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Exchange with patients on leadless pacemakers

I work for a consulting firm specializing in innovation in the healthcare sector. As part of a study on cardiovascular medical devices in Europe commissioned by a company active in the field of cardiology, I am looking for patients who would live with a pacemaker without lead (called leadless pacemaker) or to whom the option would have been suggested. The study aims to understand what is level of awareness and information available to the patients who are referred for a leadless pac...

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Questions About Upgrading from Pacemaker to CRT

Hi,

My 87 year old Dad had a 2 lead pacemaker implanted at the beginning of November after a heart monitor showed that his heart stopped for 13 seconds while he was asleep. He recovered well but a recent echo showed a significant drop in his EF from 45 to 30-35, so now they would now like to add a 3rd lead to Dad's pacemaker.  How difficult was this procedure to implant the 3rd lead and how is the recovery?   I worry about the risk of infection.  Do you have...

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AV node ablation and type of pacemakers used for it.

I am new to the group and would love to hear from anyone who has had an AV node ablation. I have a single chamber pacemaker which was implanted in 2015. At first it served me well since I had developed severe bradycardia. Now I am so short of breath all the time that I can't walk around the block. I have permanent slow a-fib and flutter. I have always felt 10 years younger and breathed easily when I've had a cardioversion and am in normal sinus rhythm but it only lasts a few...

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I have sinus arrythmia and bradycardia. What should I do?

I am 20 years old engineering student. My pulse rate has dropped to around 53. Sometimes it even goes as low as 46. It has been like this for a month now. After doing ECG , they said that I have sick sinus syndrome. I even did holter monitoring. According to the report , there were pauses in my heartbeat. . The exact statement was "Frequent short sinus pauses are noticed. Sometimes sinus pauses are followed by junctional escape beats." Average heart rate was 57 bpm.

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Uncomfortable bras and seatbelts

My Pacemaker is on the left side of my chest (which is annoying, because it looks like my left breast has a lump), so sometimes wearing bras can be extremely uncomfortable. Can you recommend any other types of bras or anything? 
Also, my seatbelt in the car is right over my Pacemkaer, making it extremely uncomfortable and not at all safe because if the car slams to a stop (as it often does, with my dad's driving), it presses down on it and is quite painful. What can I do about i...

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Kardia Mobile 6L

Before I got my pacer, I was using a Kardia Mobile 6L to monitor atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. Following my implant in November of 2019, it appeared that the Kardia was still correctly recording my EKG. however, in the last coupke weeks, it has suddenly become unable to record an EKG, and tells me thst there is "interference". Also, since an ablation in October, my EKG has looked weird, but my EP assyred me that for ne, it was normal - based on everything I've had done...

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Pre Planning

I'm watching a movie where and EMP shuts down the entire country -  in it a woman says "omg I have a pacemaker " - she ultimately dies .

i wonder if an emp would shut my pacemaker down immediately  ?

if not I guess I would be OK until my battery life ended ?

can anyone think of any steps we could take to be best prepared for such an event  ?

i could buy an extra device but there would be no way to implant it  ?

Thoughts ?

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Redo of PM

Hi, I have my pacemaker for 3 weeks and just found out that I have Pacemaker Syndrome. One of my leads has moved out of the muscle so, consequently, my pacemaker is not working and needs to be redone on Monday. The dr. said that this only happens 1% of the time and may have been caused by my chronic sneezing. He is recommending implanting a thicker lead which would be less inclined to move....HOWEVER....I could NEVER have an MRI because of the material used in this thicker lead. Anyone ever h...

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Steady heartbeat?

My recently (Feb 5th, 2020) implanted St.Jude Assurity MRI, PM isn't keeping my heart beating at a steady rate, which had been my expectation.

Instead, I see a variation between 50BPM - 100+BPM.

This occurs even when I am, or have been, resting. Sometimes it happens when I am walking around the house but not really being active in the sense of exercise. I am certainly not exerting myself.

Is this normal and to be expected or should I be concerned?

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Pacemaker Placement?

Hello,

I am 31 years old female with a complete av heart block. Next month, I will be getting a pacemaker with two lead wires implemented, but I'm having trouble with deciding on where I want the pacemaker. I honestly don't want it under the skin above the pectoral muscle. My doctor suggests to place it under the pectoral muscle. I'm worried it's going to bother me when I carry bag packs, or doing upper body workouts. The doctor also doesn't think that having a...

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Introduction

I just received my first Zio xt patch today. I'm 17 years old and I am tachycardic. Is there anything extra I need to know about my patch? Or any advice?

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Shortness of Breath

Ok so i have had my PM for 1 year now and about few weeks ago have been experiencing SOB when walking short distances, doing daily chores and going up a flight of stairs. Has anyone experienced this? If so what would you recommend? I see my cardiologist in 3 weeks.

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Strange pain

Good morning, 

I am hoping someone has experienced something similar so to explain what is occurring, as my doctors are at a loss. I had my pm surgery on Sept 12, 2019. I’m 62 yr old female, with Brady-tachy. PM is set to 60 with rate response, I’m on no heart medications. About 2 monthe ago, I was at my low impact Zumba class when I experienced a tremendous, excruciating pain on the left side of my chest. Pain was so strong, that it took my breathe away. After a few mi...

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How do the doctors decide your pacemaker setting?

Just wondering how the doctors decide what your lower and higher heartbeats should be set at.  The doctor that put my pacemaker in only saw me during my hospital stay, as I was on vacation when I had to have my pacemaker implanted.  The electrophysiologist that I saw before going on vacation did not think my symptoms were heart related, he was pretty sure it was due to vasovagal syncope. I had only seen him this one time. The cardiologist I was referred to has not changed my se...

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Daughter having pacemaker and just found out she pregnant

At the weekend I found out I was going to be a nan for the 5 & 6 times my son he's having his 2nd baby but when I found out my youngest daughter who 21 is also pregnant I just got up and walked out to the shops I know I was wrong but my daughter has a pacemaker since she was 2 as she has congenital heart block and need it to stay alive and in 2018 she had open heart surgery I'm so scared about her as I don't want a grandchild without my daughter please someone help as I should...

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Lightheadedness

10 weeks post implantation. All good until today    Got up this morning. Think a bit quick. Went a bit lightheaded. ? Thought is this anything to do with pm.  Or just literally getting up too quickly. Not on meds now.  Think still getting used to it. 
 

thank you for your support since joined  very helpful  

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Operating a Chain Saw with a ICD device

Has anyone had difficulty using a chain saw with their ICD device? Its been a while since I have been on here. I have an BV ICD that serves both as a dual chamber pacemaker and difibrilator. I have heard the concerns from doctors and others, but I may need to operate a chain saw again due to us being around a lot trees here at home, and at our summer home up north. Got a tree down in the yard already. Do they make gloves specifically for this situation? Is there a particular chain saw th...

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Bjj

Anyone here grapple/bjj and or sparring with chest protector?

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Drugs

It it safe to ride an exercise bike 7 days after a re-implant? The doc doesn't want me doing anything for 4 to 6 weeks. They had to put a lead back in place. I believe it was there fault when they did a tug test.

 

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Results are In

  Good morning! To the persons who read my long posts, I received the results of both my Nuclear Stress test and my PET scan for Cardiac Sarcoidosis yesterday evening. Both were negative. No sign of any blockage, normal pumping ability and no Sarcoidosis. We are now going to monitor my Pacemaker's function and its impact on my heart every 3 months going forward. 

  My cardiologist is attributing my 3rd degree heart block to aging and when...

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You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

Member Quotes

It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.