Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

Medtronic programming history

Looking for some feedback.   Does my Medtronic pacemaker keep a history of all my pacemaker settings? I was interrogated on March 20 2018. They stated they made a change to extend my battery life. I felt fine prior to this change. But now I feel an almost shock sensation to the center of me chest and my left side.  It’s very uncomfortable.  I pace less then 1% of the time. I only have a pacemaker.  It feels horrible.  Any suggestions?  I just want them to p...

Read More...

Still fatigued and breathless

Got my PM last Wednesday, so eight days. Still fatigued and breathless. Heart rate is perfect 60 blood pressure is up. Should I wait for follow up or call doctor right now?

Read More...

Merlin@home remote monitoring

Hi there, I’m positive (due to random intense butterfly wings) that my Merlin has missed some of my arrhythmia activity. I’ve experienced it and has it reviewed by download at my EP’s office however nothing was found on download. This happened again today. What concerns me is that IST and AFib were found at my last EP visit last year and I’ve been remote monitoring for three years. These new arrhythmia were missed. It concerns me as I’ve had VT historically. Has...

Read More...

Careful

Careful Don, I have it on good authority you aren't supposed to spread cheer here.

Ian, 2 things

1st the dead can post here, as long as it's not contagious.

2nd my Cardio said never go to the hospital, they'll kill you. Last time I was thrre they gave it their best shot

Read More...

Pacemaker and Garmin forerunner 235

Hi there

i am new to the PM world 3 weeks now post implant. I wear a Garmin forerunner 235 and my understanding is that my PM is set at Hr 60 ( do I shouldn’t drop below) . Subsequent to my PM implant I check my average Hr resting on my Garmin and it is still reading low resting rates. Today early morning my resting low was Hr 32. I am not sure whether there is now inaccuracy with my Garmin but it works through light monitors on my wrist .... so has anyone else had this? I only ha...

Read More...

Recent appointment today. Question about % of pacer times

Good Evening fellow pacers!   I took a different translator friend with me today, and felt SO much better about understanding my new pm!

two weeks ago....which was two weeks post op, I was doing V-rach and Afib.

todays recordings showed NO events!  I was asked to cut out Caffiene, alcohol, and begin more exercise!   I did not tell him that I had taken a rythmol pill about three times, when I got nervous, and felt what I thought was palpitations. (Remember, this man...

Read More...

settings perhaps

I had a medtronic DTMA2QQ fitted in January this year (3rd), everything is healing up nicely, yes you know its there but generally its good, my basic problem stems from MI in 1993 Cabg1994 left ventricular dysfunction, which as time has passed got worse to the point where EF was down to 34% hence the CDT-D, and yes it makes a difference, the crushing breathlesness has gone, I can still get out of breath if I push it, but not like before, what I am still (despite reading as much as I can...

Read More...

Chemical stress test

Just had a check up with my cardiologist. Everything seems fine with my pacemaker. I have bradycardia. I did complain about getting winded when exercising heavily, more than I us to. He suggest I use my albuterol inhaler before I exercise. If that does not work he said I should have a, Chemical stress test. I have no idea what that is. How bad is it. I do not like the sound of it Had a tredmill stress with a heart rate of 30 that is what got me  this pacemaker. I would be grateful for an...

Read More...

PM implant 2-1/2 weeks ago in Ecuador. Has follow up, was alarmed.

Ironically my handle, “SpiffyHeart was chosen as my o line name after having four cardiac ablatiions during my adult life.

yesterday, I had first follow up and reading of the recordings in my PM. 

(1) my Electrophysiology is ONLY doc to install pm’s without an 8 hr bus ride or plane ride to Quito in the Andes mountains.  Quito is also much higher altitude than my city of 8,500ft.

(2) He speaks Spanish, I speak beginner Spanish.  I have to take my o...

Read More...

Accelerometer Setting Adjustment

Hi group,

i recently had my accelerometer adjusted as I was having episodes of shortness of breath ,clamminess and heart pounding when I went from sitting on the lounge to standing.

i was referred to have a second opinion and he advised my cardiologist to decrease the sensivity .

About 20 minutes after having the setting changed I constantly feel uneasy,short of breath all the time and extremely fatigued. I am reaching out to see if anyone experienced this when they had the...

Read More...

Gasping

Hi All

This is Sonali. I want some suggestions. I am a pacemaker patient since 2016 , now a days when I walk faster I start sobing /gasping ,  I m worried,  my mum says it is due to weakness plus my rate response is also off 

Should I visit cardiologist. 

Read More...

Home Monitors

I have my post-op check tomorrow and was wondering about home monitors. The Medtronic Tech told me to ask for a monitor that I'd use with my iPhone vs a wall (plug-in) monitor(?). The phone option would seem like the natural choice; wondering why they wouldn't all be that type? Preferences.....? Since most of my symptoms (besides slow HR) were at night and I wasn't all that aware of them--kind of don't want to get too into the nitty gritty of reports, etc.

Read More...

Irregular Heart Rate

Hi, 

Since my last post i have seen my dr and technician and they have increased the rate to 60bpm which has seemed to have helped my fatigue. 

However last week my PM did an automatic check using the Boston Lattitude communicater that i have. 

Apparently all was ok, and i have been assured by my dr that no adjustments were made but over the past few days i have noticed my resting heart rate has increased to the 90's and i am having alot of...

Read More...

Medtronic CareLink

Hello Everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about how much pacemaker battery power is used when downloading pacemaker data via radiofrequency transmission, compared to a clinic download done by an attending Medtronic technician?

I believe remote downloads use more energy and potentially over years this could result in the pacemaker needing to be replaced sooner. But I don 't know how significant a difference this is - are we talking about months o...

Read More...

New Pacemaker

Hello I am 38 years old and just had a pacemaker installed for a 2:1 2nd degree AV block Mobitz ll. My heart rate began dropping into the 30s at night and I was having fatigue, shortness of breath, and increasingly severe dizzy spells. I have always been very active and run consistently.  I just had my first appointment 10 days after installation. I do feel better as my heart is beating more in rhythm. But I am still tired and winded very easily and now it seems my heart r...

Read More...

pacemaker settings

At my last check the I was told my pacemaker was " pacing at 98%" what exactly does that mean ?

Read More...

1st check up

What are good questions to ask at my first check up? Can my PM tell me when it was activated? Like date and time? or should I record these times? I have been waking up at night very alert, and not sure why. I feel like it could be mental since I was told that my heart was stopping for as long as 14 seconds in my sleep?? I'm 39 and in decent physical shape. I found out last week I needed a PM and surgery in 4 days (1/11/18)...it's a been a little quick for this guy. Thank god I fo...

Read More...

Feeling positive

Hi pacers hope everyone is doing well tonight. I went for my 10wks check on my pacemaker. They interrogated my pacemaker, adjusted the night setting from 70 down to 50. They also set the pacemaker on auto adjust so it only works when my heart needs it. my breathing is better, less pvc's, seems like my energy level is better. My cardiologist also thinks I could be blocked so we are doing a stress test on the 24th of January . hoping we are gonna get some answers. just thought I would give...

Read More...

Annual Check

I have a appointment to see the EP nurse this week.  I have my third Medtronic Sure Scan with defibrillation on 12/1/2016.  I have cardiac sarcoidosis which has caused my leads to be infected and they needed to be removed and replace.  Since getting this new pacemaker I have not had any problems and I'm really afraid of getting a check up since they like to make changes.  My husband likes to say, "If it's not broke, don't fix it".  I'm going...

Read More...

PACEMAKER RATE

My Pacemaker Rate is set at 50bpm i was wondering if this is very common. 

I still get feelings of severe fatigue some days and my heart rate sits in the low 50's. 

Technician mentioned last visit that it isnt actually pacing much at all due to the low rate it is set on. 

would it be worth asking Cardiologist about increasing the rate? 

I have also had issues with one of my leads oversensing which gives you a feeling of missed beats, they c...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

Member Quotes

Hang in there; it does get better every day!