Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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what is 8% usage?

My cardiologist said my pacemaker is working 8% of the time. Is this normal, low or high? I got my implant just 4 weeks ago.

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ICD home monitoring checkups?

Hi, it's been about 5 months since I got my ICD and I think i'm going to get the home monitoring checkup machine thing next week at my routine checkup.

I haven't really been told much about this and I'm sure I will be when they give it to me but I'm just curious about how the checkup is done and how often it's usually done with ICD's? Also anything else would be appreciated

Thanks :)

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MRI...done and dusted

Hi everyone
Had my PM fitted on 22Jan this year and all going very well. Cycling better than ever.
A number of people expressed concern when I posted recently that my Cardio wanted me to have an MRI. Unfortunately I have been travelling and didn't have time to explain why.
Prior to my PM being fitted ther were some indication of some valve leakage.....and as I had to have my PM fitted urgently (and I have a ST.Jude MRI compatable PM) We ( my three Docs and myself) agreed to do it...

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heart rate below base rate?

Has anyone had issues with measuring their heart rate using the "old fashioned" way of feeling pulse and looking at second-hand clock and using electronic heart rate monitor and finding the heart rate below the base set rate of PM? I thought it was never supposed to go below that set rate.

Any thoughts?

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Just had first checkup

Hi,

I had my first PM check on Thursday. Despite a niggling worry that a lead may have pulled (I have been quite active)I am happy to report that all is fine. I am glad I kept an exercise diary though as the technician found a few occurrences of a high pulse that might otherwise have been classified as atrial fibrillation lol! They all correlated with my running records and my own pulse rate recordings for my runs so all fine there. I have no problems during or after exercise. To prev...

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checkup

I had a pm checkup today and all is running ok so I am now on a yearly check. Was told that on 12th Feb my hearf ran fast for a few seconds but I did not feel bad on that day but did not feel right a few days later. A report will be sent to my consultant and if he needs to see he will get in touch. However on Tuesday I went out and did a 47 mile cycle ride with no ill effects.

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Cellular

Does anyone check the pacemaker using a cell phone instead of the phone line?

I want to rid off the land line to save some bucks!! (and pay the $medical bill$)

Thank you

Mariano

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st. jude--mri

I have the St. Jude pm and it is for the mri. My doctor is doing a study with other doctors around the country. They will be doing a mri on me as soon as they get approval from our dear fda or what other gov. admin. they are doing the mri to study the pm during and after the test. that is what you are probably doing or they would not have put in that pm

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Do others feel differently when they're pacing?

Hi,
I had a question about whether or not other people feel the difference when both chambers are pacing versus when just one is pacing?

When both of mine are pacing, I feel more lightheaded, heart racing/pounding, short of breath; whereas when only the top chamber is pacing, it's not even noticeable.

Thanks for any feedback,
Beth

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a fib for 21 hours ???

had the PM checkup yesterday,and apparently I'm in afib about 27% of the time...Now I've read where some are in afib 100% of the time...So I'm not realy worried, but curious about something, since I'm in new territory here. I was also told that on one occasion, I was in a-fib for about 21 straight hours...started at 8:15am on a day when I went to cardio rehab around 9am...at around 9:15 or so, after 10 mins on the bike, I tried to find my pulse, had trouble establishing my rate, so they "Hooked...

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First Check-up

Had a Medtronic ADDR01 installed 12/27/12 after 3 Sic Sinus A/V Block episodes on the 26th and a 20 second flat line in the hospital on the 27th.
Just had my 3 month checkup. Asked for a printout and received a page titled Rate Drop Episode Report.
Settings are:
Mode - DDD
Lower Rate - 50ppm
Upper Track - 160ppm
Detection type - Drop
Intervention Rate - 100ppm
Intervention Duration - 2min
Total Episodes Detected - 229
Drop Rate - 50ppm
D...

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All Good About to Have a MRI

Hi Pacers
Now at the 10 week mark post pacemaker fittment......all good, cycling continueing to improve every day, last week, turned back the clock 4 years with a time for a 80km ride in the hills east of Melbourne.
My cardio continues to be pleased but has suggested an MRI as a final check. I have a new model St.Jude PM that is designed to be compatable with the MRI device and my cardio and a St.Jude technition will be in attendance.
Any advice/tips.....

Many thanks<...

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2 weeks now and I have device check

2 weeks now. I have a device and incision check today. I am not sure what questions I should be asking. Can anyone tell me things that you did ask and things you wised you asked? I am having some "swings" in fluid retention -- 2 to 3 pounds differece since yesterday but by tomorrow I could have lost 4? How long should/do you limit light lifting? Thanks for all you answers it makes a great deal of difference in coping and learning as one gets on with their life.

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What is wrong?

Had a triple lead Bitronik pacer implanted 1/28/13 - Everything seemed fine until my first pacer check on 3/12/13... Whatever the tech did knocked me out cold... she said that I was super-sensitive, etc etc no problem. The following Friday I almost passed out in the supermarket - Sat. at work I was lightheaded, nauseous, finger tingling ... All of the symptoms I had with my atrial fib. ... My doctor was out sick and N.P. who saw me said that the settings had been changed (no one told me...

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New to group/PM recently implanted

Hi, All!
I'm new to the Pacemaker Club forum. I'm in my 30's and have had a St. Jude dual-chamber PM implanted five weeks ago. I have multiple health conditions, some of which include autoimmune autonomic neuropathy (dysautonomia), myasthenia gravis (MG), tachy-brady syndrome, hyperadrenergic POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), neurocardiogenic syncope. I've had dysautnomia since I was 16 years old.

Because of my myasthenia gravis (which is a neuro-muscular disea...

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Effect of Atrial Pacing

Interesting one for you technical types. Using my ECG together with the Care Link I can run a high resolution strip and watch the the effects as the Care Link programs pacing through the test.

At one point in the test the pacer is programmed to Ap-Vp at 85 bpm. During this time I can see the pacing pulses varying in amplitude so I suspect this is when the pacing voltages are tested.

Now the interesting part. At the end of this test the pacer is programmed to As-Vp (for my...

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Merlin@home USB trans. setup-dumb but easy "?"

Hi, really dumb question. I'm trying to get the USB cell tower transmitter for my Merlin@Home...and have lost the phone number. For obvious reasons, my hospital keeps calling me to make sure I've ordered it. I work 2 jobs and have an average of a 15 hour day, so it's not like I have "time abundant" to hunt for it. Can someone please help a bonehead out? What's the number? haha

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Routine pacer check

Was feeling fine when I went to the office to have my routine pacer check. I always feel a little weak afterwards after the magnet part of the check up. I started feeling really fatigued about 6 hours after the check up. Muscle and joint soreness.
I went into my GP the next day to check for the flu. That came back negative. My wife and I work in the school system and seem to always pick up a "bug" of some sort. We have been trading a cough back and forth for a couple of months. 1st t...

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rate setting

I recently got a pacemaker at age 51. I am starting to run again but noticed thAt when I pick up in intensity I get lightheaded and short of breath. What should the bpm be for an almost athlete?

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3 months

Had my cardiac visit today and all my restrictions were lifted today. I think the drs like to scare you and always like to remind you why you have your device. But I am just so happy to be alive and have my pm so I could live a lot longer! I was told I am pacing at 99% because I was not pacing equally. But now it is time to not always think about this disease and go on with life and I plan on living it to the fullest. I am only 42 and I refuse to give up! God is good! Amen!

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