Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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need some advice...

Hi to all. Been having some problems and need expert advice. So I had my 1st PM put in on 4-09. Surgery went well and so has the healing process. Cardio Dr. set the PM low rate at 70 and upper 130. The first week I felt very dizzy with very queasy stomach but felt more energy. I called and the Dr had me come in on the 16th along with a Medtronic's rep and they checked everything and all was good. I was also having more problems with the PAC's. They reset my PM low setting to 80 and thoug...

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First check up!

I had my first check up today. I got my pm for syncope, and it is set with a rate drop response and a minimum. The minimum was 60 and he changed it to 50. I was expecting to hear it hadn't paced much, but apparently it was in use 458 times in the last 8 days! So lowering the minimum will probably lower that a lot. They said it was used approximately 17% of the time. I had a couple episodes where I had a rate in the 170s before it plummeted. I don't know why, as I've done nothing more than lay in...

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Weird pains - Getting ready for first checkup

Hi all, it has been one week since I got my pm and my first checkup is tomorrow. I think I'm recovering well, but I do have some weird feelings every now and again. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I had a pain that hurt with every heartbeat which I could feel very strongly. I tried to find a better sleeping position but it didn't make any difference. It lasted around 45 minutes. This morning everything feels fine. Occasionally, when I either speed up or slow down (like sitting down af...

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Pacer Follow-Up

I just had my pacemaker checked a few weeks ago (sorry it took me so long - life is super busy!) at my new hospital! All I can say is, I do not regret leaving my old hospital for a second! I'm now being seen at Johns Hopkins, and not ONCE was I met by a single rude or dismissive comment. How refreshing!

Anyway, I still have about 4.5 years left on the battery, and next month I will have had it for 10 years!!! It was only supposed to last 8 years, and the ones before it only lasted 4,...

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1st pm check

Well, I go to see cardiologist for my first pm check. Now I can ask why my heart races so fast just walking to another room. I take my pulse and it is almost 98 bpm when my rate is set at 70, and then it quickly goes back down when I sit. Does anyone else have this issue? Hope it is something he can adjust.

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Can anyone explain PET/CT results

I just had a ICD implanted replacing my PM implanted for 2nd degree heart block, due to evidence of cardiac sarcoid They just did a PET/CT scan to determine level of sarcoid in my heart. Can anyone explain the below results to me.

Results from N-13 ammomia MPI "Essentially fixed moderate to severe perfusion abnormality involving the basal septum extending in the mid to distal anteroseptal and anterolateral regions is associating no obvious regional wall abnormality" "No fixed or reve...

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Upper Tracking Rate change

After more than 10 years with a PM (this is my second) I've been having some problems recently and today had a meeting with my nurse practitioner, my EP and the rep. from Boston Scientific (who drove 2 hrs from Mass. just for the meeting!) to try and get to the bottom of it.
No-one's really sure what's going on, but lots of small tweaks were made, and in particular - at my request - my upper tracking rate increased from 155 to 165. We'll see how that goes - thanks to members here for discu...

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all is well

Well, had my first pm check and was given all is good. I asked about the rapid heart rate with minimal activity and they are going to reduce my base rate during the day. Was also told I need to start doing the treadmill at l Inciseast 15 minutes each day so I will start that tomorrow as I like to o exercises early in the day. My incision is healing well and have just the smallest amount of discomfort when I push on the area. I really appreciate this website because it makes me know that I am...

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Evia SR: problems?

Hello All,

My daughter finally received her pacemaker ten days ago, her surgeon opted to implant a Biotronic Evia SR. She is experiencing extreme heart pounding, diaphragmatic pacing, headache, pressure in her chest. She is pacing with great frequency. She has been seen in ER twice with complete workups and the implantation is sound in all ways. We made the four hour trip back to her surgeon, he had called in the Biotronic rep and between him, the pacemaker nurse and the rep, they...

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What to Ask

Morning everyone - been lurking for a couple of days and have now decided to post my situation and first question.

My first question: My first PaceMaker followup is coming up on 22nd April - What the heck should I be asking or looking for!

My situation: UK based, 3 Backouts in 8 months, Loop Monitor implanted. 5 weeks later, data was recovered and I was told I needed a PaceMaker inserted asap, so was booked in the next day (my heart had been stopping at night for durations...

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what is 8% usage?

My cardiologist said my pacemaker is working 8% of the time. Is this normal, low or high? I got my implant just 4 weeks ago.

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ICD home monitoring checkups?

Hi, it's been about 5 months since I got my ICD and I think i'm going to get the home monitoring checkup machine thing next week at my routine checkup.

I haven't really been told much about this and I'm sure I will be when they give it to me but I'm just curious about how the checkup is done and how often it's usually done with ICD's? Also anything else would be appreciated

Thanks :)

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MRI...done and dusted

Hi everyone
Had my PM fitted on 22Jan this year and all going very well. Cycling better than ever.
A number of people expressed concern when I posted recently that my Cardio wanted me to have an MRI. Unfortunately I have been travelling and didn't have time to explain why.
Prior to my PM being fitted ther were some indication of some valve leakage.....and as I had to have my PM fitted urgently (and I have a ST.Jude MRI compatable PM) We ( my three Docs and myself) agreed to do it...

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heart rate below base rate?

Has anyone had issues with measuring their heart rate using the "old fashioned" way of feeling pulse and looking at second-hand clock and using electronic heart rate monitor and finding the heart rate below the base set rate of PM? I thought it was never supposed to go below that set rate.

Any thoughts?

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Just had first checkup

Hi,

I had my first PM check on Thursday. Despite a niggling worry that a lead may have pulled (I have been quite active)I am happy to report that all is fine. I am glad I kept an exercise diary though as the technician found a few occurrences of a high pulse that might otherwise have been classified as atrial fibrillation lol! They all correlated with my running records and my own pulse rate recordings for my runs so all fine there. I have no problems during or after exercise. To prev...

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checkup

I had a pm checkup today and all is running ok so I am now on a yearly check. Was told that on 12th Feb my hearf ran fast for a few seconds but I did not feel bad on that day but did not feel right a few days later. A report will be sent to my consultant and if he needs to see he will get in touch. However on Tuesday I went out and did a 47 mile cycle ride with no ill effects.

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Cellular

Does anyone check the pacemaker using a cell phone instead of the phone line?

I want to rid off the land line to save some bucks!! (and pay the $medical bill$)

Thank you

Mariano

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st. jude--mri

I have the St. Jude pm and it is for the mri. My doctor is doing a study with other doctors around the country. They will be doing a mri on me as soon as they get approval from our dear fda or what other gov. admin. they are doing the mri to study the pm during and after the test. that is what you are probably doing or they would not have put in that pm

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Do others feel differently when they're pacing?

Hi,
I had a question about whether or not other people feel the difference when both chambers are pacing versus when just one is pacing?

When both of mine are pacing, I feel more lightheaded, heart racing/pounding, short of breath; whereas when only the top chamber is pacing, it's not even noticeable.

Thanks for any feedback,
Beth

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a fib for 21 hours ???

had the PM checkup yesterday,and apparently I'm in afib about 27% of the time...Now I've read where some are in afib 100% of the time...So I'm not realy worried, but curious about something, since I'm in new territory here. I was also told that on one occasion, I was in a-fib for about 21 straight hours...started at 8:15am on a day when I went to cardio rehab around 9am...at around 9:15 or so, after 10 mins on the bike, I tried to find my pulse, had trouble establishing my rate, so they "Hooked...

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You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!