Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Need advice on CareLink monitor.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has a Medtronic CareLink Monitor. I've tried numerous times to transmit a reading but the monitor will not complete the transmission. The unit will read my pacemaker just fine but when it tries to send the transmission, the orange light comes on and the transmission is lost.

I've tried everything ---- I bought a filter, connected to 7 different phone outlets in various buildings and made sure the monitor was not next to a computer. nothing worked...

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Self Test Mode

I just had my 1 year PM checkup at the PM clinic. I was told I had paced 2% over the past 12 months. I mentioned to the nurse that did the check up that I could tell when my PM was doing it's thing. She said she would turn the self test mode off as she did not feel it was needed. That was 1 week ago and I have not felt my PM doing it's thing since. Is there any chance she could have turned the PM off altogether by mistake? Is that possible. I am sure this is just a little paranoia but I would ap...

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Adapta DR

Does anyone know the setting range allowed on the Adaptda DR for the upper rate limit? Specifically I am looking for the lowest setting allowed. My situation is unusual, so I am actually looking for the lowest possible setting.

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Sharp pain during PM checkup

Hello folks
I went for my routine pacing checkup and during the visit, the technician did the usual, slow the heart rate down, speed it up, etc etc. I was perfectly fine until he speeded the heart rate up, I suddenly felt a sharp pain running down both arms from my chest. I didn't say anything (stupidly) as I didn't think too much of it, although it was quite a shock (excuse the pun). I haven't felt it since but I had a lot of pain around the area the generator is situated, but I think t...

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8 point drop

My echos have always been good and very consistent on the EF. My EF dropped eight points since last time but I am still very much in normal range. I do not have the test results but I saw it on the screen. Should I be concerned?

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Autocapture

11/10/2010 I received a St Jude pacemaker
For the next 7 weeks I sufferred from jolting and kicking
1/28/2011 they removed the Autocapture
and the jolting stopped completely
How good may the pacemaker be without the Autopilot

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Old man Winter

Hey Guys: Hope everyone is preparing for this wonderful winter wonderland we seem to be getting. Our area is going to be like an ice rink by the looks of it. I am hoping that it isn't as bad as they are calling for as I have an appointment tomorrow and you know it is hard sometimes to reschedule. I need to see the doc cause I had a syncopal episode and been feeling more run down with even the slightest activity. Wonder what he will have to say

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Medtronic Carelink anf Verizon FIOS

I receive my medtronic carelink monitor and have a question.Will this work with verizon fios phone service? I have tel and internet from Verizon Fios.

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follow-up

I went in for a follow-up today and left crying. I could not be more frustrated with everything. I went in because of a new symptom of high blood pressure issues and my doctor said well maybe you have a nervous system disorder that is causing all of your problems. He suggested an antidepressant to help stop nerve responses or something. What??? I feel like he is just grasping at this point because he just doesn't know why I am having the arrythmias and other issues. He told me he has never seen...

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Multiple Episodes.....

I just went for my pacemaker reading a couple of days ago and was told that I had a total of 21 episodes over the last 2 1/2 months. I thought this was quite a lot for me since the prior 3 months when I was checked was only a total of 5.  My pacemaker was installed in Nov. of 2005. This is disturbing to me, but not to my technician/cardiologist. Is there anyone else who has this number of episodes on a regular basis???  I appreciate any feedback on similar cases.  Thanks

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what are you?????

Hi don,
thanks for your post. Before I got the PM my HR was 68-72. I phoned the doc today and no answer. I asked to come down and have it set to 70 but silence today. If I don't hear from him tomorrow, I will phone again and again. Just one more question: My BP shot up into the 170/99+ after he turned "up the heat" to 80. He wants me to be a BetaBlocker, but I wonder if my BP would come down naturally if my HR would be lowered. I really try to be upbeat but sometimes it is difficult. even...

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If there are issues

Good Afternoon to everyone......greetings from the frozen tundra here in NE Ohio....brrrrrrrr. I have a question in reference to my PM. I had it "installed" on 16 Nov 2010, dual lead for Bradycardia (SSS) I go for my initial 90 day check up next month and was just wondering if something wasn't right would I have known by now? i.e..leads are implanted good? PM doing what it is designed to do....etc...etc. I really dont know what to expect other than it keeps my HR from dropping. I feel just like...

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you guys are great

thank you all for your comments. you give me courage. tomorrow I will phone and ask to come in and have it "turned down" to 70. This will be a "happy medium" between the 60 I had and the 80 the EP set last week. It's really 'propelling" me all day and especially in the night. I yearn for some "slow" time where I can relax. it needs to be delt with. It is so good to just get it off your chest. it was 4 in the morning when I wrote and my husband was snoring happily. I could not sleep and started t...

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how long?

hi experienced ones,
what is a "reasonable" time to go back to your EP and ask if he can change your HR from 80 to maybe 70? I find the HR of 80 too fast and I feel like I am in a state of "being propelled" for most of the time, especially at night. It's only a few days but my BP has "shot up" and he wants me to be on a beta blocker. Even if my BP comes down, would 80 still be o.k. or should it be lowered?. I am so tired of "bugging" the doc and wonder if he gets sick of me. but i need to g...

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PM Checkup update

Have had my PM since Sept 2010. While I am out walking I have been SOB and have a lot of chest pressure. At my appointment yesterday I had a tech from Boston Scientific working with me to figure what settings are best for me. He listened to my concerns and took the time to try some settings out and having me walk down the hall to try them out. I was anxious to try out my new settings today for a long walk and was very disappointed to again experience SOB and a lot of discomfort in my chest....

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Yay

I just had an appointment with my cardiologist, and apparently, my pm is only kicking in about 1% of the time. I think the technician made some adjustment to reduce the drain on the battery, and he predicted that at that rate, the pm would last me around 10 years. What a relief.

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extra heart beat

Hello! Thank you for the messages concerning my PM, especially the use of the left arm - still a problem but getting better, just as it is supposed to.

My PM, which was inserted on Dec. 22, 2010, is not because I have a low heart rate, but a high one. I also have Afib, and my blood pressure is already low enough, so I had trouble tolerating the heart rate lowering drugs. I had an avnode ablation, and a pace maker put in. The rate is pretty high but will be lowered after three mo...

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affected by change?

hI all,
I was "tweaked" yesterday from a HR of 60 to 80 and found this change significant. When the EP did it in the office I was fine, but coming home and especially during the night, I could feel the difference. I found the heart "too fast". Do I need to get used to the higher HR for a while. it seemed I could not relax or slow down. It was a "weird" feeling. Anyone else is affected by change of HR?
Maybe I am just oversensitive and "looking" for things. All I want to be is "normal"...

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You never know

My last post was several months ago wherein I was having problems with rapid heart rate. Well since then I learned that it was the rapid response. The tech that was checking my PM had a major attitude problem. She did not take the time to explain anything, had a problem when she finally did and when I asked about the problem she said it was PVCs and without asking, turned the rate response back on. I had major problems, thinking there was something wrong and finally after checking with my ca...

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well I did it

hi everyone,
it feels like having new friends writing to you. Went to the EP today. It was the first time I saw him after I collapsed and got the second PM 3 weeks ago. the EP and another cardiologist did the testing and "tweaked" the PM. I am pacing 61% in the atrium and 100% in the ventricle. I told them about the "hell" I went trough and want to start a "normal" life. Ask for the report of the implantation and what the surgeon found out about the damaged leads when he removed the first P...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a T-shirt that reads “Wired4Sound”.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.