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Unable to get MRI- opinions?

71 yr old male. Had a St. Jude/Abott pacemaker placed 6 years ago. I am 100% paced a have been trying to get MRI for chronic lower back pain. Twice Ive been prepped , gowned ready to go and PM tech turned down my PM and consulted with my Cardiologist. Both times i was told too risky. So 2 questions.. anyone else experience this and second, what other imaging would be beneficial for  a neurologist to examine my issue. Xray does not seem to be adequate for Clinic im trying t...

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New to this!

Hi guys, I had a dual pacemaker fitted in November, I'm 30 years old and was diagnosed with Sick Sinus syndrome. Originally the cardiologist thought I maybe had POTS, after a tilt table test (7mins into it) my heart stopped for 18 seconds, had 1 beat and then stopped for another 10 seconds. After coming around etc I was told what had happened and that I needed a dual pacemaker. It was fitted 3 days later. 
 

Since then I have had my check up etc and all is fine. The o...

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Distolic pacer dependent

Hello I had open heart surgery due to a growth on a damaged valve from a car wreck. When replacing the valve they cut out my diatomic receptors making me 100 % pacer dependent. I am 48 moderately active (much less since surgery and cardio issues). My doctor advised my battery would deplete quicker because of my age and activity level. I have 2.5 years left on a supposed 10 yr battery which would make for a total of 5.5- 6 years does this seem normal and secondly do the leads need replacing? I...

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strange sensation

Good morning everyone,

I wonder if what I am experiencing is a "thing", or my imagination, reflux, or?

I am 2 months post pacemaker implant and Post TAVR. Medtronic, two leads, 99.9 percent paced in ventricle; .1% atrial.

Frequently, when I bend over, I perceive what I can only describe as a pulling or tightening in my chest which disappears rapidly. Has anyone heard of the leads stretching? being too short? Can this be PM related?

Incidentally, I have h...

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new owners of this site

Was suprised last night Dec15,2023 to receive an email saying this site has new owners.  That explains why there have been many changes to this site.

Glad to find out that the new owners are Pacemaker related. 

Hopefully they will not charge the users to post on this site.  I will for sure drop out then.  I have found  that the other users  are helpful when i have concerns or questions

Do hope one of the first items on their list is to...

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PM lagged response

Had a Biotronik Eluna 8 DR-T implanted in 2015. I'm now 77 and have had good results. Includes work outs walking and jogging. I still ski mostly blues but some blacks. Now, in the last year or so I have noticed a lag in response of the pm. When I go out for a walk I often get short of breath for the first 10-15 minutes. When I check my watch it shows a beat rate of from 65-75. But not always. Eventually it rises to anywhere between 115 and 135. I have discussed this with the PA who is ass...

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MRI

Hi folks, I had my first PM implanted in 2004 at 44 YO and second around 2014. I want to have an MRI on my lower half to check back,, hips and knees all at once. I do not have an MRI safe PM but am starting some research to see if this is possible. I will probably need a new PM in the next year or so, but the leads will not be changed to the best of my knowledge. This would be near Cedars in Los Angeles CA

Thanks All!

Eric

 

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Battery

Six months ago my battery life was 5.2 years. Today it was 3.2 years. I've never had a drop like that and I paced less this six months.  At this rate, I'll need a new battery within a year. This is my second battery and I've never had a drop like this. Anyone have this happen? Medtronic.

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Good news: Extraction was successful

Greetings Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted.  Life got in the way.  Funny how it does that to us!   

Well,  I've made the decision and deed is done.  No more pacer, leads or software.  I deleted the software months ago - it was causing too many issues, as was the pacer.

Today, my leads and pacer were all successfully extracted.  The surgery completed in less than an hour and I feel absolutely fine.  Sh...

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ICD CHECK UP

After being unwell for a while with irregular heart rhythms, high heart rate and BP (see my previous post), I had a three month check up yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you.

My first question was had I had any AF or arrhythmia since last time as I can feel an irregular pulse when when my HR rises to 90 to 102. I was told I had not been in AF and not had arrhythmia.

I asked about Rate Response. I was told the setting was what I needed but when I explained how my heart...

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Cell Phones

"If they can send a man to the moon..."

There must be a way to cary a cell phone (Google PIXEL 7)

in a man's jacket/coat left breast pocket without interferring with the pacemaker.

Is there a stick-on shield for the skin or

a pocket-protector for the jacket pocket

that will prevent cell/pacemaker interaction.?

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AV node ablation

Hi all

I'm wondering if anyone has experience of having an AV node ablation and if so what was your experience?? I 've  had my PM now for 3months because of permanent AF. And this ablation is being discussed but I am unsure what to do.

Any thoughts  welcome

Trixie 

 

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Answers from EP Questions, I am happy.

Pacemaker Answers from “Andrew’s EP” and “Tim the Tech”. Dec 11th 2024. 

Biotronik DDD-CLS, with Adaptive Rate Response turned on.   

            

1/       What is my diagnoses? I know I have Bradycardia - low pulse and PVC’s. What about Sick Sinus/ Heart Blockage and other symptoms?

Answer: “Sick Sinus-Bradycard...

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Dizziness & Fatigue

Recently had some issues with dizziness & lethargy 

Had a PM intergation, 24 Hr Holter Monitor, Echocardiogram & blood work preformed. 
 

The PM only picked up short episodes of AFib on  Saturdays when out drinking beer with mates. (Over the months since my last intergation, no other periods or arrhythmias were picked up) 
The 24 hour monitor didnt pick up any periods of AFib or other arrhythmias only a few ectopic bea...

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Pacing has increased very quickly

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well and happy and getting on okay with your devices.

I have 2nd degree type 2 heart block and had my pacemaker implated 6 years ago. When I first received it I hardly needed it and used it 1% of the time.  Fast forward 6 years and to my check up yesterday I am now on 90%.  This year I have have actually had a vast increase in use starting in January at 50% and ending December on 90%.

My cardiologist is now doing various tests tha...

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Feeling beats from pacemaker

Hello, 3 years ago my wife was fitted with a two-wire pacemaker due to AV Block. My wife also uses concor or tenoretic because she has tachycardia arrhythmia. AV Block condition was more evident under medication. We have been experiencing the removal of AV Block for 6 months. This time, while the heart is beating normally, the pacemaker sometimes comes into play. My wife feels the pacemaker beats very strongly. When my wife takes medication, her pacemaker works more actively. I would be very...

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Sleep In Relation to Overall Heart Health

Hey all, This is more of an advice/consern seeking post, than a question. I am currently in the middle of finals week at university, and I haven't been sleeping the reccomended 7-8 hours. From past experiences, I know that a decline in sleeop, paired with an increase in caffine is a recipie for disaster and tachycardia. However, I want to pass with good grades. Therefore, my predicament is deciding if I should stay up and study, or just go to bed. Additionally, does anyone know if it...

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URGENT ADVICE

Hi All

The last couple of years have been mostly up with some downs. I am fitted with dual chamber PM since 2019 for Heart Bloc 2:1

However the last couple of weeks have been pretty rough. I am suffering from lethargy & tiredness, occasional night sweat,  muscle weakness in calves & thighs (when not exercising & exercising), discomfort in the chest, headaches & dizzness. 

I attended hospital yesterday, had a PM integration (some bouts...

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Unusual Heart Rates

I thought I would share my current issue with you. My CRT-D fitted in September is set at 55bpm and this is mostly my actual pace when I check with my home monitor. However the last couple of weeks I have been having spells of higher rates of 85 to 102 which usually occur when, but not exclusive to, moving about. My BP also increases. At the higher heart rates, I get chest flutters and feel unwell and I have to lie down. I usually then go back to 55. As advised by my GP I have increased...

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How many of us are happy with our PMs?

I was just wondering what percentage of PM recipients might be more or less happy with the way their particular device performs?

This Club is a massively helpful hub for us all, especially those with tricky heart problems and those with issues with their PMs. The level of knowledgeable technical and emotional support on offer is superb.

One understandable consequence of this is that postings tend to be dominated by those with serious questions to ask about their own health, or the...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a shocking personality.

Member Quotes

A pacemaker completely solved my problem. In fact, it was implanted just 7 weeks ago and I ran a race today, placed first in my age group.