Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Medtronic Consulta CRT-P

Hi everyone. I need a little help. I'm trying to understand the Rate Response on my CRT-P. My AV-NODE is ablated and I have a Consulta CRT-P. My rate response is set at "medium" and the Mode is set at V V I R. PROBLEM: When I walk at at steady pace after about 10 minutes I get fatigued and really don't feel like walking any more, I'm not out of breath; just fatigued. The same thing happens when I walk up a flight of stairs, about 20 steps. The CRT-P has settings of LOW, MEDIUM & HIGH on it. Sin...

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what does this mean ?

My consultant cardiologist has written to my GP following my last appointment with him. The letter includes:

"I chased up the details from his previous pacemaker check (when he was an inpatient) and this showed an atrial fibrillation burden of 9% ie pretty low. Interestingly he also had a bit of atrial flutter during the pacemaker check at which point his pacemaker was pacing at the maximum tracking rate. This was managed by reducing the post ventricular atrial blanking period and cha...

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Carelink cost

Both of my kids have pacemakers and we do a routine Carelink check every 3 months, plus as needed if something seems off. On my old insurance, I never saw a charge for Carelink - not in a hospital bill or even on an Explanation of Benefits from insurance company. With my new insurance (still Blue Cross PPO but different plan through different employer), I have co-insurance obligations of 15% and I'm seeing Carelink bills. The hospital is charging $980 (per child) for each Carelink reading. I do...

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Adjustment

Hi, I'm new here. I'm 32 and just had my pm implanted June 24th. I'm either to emotional or forgetful to ask my Dr. all of these questions.Sometimes I get contradicting answers also. My first question is..when you get an adjustment will you know right away wether it will work for you or not? How long should I wait to feel an improvement before I go back for another? Also, I had an adjustment that I thought was perfect. I was feeling back to my old self for about 7 days, but after a night of d...

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Merlin Transmitter problem

Like several others I have read about here I too have no land line, just cell service and cable internet. I bought a USB adapter and loaded the software on my computer and while in the USB connector on my computer it connects and seems to work. When I remove it from the computer and insert it into the Merlin transmitter I get nothing. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Will a off the shelf USB adapter work to transmit over my cable line? Thanks for any help you can give. Douglas

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PM replacement

Just wanted to say I had my PM replaced last week. Battery finally went into the red after seven years, NO problems at all. The removal and replacement took about two hours from the time was rolled under the lights till I was out of the hospital and on my way home. This one is wireless and they say I will not have to go to the doctors for the quarterly visits - it can be done over the phone.

Cheers,
Ken

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Pulse Width calculation explanation?

At my checkup yesterday, the tech lowered my voltage and also changed my pulse width from .4ms to .1ms. (I didn't understand, at that time, threshold voltage so didn't ask her what it was and what my new voltage ended up being) I came home and read, and I understand how she figured what to lower the voltage to, as in the safety margin and how to determine the threshold, but how do techs come up with the pulse width? Can anyone explain that in easy to understand terms for me? Do voltage and puls...

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Another "not bad, but different" question

This may be a long story, but please stay with me – I need to set the stage for my current questions.

My pacemaker (Boston Scientific S603, DDDR) was implanted 3 ½ years ago when I went into complete heart block following aortic valve replacement. At time of implant, I was 100% paced. Over then next couple of years, my intrinsic pacing grew stronger and more dependable, so my EP began carefully lengthening my A-V delay step-by-step to allow for whatever underlying intrinsic pacin...

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Biotronik vs. St jude pacemaker

I already have a dual chamber pacemaker (Biotronik) I have tried every med with no avail and currently have AV dissociation and a type of pacemaker syndrome at that time where Wenckebach is occurring, and there is atrioventricular dyssynchrony. We are planning on AV Node ablation as I have had 5 other ablations within the last 2 years for flutter, av node reentry, svt. The question I have is the Biotronik only alerts the doctor, can not show ecgs to them as I have to go in to see them. The St Ju...

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just wondering if I should call device clinic

I went for a routine check (interrogation and rate adjustment) last week. I had all but forgotten about the pacemaker being there 8 weeks after insertion since I was active and feeling good after a week or two of adjustment time. The nurse adjusted the PM so that it would "last longer" not activate as much. She said I was doing evry well and just using the PM 20% of the time. I am howver concerned because I feel a little different since the adjustment. I feel like I sense skipping beats and am a...

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PM Setting

Looking over the last interrogation report, I can find a setting of 65 bpm, which is my base rate. But I can't find an upper setting.

I have SSS and that's all. No block. No fib. I suspect (but have no hard data) that I have occasional, short-lived tachycardia episodes. My PM is St.Jude Accent DR 2110.

Is it possible that no upper range is set, or do I just not know where to look?

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oh so it goes

well I guess the adjustment not right YET..

I hate to admit it but 4 dizzy spells last 2 weeks I was not going to say anything, was a little sick late last week I thought it was that.. But now I think not..
Called the cardiologist they want to get me in and reset to same as before.. That is going to happen.. I could not run as it was before I AM A RUNNER with a pacemaker. Not someone with a pacemaker that runs!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have them turn RR off I would rather feel a bit slu...

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New pacer and more ablation.

I went for a pacemaker checkup two weeks ago. The cardiologist eyes got real big and he said you are going back to see the EP. (Well over 1000 high rate episodes with it set at 160bpm).
So my wife and I go to see my EP this morning, and he says that it is not Afib this time, rather he is thinking it is ventricular tachycardia basically all the time. He set a date to remove my single lead Medtronic Sensia SR, and replace it with a dual lead Medtronic Advisa MRI pacer and more ablation. This...

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New Brand of CRT

I saw my EP today for my annual checkup. My current CRT has 10 - 13 months of battery life remaining (Medtronics). He wants me to check back in 9 months to see what the battery life is. He is concerned that because of my age (49) I will go through a lot of battery changes. I'm on my 2nd CRT. Got 4 years out of the 1st one. Thought I would have this one changed this month but they say it may last another year. He is considering changing my CRT from Medtronics to a Boston CRT which he says h...

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Heart Block and Ventricular Tachycardia

I had a Medtronic Revo Surescan pacemaker implanted in Feb due to sudden onset of complete heart block which resulted in heart rate of 35 and lower. Echocardiogram and complete monitoring for 4 days in hospital showed no signs of any other issues. Yesterday cardiologist told me he wants to do stress test because PM readout show I have had a couple episodes of VT (one at 3 in the am). They will have to do a nuclear stress test because I have knee issues preventing me from doing a treadmill. He di...

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Oops

I have aMeditronic PM which isMRI proof. The MRI proof unit was selected as I have metastasised prostrate cancer. A few weeks ago I had to have an MRI. No problem said I to the Mri ladies. I am sporting the latest MRI proof PM.
Now I have just watched a video on the Meditronic site that states and shows quite clearly that the PM mri function has to be activated proir to the scan and turned off after. Is this.correct as no one from my cardiologist down ever told.me this.
Could this hav...

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RR today's adjustment :>)

I had RR turned on about 5 weeks ago. The Rep recommended it because i was being paced at I think 84% of the time at min which was set at 60. i was fine for walking, hiking, and biking. However as soon as I ran my HR went to 150 and stayed 150 was/is max pace setting. Pace had no effect, after 3 training run called the cardiologist office was told DO NOT RUN. they set up a appointment with the Medtronic rep and put me on the treadmill hooked me up stress test with EKG/HR/the works. The Medtronic...

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Impedance alert??

At my last check up in march my dr became concerned because my impedance line was on a downward curve. He briefly said that usually means heart failure. He said we would watch it and he thought it maybe a false reading because I had lost 20 lbs. can someone explain the impedance line and how it works?

Recently I have been have more shortness of breath while working out and while jogging I feel fine up until I stop to walk and then feel like I may faint. I have to urinate more at n...

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More Afib

Went for a pacemaker checkup yesterday. They found over 1000 episodes within a month. So after three ablations and pacemaker, it is worse. Now it is back to the surgen for more ablation.

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atrial overdrive

So, does anyone have experience or knowledge about atrial overdrive programing? I have had a pacer for 14-years (second one) and have been in afib/ flutter for a loong time. I have recently developed central apnea along with insomnia. Been to the sleep study, blah, blah. But I have been told about this reprograming to my good ole' pacer that may help. Read up a little and it sounds scary. Well, here I am after a long absence .....

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