Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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HOME MONITOR

HAS ANYONE HAD A PROBLEM USING THE MERLIN HOME MONITOR? WE HAVE HAD 2 AND ARE UNABLE TO GET THE DEVICES TO WORK. WE RRECENTLY WERE SENT A NEW ONE AND IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER.

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Fast Heart Rate

I am 100% pacemaker dependent because of A/V node ablation. I am set at 70 bpm. It can go up into the 80's just walking from one room to the other and I get winded with very little exercise. Is this normal or am I being paced too fast? I would appreciate any answers. Thanks.
Narda

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Concerned

Mu husband had a pacemaker fitted a year ago, diagnosed with 2nddegree heart block 34 pulse. Just been for his check up, was told that his signal was only getting through to the bottom of his heart 20%, so this is why he needs a pm, so he is using it 80% of the time, as he is an anxious person but also wants to know everything about it, he wants to know if he would be dead without the pm, on his notes it says not pacemaker dependant, he is confused, or is it about quality of your life

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Members opinions

Phone conversation with an EP nurse yesterday: Me: Lately, on the treadmill, I've noticed the max heart rate I can achieve (@ 3mph) is 115 - 120. In the not too distant past, I could get my HR up to 145. Do I need my PM adjusted to permit a higher HR? Nurse's answer: "No, since you are taking Metoprolol, that's what is keeping your pulse from climbing any higher." (BTW, I've been taking 50mg 2X daily Metoprolol, aka Lopressor, for 2 years now).
I'm suspicious of her answer-----I'm under...

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All Is Well- All Is Calm

Went to the doctor today for a medtronic testing. The reason my heart pulse goes below the 60 setting is because I like others have an extra heart beat that fools the pulse ometer. Turns out all is working correctly and I accomplished more today than in months pre- pacemaker. Thanks for all the great feedback!

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What is the correct voltage number?

What do the volt readings mean? At my 2 week check up they lowered the volts but I only know they lowered from 3.5. Is there a number we should be at or is different for each of us?

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Are You Being Followed by Telephone?

Having had one of my family members receive a device, I was shocked (no pun intended) to see that see was not being followed by remote follow-up. Her physician's office didn't have anyone adequately trained. Remote Follow-up provides a wealth of information.

I have worked with 3 out of the 5 device companies for 20+ years, and know of a great company that provides this service to cardiologist's offices. If your cardiologist is not providing this service for you, contact me directly...

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Shortness of Breath

I'm an occasional runner and a serious bicyclist which probably gave me a low heart rate 45 - 50 bpm. I've also got Parkinson's. Whereas I can perform fairly well in my sports, I have shortness of breath when walking up an incline or flight of steps without some warmup. After a series of cardio and pulmonary tests, I was diagnosed with CI. I had a pacemaker installed a couple of months ago, but I still have the SOB problem. My PM doesn't really boost my heart rate significantly until 60 sec...

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Pocket revision

Hi, Has anyone else had a pocket revision done after only 9 months with the original pacemaker. This revision has been awfull and the tech can't seem to get the settings to work for my heart. I feel tired and the extra work my heart seems to be doing is wearing me out. Could use some help. Thanks, Nanci

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Fobbed off, want settings checked

Hi everyone, I live in the UK so don't have to pay for treatment, which may have a bearing on this?!

Had my PM 3 years ago, dual chamber for bradycardia. All sort of fine till 6 weeks ago, started getting pain in chest on exertion - 10, 20, 50 paces and have to stop and rest - going upstairs on all fours.

PM clinic checked settings 3 weeks ago and found no problem - they refuse to check them again as they are convinced it is not PM problem. My GP says there is no chest pr...

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another adjustment

Went today for adjustment. Min reset to 50 from 40 for day time night left at 40. PM rep said after last adjustment 6 days ago my pm use had went from 80% to 25%. I said of cousre because you chaged the min to 40 . Also said rate drop was turned on 6 days ago and it was activated 6 times, i'm thinking that was also because 40 was set as min, with a min of 50 I don't think rate drop will be activated as much because pm will kick in at 50. Hopefully 50 will help with just feeling spent all the ti...

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Rate response

What if any are the benefits of having rate response on for a reasonably good for age runner.

So far as I know I don't have a problem with upper rate which was hitting 165 on exertion a few days prior to implant. Or with my HB responding naturally to increased effort.
Pre Implant Garmin curves show a rapid initial surge in HB followed by a gradual increase as the miles built up.

Was lowered at first check up but still don't feel great and some odd fluctuations in HB ha...

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Beware of Adjustments

This week I had a 6 month check-up with my cardiology group including an interrogation of my PM. I've had it just over a year and the past 6 months have been very good after a rough start up. The technician asked a simple question regarding how I feel when walking. I answered "fine" and then mentioned that, when I run, the first half mile or so is a bit difficult as my system comes up to steady state. He decided to make two adjustments, although I did not ask for them. He increased the slope...

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motion response

I'm sure it has a technical name but the motion response on my now 8 day implant was turned down at first check because it would soar to 150+ whilst I was walking the dog.
By the time I walked out of the hospital I knew things had considerably improved.
I asked if this could be switched off altogether as my issues are slow heartbeat when at rest (down to 20bpm) and pauses mild compared to many max 3.7 secs suspected 1st degree block. One tech appeared in favour but his boss wanted to r...

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tweaked

Went for my PM checkup today couple changes.
Day setting changed from 60 to 45, night changed from 45 to 40 max changed from 150 to 175, rate drop turned on set for 25 BPM change w/in 1 minute, if drop in rate is picked up will be passed to 70. Should help with dizzy spells (1/2 dozen times), passing out (happened once post PM) max rate hopefully helps running. Well still can't run recovering from knee surgery. Going back in one month for another check with PM rep and cardiologist. Just sit...

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First PM "Check Up"

Well...had my first checkup today since PM. I cannot believe what a difference I feel already. I feel AWAKE! RN in clinic did the checkup. She said my PM is "pacing" 55% of the time in the SA node and only 1% in the AV. (My low is at 50 resting/60 with activity). I hope that makes sense. So, her comment was "no wonder you feel better". What this tells me is I needed the PM. I sure had doubts going in, but this is confirmation for me. I have been getting about 7-8 hours of sleep at nig...

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are these settings typical for bradycardia?

Hi all. I have either a sinus node problem or a vasovagal issue (they're not sure) where my heart spontaneously slows way down and I experience syncope. I had a dual-chamber pm implanted a few months ago and understood that it was set to kick in if my heart rate drops below 50bpm. Indeed it is, but it's apparently also set for other kinds of interventions as well. I discovered this when I repeatedly experienced a tickle when exercising and asked the tech to look at the data I uploaded. Apparentl...

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Check up

Hello everybody. Thank you for the information that everybody's sharing here. By the way, I have my pm last Aug 15 and all is well aside from some dis comfort of the meds I am taking and maybe the reason why I can't sleep well at night. My concern now is I want to know if any St. Jude location can check me. Since, my work requires me to be in another country I find it hard to see my Doctor or the hospital where I am supposed to have regular check in my country. Through browsing I know the l...

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love my tech

Two weeks tomorrow since surgery implant. I have brady/tacky and SSS. I had to have a pacemaker for very low heart rate and meds to try to correct tacky. After surgery I could not walk or my heart raced like horse going for a triple crown. I mean I could not walk faster than very slow motion. After searching this site I found references to rate response settings. A light bulb went off...maybe that is the problem. It was. The setting caused my tacky to start and then I was miserable every ti...

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Remote transmission

I had my 1st remote transmission after my pacemaker surgery in June for exercise induced 2nd degree heart block. I picked up a copy of the report and there are 646,190 PACs (premature atrial contractions) in a little less than 3 months. If my math is correct, that would be 7,179 a day and about 298 an hour. Should I be concerned about these numbers? I haven't really felt them except maybe a few. I also had 99 ATRs (atrial tachy responses). The summary says that the stored episodes show FFRW...

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Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.