Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

From old Biotronik to new, something wrong?

Old PM: Actros DR
New PM Evia DR-T
So my hubby is experiencing severe shortness of breath and dizzyness with minor exertion, especially getting up from sitting/lying or bending over.
None of this was a problem with his old pacemaker, so I started comparing settings.
Starting with the diagnosis (Symptom)
Old: B1 Syncope. this is his correct diagnosis along with B2 fibrosis of the conduction system and normal sinus rhythm and can happen at any time not just resting a...

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So I get a call today,

From my EP's PA, who is a wonderful and very helpful woman. This was out of the blue to me. She asked me how I was feeling on Saturday night. I told her, okay, tired, since we were in the last evening of the musical at my school and I was conducting the pit orchestra.

She told me that when I transmitted that night (I'm fully wireless since I'm the proud host of a St. Jude 2210) they flagged a very fast rhythm of over 200. She said it was fairly short duration, about 15 minutes, an...

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new doctor? not this one!

Thursday I went 45 minutes away to see a new cardio. She (I liked the fact it was a woman) was also a DO. These are medical folks who tend to treat the whole person, not just the diseased part. So I was very excited and hopeful. Well, this woman comes in, does not sit down (present cardio always sits) gives me ten minutes of her time (did I mention this was my FIRST visit?) and asks me hardly any questions. I was still trying to tell her more as she walked out of the room. She also decided I nee...

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For those with Medtronic devices

Hi!

Medtronic has a website where all their device features are explained, just thought this might be interesting for some of you:
http://www.medtronicfeatures.com/browse-features/all/index.htm

If you go back to:
http://www.medtronicfeatures.com/
you can also browse by type or model.

Inga

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Increase resting HR, reduce PVCs?

A few months ago surfing the net, on some forum (maybe this one?) I read about a man who convinced his cardio to increase the base PM setting to reduce the number of PVC's.

I can't remember whether the intention was to reduce the absolute number of PVCs, or to reduce the affects--such as exhaustion, sleepiness, unplanned napping and gray-outs.

Does anyone know anything about reducing PVCs or their effects by increasing the PM base rate?

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MRI during dox change

hi

does any one know if it possible to have a mri during a procedure to do a box change. My pacemaker is over 11 years old and it approaching time to change the box. I desperately need a MRI scan to confirm if I have MS which I have been told by my doctor is 95% sure with the test and symptoms I have. I had a test done on my pacemaker today and was told by the technician that the leads are MRI safe. I was wondering if anyone has had this done.

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Confused about PM report differences

I have had my Medtronics PM for just over 3 years. I was diagnosed with SSS and Chronotropic Incompetence. I have a history of AFib with an ablation in June 2010. My pm settings are: 45bpm during the day, 40bpm from 10pm to 6am. The Rate Responsive setting is on. I was only able to find my last 4 reports to compare my numbers. 9/5/12 I had 1 high rate ventricular episode, the threshold is set at 200 and my rate was 202. I had AS-VS 50.9%, AS-VP .1%, AP-VS 48.6%, and AP-VP .3%. I had 419...

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Don't know what to call it

In October of 2013, due to pacemaker syndrome, the ventricle lead of my dual lead pacemaker had to be turned off.

Now, between 30 and 50 times a day, my pulse rate, measured by a forefinger pulse-oximeter, drops to 33, stays there for 3-4 seconds and climbs to the preset rate of 65 over a period of 10-15 seconds. The pulse-ox falls too, but only after the HR drops.

The feeling I get is sudden, overwhelming exhaustion, lightheadedness, and difficulty paying attention. My lit...

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magicjack

will my remote monitor (merlin @ home transmitter) from St. Jude work with magicjack telephone?

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Clues to finding the right doctor

Note to cardiologist:
Minimizing my symptoms doesn't reassure me it only convinces me of your inability to hear me and ultimately demonstrates your incompetence

I don't just measure medical competence by technical skill but also by a providers ability to hear what you are saying and respond appropriately. If I wasn't concerned about the ongoing severe dizziness I wouldn't keep bringing it up. The cardiologists response "don't worry you aren't in danger of dying" and then he...

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Home monitor compatibility

I have a REVO RVDR01 pacemaker and was supposed to get a device to permit home monitoring. What they sent was something that only connected to last century land line phones.

Is anyone aware of a way to connect through the USB port on my computer or even through the headset plug on my cell phone. I am very frustrated to have the supposedly latest technology implanted but needed antiquated equipment to read status.

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how to talk to cardio during follow up?

First of all, I'm new here and want to say I'm grateful to the point of tears for the help I've received. Thank you to those who read and reply everything has helped.

I am very disappointed with my cardiologist whom I see tomorrow for my first real follow up with the MD who placed he pacemaker. Granted he'd ordered some tests but the lack of communication from his office created a loss of trust I felt so extremely alone and isolated in this storm.

I've been to the ER...

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sstaples

If you have staples, how long till they take them out? One week doctor visit is this Thursday.

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so happy


yeah I just went to the docter yesterday and they said I am doing great. they even said in later years when I am older they mght be able to take it out!!!!!!

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Delay between chambers

(This is an update from my "Help interpreting report" post).
As a recap, pm implanted two years ago (2/2012). My chief complaint is fatigue.


Answers from EP at today's appointment:

1. What was the reason I got the pm? SSS
AFTER the implant they discovered 2nd Degree block. And this is a much more serious problem than the slow heartbeats.


2. Do I have Wenkebach? Yes. My 2nd Degree is progressing to 3rd Degree.
(I don't hav...

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First Check Up

Hello, I am new to this site and would like any hints and tips for my first check up tomorrow. I had a pacemaker implant for sick sinus syndrome/paf. I started on 1,25mg of Bisoprolol but have increased that in the last few days to 2.5mg.I was on the lower dose for two weeks. One of my queries is can they tell from my check up tmrw just how much of the medication I need.I have read they will be able to tell me if I have had palpitations,flutters, or af. My af episodes have been hours long( last...

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high heart beats recording(store)

I´m 79 years old. I was implanted a VERITY ADx XL DR dddr 5356 - SN 2071513 on 19.06.09.- Up to now with cero Problems. My last Check-up was a week ago.. The new Dr. said I have now a PAROXISMAL Fib! that was recorded and stored in my pace maker!! Can this be true? Please comment.
I am a very active Person for my Age. Exercise every day at home, swim up to 500 m 2 times a week, walk and run almost daily. Take my blood pressure not less than 10 times per day!
My blood pressure...

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What's going on?

I am sooo frustrated! Have had two lead pm for 10 years, recently updated to 3 lead CRT. On 2/10/14' . When I go In for a check the nurse never tells me anything. Just "it's fine". No results, nothing. Yesterday, when I went I. She said "you're in Afib". I asked how long. She said since 2/10/14' the day the new crt was implanted. I was shocked since when I went ten days after it was implanted, she did not say anything about my being in "Afib". I asked to see the doctor who implanted it, a...

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check after 1 week?

my cardiologist at home ask me to come in to get the de-fib device checked I had put in one week ago ,is this common ? the hospital that installed the device was out of state while we were on a 3 day trip .my question is since the device was checked a week ago before I left why is it necessary to have it checked again so soon? sounds like charging to check is the primary motivation here ?any and all comments will be appreciated

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Did CRT stop working?

I had a CRT-P implanted 3 weeks ago. The EP thought my extreme exhaustion (in spite of an EF of 45 and appropriate meds for cardiomyopathy) may be due to the wide dyssynchrony of my ventricles. Within minutes of some adjustments at the one week post-implant device check, I felt completely normal for the first time since being diagnosed with heart failure and Left Bundle Branch Block in Jan 2013. I have been in bed for the vast majority of the last 13 months, so I know I need to transition back i...

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