Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Just had my first 6 week check

and was surprised to learn that my pm was pacing 99% of the time. Glad I had it put in as my bradycardia would not have got any better. That apart all went well. Readouts are fine and show the pm is doing what it should. Battery should last 9 years so the machine says. Seems long given the amount of pacing but time will tell! Also got a copy of the x-ray of my leads in situ. Nifty stuff - grandchildren think its brilliant.

And have to say I feel fine. No pain from the implant site an...

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From too slow to too fast

Just had my six week PM checkup with my cardiologist and I am not a happy camper. Have you all had the experience with your cardiologist that he really does not know what the PM can and cannot do?. I was having a slow heartrate and pauses which is why I got the pacemaker.. All he seems to know is that now my HR won't go below 50 because PM will kick in. I asked about my palpitations at night and he says it could be because I am in and out of afib. I thought it might be that my pulse was in the 8...

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% Increase ?

I've had my PM since 2011 when I had my first checkup 6 mo. later the bottom was at 40% and the top was 0%.
Now the bottom is at 70% and top 4% so my question is, Does this mean my heart is getting worse or is it that I've started exercising more frequently?
I had a heart attack in 07 and 2 stents then 4 more over the past 6 yrs. but 2 failed. My last cath in 11/2012 showed 40% blockage but the cardiologist said it was okay and he left it alone.

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Office Checkup

After sending a Carelink on 1/7 they called on 1/14 for me to come in for office check. After we get it settled that there were to be NO changes without my OK, we agreed on lowering the ventricle pacing voltage from 3.5V to 2.25Volts to increase battery life. The higher voltage was set several years ago when I had a loss of capture event. I've reminded them regularly that the self tests, Carelink, and office tests showed the lower voltage was called for, but they were concerned that I might lose...

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Getting a new pacer with remote monitoring

I just got back from the Doc's and he's implanting a new medtronics pacemaker on Wednesday! He said this one will have remote monitoring. I was looking it up on the web and do you have to have a landline phone or can this be done by cell phone?
Any of you have this and what do you think about it? It's been 9 years since the original one and this is my 1st new implant!
I'm also more scared this time around...any of you experience that and what was your recovery like?

Thank...

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Blood Pressure & PM's

I am on my second pacer put in 2007. Reason: I have Carotid Artery Disease and any pressure on my neck will stop my heart. Never had BP problems until I had the second one put in, and it went up to 203/87. Had to take (2) BP medications for a year before Dr lower me to one pill only. I stay at 140/ 80's all the time.
Now here it is 2013 and all of a sudden on New Years Eve night (Not drinking or partying), I experienced chest spasms, fast heart beat and nausea. No chest pain. Scared...

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Question about settings...

I'm guessing from what I've read as well as how I feel when I walk a bit (3 days after implant) that the settings to start with are kind of "one setting fits all". Is there any info I need to arm myself with to get to the proper settings for me as quickly as possible?

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No check ups

I had my PM almost 2 years. I have only seen my cardiologist once since my surgery. I am monitored every 3 months using my monitor. I do see my regular doctor ever 3 months. How often do you see your cardiologist for a check up if everything is going ok as far as you know.

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afib

Went in for check on last tweaking, and how I felt. Tired a lot, weak in the knees, short of breath. Well all old BS was set at was 60 bpm and thats what the old boy did. So he(the tech) also found a lot of arrhythmia type ATR the longest 7 24 33 some 4 24 or down to i0mins or even 30sec. when he was looking at it he ask me what blood thinners I was on. I said aspren. He said Huh. And showed me the log, of which I got a copy. He turned BS on it now is DDDR, He had me speed walking the halls to...

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Trying again

I did mention this in a reply to a posting but would like some input.
1 year old PM with 2 years life left in battery? Only pacing 17% of the time. I vaguely remember the tech mentioning the short life-span at the first interrogation, but she said it must be a glitch. Possibly a dud?
Any thoughts?
Shirley

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Underlying Rythm

I went for my first follow-up visit for my pacemaker that was implanted one month ago. I was given a detailed print out of the settings. The one thing I am not certain about is the meaning of "SR 70's" for Underlying Rhythm. Can anyone clear this up for me? Thank you, Dennis

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Reading ECGs

I don't know about you but as a new recipient of a pacemaker due to sudden onset bradycardia I was fascinated by the ECG readouts. It looks terribly technical but I recently came across this site:

www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/card.html

Not only does it give a brief refresher on the anatomy of the circulation and electrical system of the heart but also explains how it works with good diagrams all those PQRS and T waves that march across the graph paper. It has examples...

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Questions I should ask

My morning fix is now a cup of coffee, english muffin and logging on to pacemaker.org. I have a three week, three day appointment on Friday with my cardiologist. My main question is why at rest does my HR speed up in the evening and why in the AM is my blood pressure so high. Hopefully he won't say I don't know. Those of you who are so knowledgeable, if you can remember back to your first cardiologist visit after implant, would you suggest questions to ask that I might not realize need asking. I...

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systolic changes

Had my first pm on dec 4 and all went well. Have noticed that the systolic is hanging out at around 135 to 145. Prior to crt-d by Boston Scien. It had been around 120. I have had a wide qrs at about .190 for many years [I am 67 now] have read that with the LV becoming in sync with the RV that there can be some pressure increases. Electro doc didn't mention and I don't have an appointment until in March. Pressure has been ok when get checked at the cardios office, but don't believe it. It is...

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Just wondering

I got a pacemaker put in last week. I feel great! But sometimes, while sitting, not often though......I get palpitations in my lower throat. I go to my doctor next week and he's good so I'm sure he;ll fine tune. I just wanna know what questions to ask. Thanks
nikiski

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New

Hello,
First and foremost my name is Hayes, I am a 24 year old male, who just had my first pace maker put in on 12/12/12. I was born with d-transposition of the great arteries. (heart works backwards) I have had 2 open heart surguries, countless caths a melody valve and most recently the pace maker. Said pace maker is a medtronic one. I go in on 1/4 for a pacer check and for them to turn it on. I am kind of nervous as to what to expect when that happens. Can any one tell me how that is and...

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strange feeling

Good Morning! had a strange odd sensation last night. I was wondering if anyone has had it Also, or would know what qas up.
I was sitting in the lazyboy chair late watching tv, not doing anything. I started ro feel my heart beating in my back, almost like a twitching feelings, it went on for like a hour or so. I thought well perhaps it was a muscle just twitching. Then I decided its weird ok its been going on too long time to investigate.
I monitored my heart rate and it flew to like...

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QUESTION

do anybody know medtronic care link has a website for patient to get the result from ? my pm doctor said i can get my full pacemaker result ... I don't know where should i need look for ....

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BiVentricular/ICD

Had a checkup today for my new ICD. All went well except the Dr was not happy with how much swelling there was. So he stopped my coumadin for a week to help the healing process.

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Correction from. Previous message

Thanks Tracy for responding. So nice of everyone. I meant to say I went from60-70 and not the other way around. I think about mine all the time, I know it's not normal, wish I could just let it go

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

Member Quotes

Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.