Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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New pacemaker/New to forum

Hi everyone,

I got a pacemaker 6 days ago after being diagnosed with Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction affecting my cardiovascular system along with many other systems of my body.  My heart rate was pretty consistently in the low 30s and over the past few months I've had multiple passing out episodes and ICU admissions.

I have to say I have not felt this well in a very long time.  My energy level has increased dramatically and it may sound weird, but it's...

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Apple Watch

Hi are Apple Watch accurate with heart rate .As keep checking mine all the time. Thank you

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Replacement This Tuesday-- Help

My Medronic Adapta is running with limited functionality-- low battery.  Because of cervical spine issues I need a pacemaker that is MRI tolerant.  Who gets to decide what device gets implanted?  Shouldn't the docs at least consult with me and inform me of their reasoning?  This has not happened so far.  

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"I can't tell how long you've been this way..."

Hello everybody FG back!

Well, after talking a while and looking at my EKG, asking my wife and I multiple questions and criticizing me mildly for having gone so long without getting an EKG (I guess about 20 years or so before all this started), my 3rd opinion EP shakes his head and says, "I can't figure out how long you've been this way. When  did you first start having symptons?" I sai...

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heart ablavation getting closer date question

im very nervous for this procedure ..question how many hours does it take and the dr told me that he was going to go thru my groin area ? 2 sides or just 1 hole also how would they control the blood on my leg or groin area ?  why do some get heart attacks during or after im very concerned i hear i have to stay still for 6 hours after ,,

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New form of pacemaker

Paper published 26th October:
Battery-free pacemaker uses light to regulate heartbeat
Researchers have developed a battery-free pacemaker that uses optogenetics to regulate the heart. They are hopeful that it could improve the management of arrhythmia.

See:https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.abq7469

 

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Setting off alarms

It's been years since I've set off metal detectors anywhere. Cruising the Caribbean has never been a problem but we are currently cruising in the Mediterranean and I've set them off every port except where we first boarded in Southampton. I guess they are using older technology? I finally started telling them and getting a pat down rather than going through. Hello, 2005! I did not miss you. 

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Heart rate dropping on home b.p. monitor but clinic says that it would have alerted them if it did

Had my first pacemaker about 6 weeks ago. Ive been traking my b.p. diligently as I also have electrolyte issues. my omron is only about 1 year old. It was only used a few times. packed when I moved and came out of the box for a few uses and then now. I caught my b.p. rather low cant remember right now but my h.r. was 41 and Im set at 60. It went right back up to 6? next read. I caught this 2x more at 52 and 56 same right back up. Of course Drs nurses dont belive me and claim my monitor i...

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I have been going down memory lane

Hello everyone, I was chatting with another Pacemaker Club member recently about my travelling days in the early Seventies, yes 50 years ago.  (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Southern Africa).  I got out some old photo albums last night and scanned in a few pics which I have now uploaded to our Member Gallery (under Members Only, then Member Gallery) if you want to have a peep.

Don’t forget to upload any pics of yourselves from time to time.  We would all love to see...

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Removal of pacemaker

Hi all

 

This is my first post I am wondering if any members have had their pacemaker removed due to heart recovering and able to work on its own?

 

Also do you ever have a pacemaker replaced ie every 10 years or is it a small Nick to change the battery only every 10 years.

 

Alison

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Ehlers-Danlos?

I have EDS (hypermobile type) and had a pacemaker implanted about 6 months ago.  I still have quite a bit of pain in the general area around the device which is not suprising given that healing tends to be slow with EDS. The pacer also has moved quite a bit despite a suture that was supposed to tether it in place. 

Does anyone else on the forum have EDS? If so, how has it affected your life with a pacemaker? Any advice would be much appreciated!

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Sensitivity

Almost 4 months into havinf my device. If I tap the  device with my finger I sometimes feel a twinge or some sensitivity. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks. Is this normal or should I bring it up?

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Has anyone ever had to switch from Kaiser to a different insurance?

Hey everyone! :)

I have a question about insurance! I'm currently paying for Kaiser out of pocket and due to financial hardship, I couldn't pay the last month and it got canceled. :(

I should have had a yearly checkup for my pacemaker in September but I was put on a waitlist, and then that's when my insurance got canceled, before I could even get an appointment.

I'm very paranoid over not having had my checkup, but I just got a new job that provides their own...

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Do they remove it

Hello everyone I'm new to having a pacemaker. I have a Biotronik that was put in in May of this year after major open heart surgery. My current physician said that my heart could repair itself as time goes by. The pacemaker is on just the lower part of my heart. If it does that do they remove the pacemaker when the battery starts running down or do they just replace it and leave it in just in case it goes back to not functioning correctly? Also the place that runs it through it's test...

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AV ablation

Can someone please explain what happens when my pacemaker battery needs changing after an AV node ablation procedure. How do they keep my heart going?

di

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Heart rate monitor with large digits continuously displayed?

Hi,

I'm looking for a heart rate monitor, worn on the wrist, that would continuously display heart rate in a large, easy-to-read font. One that, once you get it into the right mode, you can just glance at your wrist to easily see your current heart rate, without any further tapping or pressing. It's fine if it needs a chest strap to go with it.

The Polar FT1 is an example of the kind of thing I'm looking for, but they don't make them anymore.

Unfortunately, t...

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sick sinus syndrome

i had my pm on tuesday. it is paced at 60. i have noticed  over the past 2 days that i have the same feeling of palpitations when just walking as i did before the pm.

i am going for a long walk to day and ill see what happens but how long should it take for the pm to kick in and the heart to adjust to something as simple as walking up stairs.

my heart rate could just go up to 70 and i feel the palpitations just the same as before implant. shoud it be a few seconds to adjust a...

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Fevers

Has anyone every noticed that when they get fevers, their hands and feet get extremely cold.  I'm been under the weather with a nasty virus and it so strange, but as I get a fever I notice that I lose my circulation to my hands and feet and they get freezing cold and numb.  I'm assuming all the blood is probably going to the core of my body.  This happened a couple years ago to me when I had strep throat.  I would literally begin to get numb hands as my fever climb...

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CRT-D causing SOB

It's been amost a year since my device was placed. I've been experiencing problems off and on since then. Including, abdominal  muscle twitching and spasms with weakness in my left arm and SOB. Strangely, it goes away for a month or two then it returns. Has anyone had similar problems. It's very positional. If I bend over or in a crouched position, if I twist my body I feel weakness and can barely breath. My doctor has blown me off for a year. Has anyone else e...

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Pacemaker ticking

Hi, had my pacemaker now for 4 weeks I'm struggling to sleep on my left-sided is this normal? It ticks sometimes over night how long till I get use to this? Thank you in advance. Had it fitted in an emergency wasn't mentally  prepared for it if I'm honest. 

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You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.