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Risk in pm battery replacement procedure

Hello. 

I have approximately 2 years left on my dual lead pm. My Electrophysiologist cannot say with certainty that the replacement surgery will go perfectly well, but that they have the technology to keep my heart beating during the procedure. My natural heart rate is quite low (30-50bpm). Is there anyone who cares to share their knowledge on this topic?  Thank you. 

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Low oxygen levels

Hi

I have a question about low oxygen levels after exercise. I have sn ICD due to episodes of VT and I also have multifocal PVCs. I struggle with ongoing symptoms but try to exercise either walking or gym each day for 30 minutes. The recovery however is quite traumatic with increased symptoms which last about an hour. I noticed my oxygen  levels drop to around 89-91 during the recovery period. Do you think this is indicative of changes to my ejection fraction? I had an ec...

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Pacemaker Upgrade

Hello,

This Tuesday, 11/07/23, I got a pacemaker upgrade from a single atrial lead to a duel lead (atrial, ventricular leads) due to pacemaker syndrome. The electrophysiologist also did a pocket revision and moved it up as my original pocket was in the breast tissue. I don't remember it hurting this much the last two times, and also keep getting sharp quick pains at the insertion area and by my heart. I'm taking Tylenol and keeping an ice pack on the area. Any oth...

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Not getting stronger

     Good day. 41F, I have a Bi-venticular pacemaker for nonischemic heart failure.(not sure what's relevant) I have had this device for about 6 months. I healed pretty well, nothing bad. I am trying so hard to get stronger but it just won't happen. I am not doing anything crazy just walking, house work, desk job, cleaning, trying to be normal, not staying in bed but I do not get stronger it's so strange. I have had improvements yes but my legs are so heav...

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Soon to be member, I think

Hi All,New to the forum. 62 year old male. I am currently scheduled to have a pacemaker implanted on 11/21. I have no Idea what kind. I currently have a Boston Scientific loop monitor. I was diagnosed with bradycardia back in May. It's kind of frustrating. I'm probably in better physical shape now than I had been in years. Over a year ago I started working out 4 to 5 times a week on a home elliptical machine and lost over 40 lbs. 

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Bluetooth Ear Buds

After having my ICD for a couple of months, I finally got around to using my wireless ear buds for a movie on my iPad. I was watching the movie and I discovered that I could hear a low level beat in the background. I thought it was part of the soundtrack at first but when I paused the movie the sound continued. I realised then that it was my heart I could hear in the buds. My questions are: has anyone else experienced this and do the ear buds affect the ICD. I haven't used the buds again...

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Pulse Oximeter

Subject: Pulse Oximeter:

Last August the ER doctor found my pulse to be 30 bpm. Until this point, I had no interest in what the pulse does, I knew I had one and that was good enough for me. My painful sciatica was completely ignored, as I was hospitalized for Bradycardia and overnight observation.

My sciatica was the result of sitting around for seven weeks with an arm sling while recovering from Popeye bicep surgery. I did not know it at the time, but I was in for 6 months of PT...

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New to club

Hi, I have recovered well from the surgery implant five weeks ago and swam 50 laps this morning. I am so pleased and privileged to have my device, I live in USA and am on Medicare, so this is at very little cost to me. 

I am 75-year-old Mechanical Engineer, who has windsurfed for 22 years. I have had two years of gradual reduced energy and strength. For my age I am considered very fit, I eat well don’t smoke or drink and exercise regularly, I weigh 160lbs. For the last two ye...

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PACs every other beat after pacemaker check

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I recently had a pacemaker placed for sinus node dysfunction. It's a single lead right atrial pacemaker, Medtronic Azure XT SR MRI. 

Last week I went for my first pacemaker check. My setting at implant were a rate of 70-120. During the device check they added a nighttime setting for 60-120. Before I could get home, I was having PACs every other beat. It didn't stop so they readjusted my rate to 85-120 to get ahead of the PACs. I...

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Pain

Have had pain for 2 days in left collarbone.

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ICD and driving

If you get a ICD implant after an  electrophysiology study , are you allowed to drive an RV?

Thanks

Jpj. 

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Cleveland Clinic - Post Surgery Information

Hi - looks like I need extractions and want to plan out the best place at my age to get 2 done. Being Canadian this is out of pocket. If any of you have paid to go to Cleveland for surgery, can you send me a message so I can start planning what is feasible before I get my heart set on it?  I realize you may not want to post it directly.  I really appreciate it.

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Which condition would be easier to treat: Sick Sinus Syndrome or Heart Block?

I have often wondered which condition would be easier to manage/treat:   Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) or Heart Block (HB).  I have just seen opposing views from two valued members and I thought it would be interesting to do a post on this and to get some more views.

I know this is not a straightforward question because both SSS and HB can be changeable and sometimes improve or worsen, requiring more or less in the way of management/treatment.  Both conditions are not always...

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Tired all of the time

Hello all, 

I am 35, female and have a Medtronic pacemaker for complete heart block that was implanted in 2018. I just received a call from a tech from my doctors office that they need to see me in 2 days to check everything out. They said one of the leads that is supposed to be pacing 100% of the time was "offline" for about 3 seconds. I did not have any symptoms associated with this but they just want to double check. 
 

the reason I am here posting...

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How do you find a surgeon who does lead extractions regularly?

Hi

My husband is set for lead extraction after Thanksgiving. His surgeon is the only one in the EP practice here who performs lead extraction. He says he has been doing them for years and recently extracted 30-year-old leads.

However, he probably does this procedure maybe twice a month, not the once or twice a week that many people seem to recommend as optimal.

Three questions:

1. Would you feel comfortable getting a lead extraction done by a surgeon who performs&...

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Lead Extraction Stories

So I have 2 leads in each chamber. 1 broke in each.  2 leads are original and probably way too old to extract, one is capped. Not sure they are even game to try it at my hospital so considering US as option. Would love to hear how old your leads were when you got them extracted, where, complications, etc. Thanks.

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Leads

Hi

Has anyone had problems with a lead moving after many years?

Having on going issues one of which is intercostal packing after new device put  in. Various settings have been altered and was doing ok, just the occasional episode but slowly it's returned to occurring more frequently. 
Getting and x ray to check then possibly another look at settings. 
Jane

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pacemaker info

Recently had a six month check-up.  All is working as it should I guess. One thing was said ,but I didn't ask for an explanation, is "it's 15% for the top chamber and 25% for the lower chamber". Any explanation about that.  All I heard was "everyting is fine working the way it should"  and I was out of there.

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2 months Post Pacemaker/ICD and AV Node Ablation

It will be 2 months tomorrow that I had a Medtronic Claria MRI Quad CRT Defibrillator implanted and an AV Node ablation.  I thought I would be feeling happier about the decision to have this done by now, but I would say overall my arrhythmia is no better and frequently worse.  I was in 2 weeks ago and they did the final settings on my device.  They set the low rate at 70 and the high at 130.  I would say I am rarely at 70 resting.  I had to stop Jardiance for 2 weeks...

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Boston Scientific Programmer

Hi!
Does anyone else have a Boston Scientific programmer??

 

Thx!  Nick

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You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

Member Quotes

As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.