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I must apologize

I didn't mean to alarm everyone by posting and then disappearing.

On the day after I posted, I had an appointment to discuss my symptoms with my PCP, as my EP had recommended. But when I woke up the morning of the appointment, I had severe GI symptoms. I felt so rotten, any cardiac issues were shoved to the back burner. We discussed cardiac issues only to decide to table them.

One abdomen C-T scan later, the diagnosis was diverticulitis. Since then, I've been between...

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Cardiac pet scan

I had a cardiac pet scan today! I haven't discussed the results yet with my doctor but I saw that my resting ejection fraction is 72%.  Is that normal ? I read where if the EF is too high , it means there is heart damage? Have any of you had a cardiac pet scan? 

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mendomike

I got my 1st PM implant in 2019 and it worked great but by 2022 at the age of 75 my heart needed a bit more help and I had a TAVR (synthetic heart valve) procedure in February of 2023. From that point on all was good. My blood pressure stayed in the 120/65 range and I was a happy camper. However at the time of my TAVR procedure an electrophysiologist noted a little irregularity in how my ventricles were working. He said it could eventually lead to problems and that eventually I should get an...

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Sudden increased pacing

Hello, has anybody ever had a sudden dramatic increase in ventricular pacingwhen they're pacemaker was routinely interrogated? If so, did you find out what caused it? Did it cause you problems? And did it need to be addressed? Thank you

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Newbie…. First Message

I wanted to come and get some information about a pacemaker from those that have one.  I have found that doctors have little ability to inform the patient correctly.  

A little about me.  I am Spencer, I am 57, retired once but still working.  I spent 28 years in the Miitary as a Navy Commander and am a combat vet (dirt Navy).  I have a number of mental issues that I contend with but I wanted to see what is out there for information on a pacemaker and find a goo...

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Twitching on Left side after battery change

Can anyone give insight why (Dr said) diaphragm pacing is what I'm feeling right after dr replaced battery, said not to worry, which I am, but why would that of happened, and she adjusted settings once, but will another adjustment fix it? 

....Also, wanted to ask , I had a CRT first, but Dr couldn't put 3rd lead in because it was right after open heart for tricuspid repair, and it couldn't go through, 8 yrs later different Dr wanted to put dual lead without wire replace...

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PVC Question

I have  a Medtronic Claria MRI Quad CRTD (9/7/23) and AV Node ablation.  Like so many others here, I am having PVC issues.  Had them right after device implant and ablation.  Calmed down, had rate reset from 80 to 70 about a month ago.  Had 2 weeks of really annoying PVCs and brief NSVTs.  On advice from knowledgable people here I spoke with my cardio and raising the base back to 80 for now seemed like a good move.  First week or so of that was good. &n...

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This is for the 56-year-old guy who removed his post “No turning Back” and deciding YES – NO to Pacemaker.

75-year-old male here, fairly fit, and able for my age! The “No turning back” was an issue with me also, I agree it is difficult. I guess our egos go to being young and fit to that of being old and infirmed.

I had a device similar to a Holter ECG called a Zio patch for two weeks. I believe it gave my Cardio Dr enough information to go to a permanent Biotroniks Linq. This was 27/7 monitoring and revealed that I had low pulse for 36% of my time monitoring for 245 days. I also...

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Welding

Wondering what to use to protect myself while welding. Also what kind and where to purchase a vest if that's the answer. 
  Thanks Rich Davis 

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Battery Monitoring - My message posted yesterday

I posted a message yesterday under the "Battery Monitoring" post that was intended to be a humorus post. I was making fun of some differences between the U.S. and the U.K. In no way did I intend to disrespect anyone. I was not at all serious about any part of it except for what I considered to be self-deprecating humor. 

The potentially offensive part of that message has been taken down now. I do realize that some folks may have bee...

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POST PM IMPLANT

Had a Medtronic W1DR01 PM implanted one week ago today. Everything is fine. I am noticing a rash on my chest up to near my neck and down around my armpit. Anyone ever experience this? I'm just using Benydryl for the itch. It's better when I wake up in the morning. Very strange.

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Marathon Heart or Chest Pain

I have a dual Medtronic pacemaker and I'm 55.  I just ran the NYC Marathon and at mile 22 I had heart or chest pain that really scared me.  I slowed down and finished.  The pain went away after a couple miles.  Is this a concern for future marathons or running?

Thank you for your support

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Pacemaker replacement

I'm a Dane living in the US. I got my first pacemaker in Denmark in 1993 at age 33. I'm now on my third (2013) and second set of leads. I'm being monitored once a month (remotely) and was told I have 2 months left on the battery that was10 days ago. My 2 prior replacements were emergencies. What I don't understand is why my doctor can't get me on the schedule for a new battery. Any suggestions on how to speed things up?

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Pacemaker issues

I got my pacemaker on July 19, 2023. From the time I got it I've had two continual issues. When I'm riding in the car, truck is worse, bumpity, bumpity, down the road, I get a strange uncomfortable feeling in my chest, an achy feeling and fluttering that makes me feel like I have a a piece of hard candy stuck in my throat. Secondly, intermittently, when lying down at night I have sharp pains at every heart beat for several seconds and then it goes away.  Has anyone ever had this...

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Ranolazine for PVCs?

Does anyone here have experience taking the medication Ranolazine for PVCs or other ectopic beats? What is your experience with it? Or, does anyone know where things stand with regard to the study cited below?

  Ectopic heart beats: Finally some hope on the horizon? [Nov '18]
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX1JFZyyljQ
  
This YouTube channel is hosted by Dr Sanjay Gupta, York Cardiology. In this short vid...

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Battery monitoring

Does anyone know when they begin more intensified monitoring of the battery life?  And how often they check it?  Is it at one year remaining mark or more Iike 6 months remaining?   And at these points, do they usually check it weekly, every 30 days, every 3 months.  I forgot to ask this question at my in clinic appt and was just curious if anyone knew the typical schedule.   Mine will be getting checked remotely as I am about 2-3 hours from my cardiologist.  ...

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Pacemaker or purely coincidence?

Good Evening, All. I had a strange thing happen today at work, possibly pacemaker related. Or not. I just know its a first for me. I have a PM for 1.5 years due to complete heart block. I am very athletic, have always been. Today at work I took a quick break and walked down 10 flights of stairs to another building to treat myself to a tea latte. On the way back I suddenly felt a little tired, I wouldn't say it was substantial, but definitely there. I thought it might have been just a...

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need interpretation of monitor report

Cardiologist's office sent latest quarterly report via email, and I need some help interpreting a few things.  

Under heading: Atrial Lead Undersensing, it says:

"Atrial lead signal amplitude suboptimal. Stability of the signal over time needs to be monitored"

"Suboptimal" means not optimal.  What kind(s) of problems does this cause, and should I be asking doctor about it?  My next FTF appointment isn't till January. 

<...

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Pacemaker's effect on VO2 max and value of workout heart rate data

The current settings on my pacemaker are 60 and 165. I recently had a very good effort on my bike and my Training Peaks software gave me a Threshold heart rate of 161. i understand by definition Threshold Heart Rate is 80 to 90 percent of your max heart rate.... and the VO2 bit for me is that my Garmin Software gives me a VO2 max value of 43/44.. Which fo a 69 year old is decent...

... So the question: Is my pacemaker causing my VO2 max to be understated or overstated?

For trainin...

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My wife underwent a Stent Graft for an aortic aneurysm. The Cleveland Clinic is amazing!

My wife had an aortic aneurysm repair yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic and is coming home today! That procedure is an amazing minimally invasive advancement to fix a life threatening problem. Her aneurysm was 5 cm and was discovered by accident a few weeks ago during a CT for an unrelated issue. Needless to say; after that discovery we saw it as a ticking time bomb that needed immediate attention. Prior to this, she had not had any health issues and other than occasional mammo...

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Member Quotes

This is my second Christmas with my pacemaker and I am so happy to be with my family.