Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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happy american thanksgiving

i wish to wish all the americans at our site a happy happy thanksgiving. i hope you enjoy the day with your loved ones. it is a special time of the year. god bless america and god bless everyone american one and all. jessie

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waiting to go in for surgery for pacemaker

Hi everyone,
I have just entered in the pacemaker club and I'm not quite sure where to go from here. I've been diagnosed with congenital heart block since I was born and I'm getting the pacemaker in a couple weeks and i'm really not sure what to expect. I'm coming closer to the day where I'm getting the pacemaker. I'm scared. It all started when my mom was diagnosed with lupus and being in her womb her antibodies let me to congenital heart block. I joined the club because i thought I was a...

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lawyer harassment

I was surprised that I got an email from a law firm that is ambulance chasing. My email apparently came from this site.
It was to say the least unexpected. I hope that our emails are not out to the highest bidder.

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Defib Lead Recall

Thought to ponder......

As a defib with Fidelis lead patient, should we be upset with Medtronic? Before we all jump to answer yes before thinking about the following. Every medical device from pacemakers to tongue depressors are required to go through some form of testing for FDA approval (at least in the US). The manufacturing companies are spending millions of dollars to perform R&D (concept), pre-clinical (animals/simulation), clinical (human trials), and some even support post-mar...

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Been gone a while...

Hi All,

I've been gone a long while, hope all are doing well!

2nd Medtronic pacer implanted in 2005, no problems, other than all the emails from law firms trying to harvest the lawsuit market.

Scottie

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chat

anyone up to chatting tonight?

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Lead Email To Members

In response to the recent postings about the defective lead email that was sent to members, I offer the following comments.

Your email address was not sold or released to anyone. That would be against the law and the Club’s Privacy Policy. I take both very serious and guarantee you that the email originated from Pacemaker Club.

After serious consideration, I made the decision to send the email. I expected the email would generate debate. So if you disagree with the...

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G'Day all

I have been reading the posts regarding the email sent out to everyone. Mine came from info@pacemakerclub.com. I have a St Jude pacer and not a Medtronic. But thanks for the email and the information anyway, I sometimes go for quite a while without checking in here so any news and info like that is appreciated.
Regarding my earlier post asking for advice about Afib, I have been to my Doc and I am now on 25mg of Atenolol.
I started last night and it seems to be helping already, proba...

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So much fun!

Okay, true story...

I just got back from a business trip with a few of my colleagues. We were coming back and were going through the Calgary airport. Like usual, I had to get a personal security check. All of my collegues have been through this with me, so they stood aside and waited.
I get this NEW guy who obviously has never done a "hands-on" inspection before.
I un-do my belt, flip up my collar, etc.

He's being VERY careful, asking me before he touches me anyw...

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Doing well

I'm 51 years old and had a dual lead pacemaker implanted in April, '05. I was always a healthy person running marathons, gym workouts, surfing, etc. I was worried when I first heard the news that I will need the pacemaker and thought the worst.

I go to the gym 3 days per week and I run 4 or more days per week. Next week will be the first time in my life that I've run 60 days in a row. I feel great and I've never had any problems with the pacemaker. I hope that all is well with th...

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About those lawyers...

Okay, I see that the Pacemaker Club has a privacy policy that says they will not share our emails with anybody.
HOWEVER
That doesn't mean they won't send out information (even from a law firm) blindly to all its members.
Yes, one could argue the merits of suing a company that is making devices that may have extended my life by umpteen years.
Nobody told me that my PM or leads were fool-proof. Nobody said they came with a guarantee.
Would I sue if I found they were de...

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ambulane chasers and Pacemaker club sell out

I can't believe Pacemaker Club gave or sold my email address to a bunch of ambulance chasing lawyers without my consent. How much did the Club get for the list??
It's bad enough to get telemarketing calls on my phone but for Pacemaker to sell out is very disturbing.
The lawyers could get this information from Medtronics and not have to hawk their wares through what I thought was a reputable organization.

georgeh4

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Telephonic checks and Medicare?

I was due last Thursday for my first official telephonic check at 9:40. I had my little modem all ready and was awaiting the phone call. Instead I got a call from the tech who said due to Medicare rules I couldn't have a check until January (?) because last month on Oct 17th when I had a "spell" and fainted they had done an inquiry in the office.

I said where is that written and she couldn't answer. Is there a time frame or something? I read here that people have such good rapport...

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Musical Interference

Any performing musicians out there? I had a Defib fitted about 2 and a half years ago. I've been zapped twice in the last 6 months (my first time of being zapped) and both times I've been performing at the same venue with an electric instrument. The Doctor has told me it's just a coincidence. This affected my confidence to play as you might imagine and I became quite anxious about performing. Any similiar circumstances out there,words of wisdom? Any musicians with Defibs? Thanks Steve

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homeopathic therapy

does anyone have any experience of seeing a homeopath? do any of the tests they do interfer with a pacemaker. im due to see one next week and would be grateful if there would be any contraindications to the pacemaker .thanks

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PM revision

I had my PM implanted 1997 (dual, Medtronic) and has worked like a dream since., however replacement day will have arrived on 26th November and the PM leads will need replacing as well. Can anyone who has had this done before advise me of how the lead removal/replacement went. I worry somewhat about this part of the procedure as I believe there is some possibility of damage to the heart when leads are removed as they will have grown into the heart over the preceding 10 years. Thanks to all if yo...

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Pacemaker Dependency Percentages

My pacemaker implantation was September 2005 and now that my PVC's (post ventricular contractions/extra heart beats) are now under control, I feel so much better. I still have some brady-tachy episodes but they are split second and my dizzy spells are minimal. My pacemaker is set at 70 and I have so much more energy. However, my heart beats mostly at 70 and rarely a beat more on its own. I have gone from pacing at 12% initially to over 57% according to my last 4 checkups. My pacemaker depende...

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Weird Feeling Behind PM

Tomorrow will be 4 months for my Pace Maker. Haven't had any problems except early on with some pinching type pain around the site but that went away and probably was nerve related.

But this morning something weird happened. All of a sudden I am feeling my heart beating right behind (or maybe in front of) the Pace Maker location. Never happened before. It felt like it was racing but when I took my pulse it was about 84. It went away in about three or four minutes. Anyone else ex...

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Electrician Contractor -Occupational Concerns

Hello,

I am wondering if there are any electrical contractors out there who have a pacemaker and are working in a different work site or location every day. How do you manage the uncertaintly of magnetic field and electrical current levels if your job requires that you visit a different customer (sometimes power plants) every day?

I would appreciate any input from those who may have experienced this? Thank you!

Teri (Nurse from Michigan)

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Atrial Fib

G,Day everyone, I have a question about Afib, I have bradicardia, SSS and atrial fib, I have a St Jude pacer (1 year now) with an algorithm which controls the afib by speeding the heart up then slowing down again once the fib is stopped. I get the afib every time I lie down , It is worse when I first go to bed and also when I wake up. I have been woken up occasionally in the early hours with mild discomfort and afib .
I am not on any medication. The Afib seems to be getting worse but this...

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You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.