Most Recent Messages

First Patient in the NATURE Observational Study in the U.S

DENVER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Study Will Look Into the Evolution Of AV Conduction Disorders in Pacemaker Patients.
ELA Medical, Inc., a Sorin Group company (MIL:SRN) that specializes in the design and manufacture of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, announced the first U.S. implant in NATURE, an observational study that will enroll 1,440 patients in North America and Europe.

The objective of the NATURE study is to observe the evolution of atrio-ventricular conduction d...

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Pre- ICD Any Advice?

Hello All,

I am new to this site, but have a feeling that we will be here quite a bit. My husband will be receiving his ICD on August 14th. i am doing last minute panic research online. Any advice, do's don'ts. Things we should ask, things we should know? Just know that it will be a Medtronic, that is it.

Taking baby steps, terrified the whole way.


any info, tips, advice, things to be concerned with would be greatly appreciated.
the wife.

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Medic Alert Tattoo?

Does any have a medic alert tattoo? Thought that might be cool. I go without my jewelry a lot. But, though it might be cool to get the medic alert service and have my number and symbol tattooed on the inside of my wrist or somewhere veiwable. I know first responders are trained to look for a medic alert but would they notice a tattoo? Any one have any input on that?
Amy

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PTSD gets me a Pacemaker?

Is there anyone else out there that has or had PTSD and got a pacemaker after? In addition to my job as a boat Captain in the USNPS and 4 years as a rescue boat crewman in the USCG I was a first responder to both TWA flt. 800 and to NY Harbor on Sept. 11 2001. These events effected me very much to the point of attempted suicide and subsequent diagnosis of PTSD. June of 2006 my heart stopped and some doctors have said it is possible the stress of those events could have caused my heart stoppage....

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Jessie if you're still on go to chat

Jessie if you're still on go to chat

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to say hi.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone, and let everyone know i'm back and doing ok. sorry i haven't been on for a while. i've been dealing with problems at home, and depression. i lost interest in a lot of things. But things are looking better.

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Post PM implant

Nine days ago had PM implanted for heart block. It was done at my HMO and am not pleased with the post implant care. Never saw the doc post surgery, attending cardiologist came by and said he would see about getting me realeased and never showed up again. One week later to HMO for check up on PM, attended by a young tech with less than a year experience and briefly seen a cardiologist at the clinic who was surprised that I since had two near faint episodes. She suggested it may have been vaso...

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Right Breast Pockets???

My dad just received a pacemaker at the age of 80. He very much misses the use of his left breast pocket in all of his shirts, where he would carry his cell phone and at night a small mag flash light. Are there any manufacturers that make men's shirts with a right breast pocket?

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ASD, A-Fib, A-Flutter and now PM

What a year! I started off feeling fine. A routine physical with EKG informed me I had atrial fibrillation. This led to an Echocardiogram, which led to a TEE which led to open-heart surgery in march to correct a large ASD (atrial septal defect) and the a-fib (maze procedure.)
Four weeks after the surgery, life was starting to get good again, when my heart beat sped up without reason. Back to the hospital to discover I now had atrial flutter! Ablation procedure to stop the flutter....

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CT Findings

Hi Everyone! I finally got a copy of the CT report and I thought I'd share the SVC finding...

BTW you might want to grab a chair and sit down.....

"There is a chronic near total occlusion of the Superior Vena Cava just proximal to the insertion of the azygos arch with marked enlargement of the superior intercostal veins, the accessory hemiazygos vein and the distal azygos vein and arch. Prominent subcutaneous collateral veins are also noted."

OK, you can breathe...

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beginning symptoms

I was just told I need a pacemaker. I have known I have complete heart block for 10 years but have never been symptomatic. My heart rate is usually about 46 but i have seen it anywhere from 37-55 while awake. I had some episodes where it sped up and things became distant 2 times. The medical doc thougt it was panic attack though I've never had one. My cardiologist says, I'll have to get a pacemaker eventually anyway and it's possible I felt my heart pause. I was very scared that day and tho...

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ICD and returning to exercise

Hi Everyone

I am from Northern Ireland and have Long QT Type 1. I got a shiny new I.C.D in Nov '06 and I have been scared to return to any sort of proper exercise ever since. I was quite active before my diagnosis but after finding out that my heart condition is triggered by exercise has made me very wary. I have the usual fears of leads being pulled out and inappropriate shocks so my question is..... what sort of exercise do any of you guys do? I have started cycling and walking agai...

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Soft Touch Seat Belt Thing

Does anyone have this PM protection pad advertised on this site? Wondering if it works well. I am having a problem when I drive. The seat belt irritates my incision and applies too much pressure to the area. I've been using a soft heavy washcloth but it keeps slipping and looks a little silly too.

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Tate

Hope Tate is doing well this evening. I have a five year old granddaughter so I can identify with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you tonight.

Sue and family

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I need your help!

I am so frustrated! I had my PM implanted in March 07 and I am still having SO many problems. I was told my Doctor was one of the best but he (actually a team of 5) can't figure out what is wrong. I got the PM because I have a second degree heart block when I exercise. My heart rate would go from 170 to 60 and stay there for a minute or two while working out. The signal from the upper chamber to the lower chamber was not going throught so that is where the pacemaker came in. After MONTHS the...

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Frozen Sholder

What is this and how do I prevent it?

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Thank you all for the encouragement!

Thank you all so much for the encouragement! The anxiety along with the pain is a Bear! I feel so alone and it is great to have this website. I stumbled on it accidently and I'm SO glad I did. All of your suggestions and info were very helpful. It's good to know that my feelings are normal and part of the process.

Cornellgirl

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Travel Insurance

What are members experience with obtaining travel insurance once you have pacemaker/defib unit?

I had an infarct 20 years ago, and have had some issues with travel insurance in the past, usually having to concede that any cardiac issues would not be covered by insurance.

With more recent travel I haven't had to worry as the questions on the application form relating to cardiac issues only covered the last 10 years, so I could ignore my past experience (I have been symptom...

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Finally an answer?

Hello everyone. Wanted to update....wow. Thank you all for your support!

This last Tuesday I had a CT with contrast (ordered by my internist only after I've been to hell and back trying to get an answer) to look at my chest to see if there was a connection to the swelling and pain in my left arm. The result was colorful.

I apparently have obstruction in progress of my Superior Vena Cava (SVC). What kind of obstruction is yet to be determined (could be a clot?) so I go back...

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New Pacemaker

Hi All,
I just had PM put in this past Friday and it is REALLY painful. Feels like it will never stop hurting. My arm's in a sling and I cannot sleep or eat much (i'm a chubby girl, so that's prob a good thing :)

I'm staying with my 24yr old daughter while recovering and it is a challenge since we both live alone & are quite independent. Fortunately my heart is healthy other than the Sick Sinus Syndrome they said I had which should be corrected by this PM. I have alot of anxiety...

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You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

Member Quotes

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