Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

breathing apparatus setting??

Hello all! I just went for my check-up after my 1 year anniversary with my pm. All has been great since I got my pm - and I am pacing at 68 percent. When I was in there, the tech told me that he wanted to adjust my pm b/c I have a breathing apparatus in my pm. He had me sit still, not talk, and breathe normal for 4 minutes while it took a baseline. Anyway, what it does is when my breathing gets more labored from working harder, etc, I have been feeling the pm kick in when I'm pacing above 60bpm....

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been upgraded

Well my appointment went well yesterday. Doc. concerned about the tiredness so has speeded up my settings and upped by pulse rate to 60 instead of 50 . Now I'm pacing at 70 -72. Guess upping the settings on the PM has something to do with this. If this doesn't work when I go back in a month we will start playing with the meds. Of course I have the blood test to do next Tues, and if nothing shows there than we experiment.
On another note I ask about the cost of the new meds to replace warfer...

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early check-up

On Monday I'm going for a PM check to see if the Doc. can find out why I'm so tired all the time . Think I sleep more than a new born. Family doc has me going for a whole bunch of blood test. My blood right now is to thin but he doesn't feel that is the cause. I hope it's just a matter of boosting up the power on the PM and setting my pulse rate higher than 50 as that is where is hangs around. Just so tired of being tired all the time so hope this check-up solves the problem Has anyone else had...

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Telephone follow ups

Hi! I'm a Cardiac Tech in NJ looking for some info on where everyone gets there follow ups done. Do you do them transtelephonically? ( that little box with the bracelets and magnet?) I've been checking them for 21 yrs and I'm looking to learn more. I'd really like to learn how to program. Any info will help!

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Pookie

Good gracious---6 years of suffering because of a setting? Do not see how in the world you were able to bear it. Glad it is now fixed.

Sally Fe

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Got Good News today

Went to cardiologist this morning for pacer check, Coumadin check and follow up visit. To my absolute joy I was taken off Coumadin. Doc told me what to look out for if clots return. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be rid of this drug. It served its purpose and now I can get on with my life. We discussed adjusting speed of pacer but that is not necessary. My upper and lower chambers are not exactly communicating in sync so that is why I have pacer. Upping the beats will not be helpful...

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Sara

Thanks Sara. This has been an unbelievable journey. So glad I found this site to talk with folks who have similar issues. Helps so much. Just got in from doing yard. Love gardening and I am the only one available to do it., Hard when you are a "one woman show" and you have to do everything. Hope to get all hard stuff done before it gets so hot. Usually go out EARLY Saturday mornings and come in before Noon. That's what happened last June. Got too hot outside, dehydrated and my world ch...

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pacer

well I was 29 when I got my pacer put in and now I am having some weird pain have any of you had that problem before

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Thanks Sara

Thanks Sara for responding to my post. I've had a hard time since the fainting, pacer installed, 4 broken ribs from the fainting and the blood clot in lung. It has been non-stop doctors for almost a year now and I am still not well. Hope cardiologist will adjust pacer Monday to a higher level so I can get back to doing what I used to do. Hope I don't have to have current pacer removed and a new model put in. Think that will simply do me in!!!

Sally

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Need an opinion

I have a question. Has anyone ever heard of a pacemaker being set "on the wrong speed?" Mine was installed in July 2010 after a fainting episode. My heart was not beating fast enough. Since that time, I have been BEYOND tired. I have struggled almost a year now. It is set to kick in when my heart goes below 60 beats. I am still young (only 56) and active. Today a new doctor told me that maybe the pacer is not set high enough to keep up with my activities. I go 5/2/11 for a check of pace...

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Dft testing

I had my first ICD implanted March 23.  Well the Dr had a lot of complications during the procedure so they weren’t able to put me into a deep sleep to do the DFT test where they induce an arrhythmia and see if the ICD works and shocks me out of it. I have to go back to have it done next month, so I am wondering about everyone elses experience.

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rate response

I go for my 1 year check-up in June and I have a question. What is a rate response and is it something that needs to be set on my PM?  I had the activity "whatever" turned on at the 6 month check-up and it improved my ability to walk and do things, but I feel it could be better.

Any help readily accepted as I am in the dark about my companion (PM) and want to know what to request on this visit.

Thanks for your answers and help.
Binky (Dianne)

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voltage change/tiring normal?

Hi. My 37 year old son had a pacemaker implant 4 weeks ago. His voltage (?) setting was 5. Yesterday at his 2nd and release check-up, the 2 leads showed normal, safe scar tissue and his BP & Pulse & heart rhythms were so good, the technician cut his setting from 5 to 2.5.  That seemed like a big cut at one time.

Just a few hours after, he began feeling somewhat tired like before he had the pm implant (was only getting 30’s in the heart rates). The past 2 weeks he h...

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Rate response & gasping for breath & bloating

Hi Everyone,

Had a St Jude pacemaker implanted January 2009 for second degree AV block. Additional complications before and since - Sinus Bradycardia (about 50 bpm), paroxysmal atrial flutter/fibrillation, pacemaker mediated tachycardia(PMT). Currently taking flecainide. AV delay 325ms (sensed) to encourage own heart rate. Base rate set at 60 bpm to minimize AF. Pvarp 325ms to eliminate PMT. Max tracking rate 90bpm.

Apart from episodes of AF I have felt generally OK and could...

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Question about checkup time

My PM had its first anniversary in Feb, and its first 6 month checkup was last October. OK so i procrastinated a bit, it's a long trip to the nearest PM clinic. Now I'm due again, but I'm having scheduling problems i.e. one clinic is only the first Thu of each month; it's a 60 mile drive (each way) & I'm already scheduled for fun things the first Thu of the next 2 months. The clinic I used before is a 110 mile drive (each way) & it's out of net payment, but I can get an appointment later this...

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Telephone checks

I have a Boston Scientific Altrua 60 pacemaker. At my 1st follow-up check 3 weeks ago they gave me my unit to do the phone in checks. This machine has 2 wristbands and a cradle for the phone.

My question is, what data gets transmitted to the clinician? Do they get an ECG reading or just my heart rate? Is it just checking that the device goes into magnet mode when I place the magnet over the PM?

I should have asked these questions at my appointment but didn't think abo...

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anyone ever heard of this

Ok I had been having some episodes of almost blacking out and went to get a pm check. The P.A. said that my restasis setting was turned on and shouldn't have been. I had never heard of that. Anyone know what that means? It has something to do with the amount of time between beats I think. I'm confused!

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Medtronics carelink

Cardio Dr has prescribed a carelink for home monitoring my pace. A friend who uses one asked if I did not use Cableone phone service. I do. He advises the monitor will not work except on the standard traditional landline. Is this correct? The Medtronic tech said nothing about this, nor did Dr, nor did Cableone. Any comment would be appreciated.

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Checkup Report

Had my annual office check this morning. Kind of boring. Not much to report. All is working fine and no need for changes.

Now it is just sending a CareLink by phone every 3 months till April 2012.

frank

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Double ventricular beats

It was such a delight to find this website, and explore the friendly comments and information shared with each other, when I heard last September that I needed a pacemaker insertion due to CHB – a complete surprise, as it seems to be for us all.

So my first posting; can I say hello and ask for your advice/opinion?

The pacemaker was inserted on November 5th, (ha ha!) and my recovery has not been as speedy as I anticipated with continued SOB on even mild exertion, and chest p...

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I just had this miracle implanted two weeks ago and I’m feeling better.