want it to stop hurting and I'd like to do something to minimize the appearance. I wish i didn't feel so bad about it, but I do. I wish I could ignore it but the constant irritation keeps me focused on it. Please don't tell me that the scar is just a cosmetic issue - although I wouldn't do it, there are people who risk their lives having cosmetic surgeries all the time.

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travelingreids

Please go into chat

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Lost Job Due To Pacemaker

Hello,

I am new here. I had a Medtronics pacemaker #ADDR01 implanted in Aug. at the age of 47 years old. I was working as a Locomotive Engineer at the time. However, since the locomotives have electromagnetic fields, though the risk was low, my Cardiologist said that it was too great of a risk due to how much my heart is using the pacemaker. Subsequently, my railroad terminated me since I could not fulfill my job requirement. This has been devastating. It was a job that I was very pas...

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Pacemaker Popped...?

Hello,

I am new here. I had my pacemaker implanted in Aug. This morning I swear I heard it make a pop like sound. It seems like it is tilted now and one side feels closer to the skin.

Has anyone heard or had a similar situation?

Thank you,
CJ

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You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic man.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.