Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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out of 'sync'?

How often should one get 'out of sync', knowing that we are all different. I was 'adjusted' once, something about the change of meds? I didn't understand, just went through the process.

Now I'm wondering if I'm in that state again. I had another ablation about a month ago, could that have caused it? I got a call for an appointment tomorrow. I was needed an after surgery appt. anyway, so maybe that's why? Or maybe something showed up on my monitor report.

I was going...

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pacemaker sensation

I went in for a check up today, and the second time the tech changed my heart rate, I felt the horrible sensation in the area of my pacemaker, not my heart. It instantly made me feel nauseaus, tired and headachy. She said I couldn't have felt it there, and said it was nothing to be concerned about and everything seemed to be fine.

I have been doing well over the past few months, but this episode has left me concerned. If I shouldn't have felt it the way I did, how could everything be...

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Feeling rubbish after settings changed?

I've had a Guidant Insignia since 2005 for complete heart block, and am now being monitored for cardiomyopathy. The docs aren't sure whether my pacemaker is the cause of the cardiomyopathy though, and as a trial for the next few months, today they have turned down my pm, from a min of 60bpm, to about half that (not sure of exact figures).

They did warn me that I would lose my 'oomph', and today I've just been feeling pretty rubbish - really quite light-headed and slow, and like I can...

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Lower limit of pacemaker

Hi,

I was googling around and found a link referring to the article by Frank in the Pulse - Winter 2012. Got confused about dates and commented/asked a question and it was in February! Could be that is why I don't see my comment, even under my postings?

Anyhow, if it comes up, please excuse, but I really did want to know the answer.

Here is my comment/question:

Lower limits
Comment posted by judy13 on 2012-06-01 18:49.
Frank,

Th...

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re-set

Just had my pacemaker interrogated and my electrophysiologist told me my pacemaker had been re-set. This was during a long discussion about other issues relavent to my echocardiogram and amongst them being the possibility of needing a third lead; and I forgot to ask why a re-set was needed or done. Does anyone know the purpose of a re-set?

Thanks.

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m-link

what is M-link router for home monitor how should i get m-links to go with my carelink home monitor ????

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Rate Responsiveness Delay

I had a PM check-up today and was discussing with the cardiac physiologist the fact that I can set the RR off by vigorously tapping on the PM . As I was all wired up, looking at a computer screen of my heart rate, he said " Start tapping now and we'll see what happens !"

I happily tapped away and nothing happened to my HR . I stopped tapping and he said " It doesn't seem to work for you" ... and then, after what felt like a good 2 minutes my HR shot up from 60bpm to about 110 bpm....

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HEARTBEAT 112 PACED?

Just out of surgery for my third PM 4 days ago. Feel weakness in my legs above knees and somewhat lightheaded. Called Dr's office, they said leg weakness and strange feelings would be addressed when I return in one week for checkup and staples removal.

Started checking heartrate last night. Seems to be stuck on 110/112 bpm. Same this morning. Old PM was set on 70. Why is heartrate so fast? Can a dual pacer be set as high as 110?

Should I be concerned?

Coot...

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New Plugs and Wires

I went for a check-up last Wednesday and was advised that my 13 year old ventricle lead needs to be replaced soon. The threshold (amount of energy needed to pace my heart) is 2.75 V (highest possible for my model) and my battery life has dropped to less than 1 year. My surgery will be scheduled by month-end. The surgeon doing the procedure has a pacemaker as well. So, I ordered what he has.

My old leads will not be replaced. Just a new ventrilce lead and device will be implanted....

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Post op check up

Perhaps I should have posted this question earlier, but from reading other posts, it would appear that post op checks are usually within two to three weeks after the implant. Indeed, my surgeon did instruct me to make my post op appointment for within that time frame. But when I tried to make the appointment, the receptionist said the doc was booked out and that I could not be fitted in until 6 June: some 7 weeks after. And despite my protesting she would not budge (saying that she talked to...

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To change or not to change

That is truly my question today. I am off to the doc today for my first visit since receiving my last pacer. We have discussed turning down my voltage for more battery life. This is my 15th pacer in 16 years. I have to have my voltage turned up to the max to achieve a decent EKG without tons of afib, PVC, etc. when it is lower my CHF kicks in with a vengeance. However due to the fact my last pacer only lasted 7 months, I am considering trying it. I will have to go on a very low dosage of Coreg b...

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CARELINK DEVICE

I GOT MY CARELINK MONITOR IT EASY TO USE IT I BE WATCH SETUP DVD HOW TO USE IT

ALL YOU NEED PHONE LINE

I THINK MAGIC JACK WILL WORK THAT IS PHONE LINE

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Finding a good tech

I am moving to Santa Cruz, California and have had trouble with my Medtronic settings. I have not had good techs. My EP will be referring me to someone I think, but how would I go about finding a good tech, who probably comes along with the EP? Can I have a separate tech from the EP's office? I guess I could call around and just ask techs or EPs they feel comfortable working directly with the pacemaker manufacturer? Any suggestions?

Wantok

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1st Checkup

Just got my pacemaker (Boston scientific S606) implanted on March 26,12 for tachybrady-syndrome and chronotrophic incompetence. Its a DDDR, which after doing some research actually makes sense to me now. I was able to return to work two weeks post op, but am nervous about my first outpatient checkup to check the settings in July. I definetly feel a lot better. But sometimes i notice my HR up in the 120-130s and I am not doing anything strenuous. My settings are set at 70/130. Does this mean I ha...

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new bi-vent; stairs are hard

I have a new bi-vent pacemaker and tomorrow will be day 13 after my surgery. Before I had it put in I had no symptoms of my cardiomyopathy even with an EF of 25%. ( I am 47 and very active.) The pacemaker went in to correct my LBBB, but now I cannot do stairs anymore or walk up our steep driveway without stopping at the top to catch my breath. I found some other posts from a long time ago regarding a similar stairs problem but the OP never posted if they found anything out about settings....

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50% atrial pacing for Syncope

My one week checkup for my Biotronik Evia shows that its pacing my top chamber 50% of the time.

That's higher than we expected being as we put it due to persistent vasovagal syncope

Does anyone else with syncope know what percentage you are paced? I wonder what is "normal range" for syncope patients.

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Setting Question

I'm looking for your input. I have a Medronic Adapta rate responsive pacemaker. I'm 44 and very active. My upper rate is set at 160 bpm and my lower rate is set at 70 bpm. I'm thinking of asking my cardiologist to change my settings.

I'm quite restless and have a hard time sleeping. I believe this is because my heart beats so strong and fast while trying to rst. Do you think 60 bpm is too low for a lower limit? I jog, but would like to start pushing myself more. My pacemaker is...

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threshold maybe on the rise

Hello - does any body know what your ventricular pacing threshold is? My daughter, 12 yrs, has a pm, and she is so unfortunate to have had problems before with her threshold rising until the point of no capture which means that she is now on her 3rd pm in three years. The one she has now is fine, however, we went in for the biannual check yesterday, and her threshold had risen from 0,8 in October 11 til 1,1 now. And I am starting to wonder if this thing may happen again to her - that the thresho...

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Pacemaker company -- doctor economics?

I read a message here that Medtronic technicians can come use a treadmill to help fine tune a pacemaker if tweaking it has been difficult, but the doctor has to request this. So I talked to the nurse about this possibility because I have been at 4 different settings of rate response, including turning it off, and can't get it right, having had problems both with acceleration and deceleration. She was defensive and at one time in the conversation said "it is expensive you know". Now, according...

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all ok

Had my 1st check-up today and all seems to be ok. Said that I was pacing 48% of the time. I was ready for the tech to race my heart and then slow things down. Again thank you all for having me ready for this.
Duke

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Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!