Most Recent Messages in Coping

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gift

I went to the DR. because I felt tired all the time and kept nodding off. I ride motorcycles and my husband threatened to bungy cord me on. So it was time to go. My norm hr is 30-45. So I get this gift. A medtronic pm. My color has changed, I have more energy, and I hardly ever nodd off (except around my in-laws). I need to know a few things. If I am pacing at 85% and hardly anything, what does this mean? If this is caused by medication (lithium) will it be normal if I stop the medication? My hr...

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New Pacemaker

Hi,
I am a 55 year old woman that has worked out all her life and watching my diet. People would always comment on how discipline I am about being healthy. All of a sudden last week I passed out at work. I was brought to the ER and passed out two more times. They told me I flat-lined. The Dr. thought it important to make a copy of my last EKG so show me that I did actually flat-line. Not sure what I think of that yet. I had emergency surgery to have a temporary pacemaker installed, and th...

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Can we talk America . . . . . . .


"Hello to all!"

Can we talk for a minute about something that is affecting thousands of us. I am referring to the "us" who have been laid off and have lost our health coverage. Meanwhile, where are we to turn for health care? Seriously people, something's gotta give here and since it concerns "us", we need to talk and find a way to get the care we need!!

Let's start chatting about our problem and let's brainstorm some ways we can get our health needs met and have ou...

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City of Pittsburgh & Pacer

I did it! Monday Morning early. Fired up the 928 and pointed it towards the big city. I'm about 30/miles south of Pittsburgh. I decided to take a small road in. So here we go. The coffee and the roar of the engine woke me-made me alert. How loud? At a McDonalds or BK drivethru I have to turn the engine off to order.
I was enjoying the open road then as I got closer to town it was bumper to bumper. This car doesn't like to sit in traffic. So I waited around 15 min. Little movement. Pittsbur...

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serious and not

Newbee here, 11 days old, Thank You all for your messages here, they have helped me immensely. I see my Doctor for the first follow up tomarrow. I now know a little bit of what to ask about. I haven't felt any better and Im worried that I might have pulled a lead out. Does any one know if low blood preasure is conected to sinus bradycardia? Has any one ever died from lack of a shower? Does my PM really blow up if I drink energy drinks?

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Weird Poetry...

In the waiting room
Waiting to be called....
Feeling nervous. My heart racing inside me
I want to run away I can still escape
They will burn my heart
I want to run but my body is frozen
Inside the white room
Bright lights above me
Warm patches in my chest and back
I take a deep breath in
Thats all that i remember Except...
Im in a big fog
My parents in the white room
Im still laying down
The doctor comes close
"There w...

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Muscle car!

Well I looked at it in the garage for a couple of weeks...928 Porsche, wondering what to do about it. It's the kind of car that if you don't feel up to it then stay away from it. You either drive it or it drives you! With the pacer working on my mind, I strapped on my Pulse Watch and climbed down in. I fired it up and backed it out of the garage. Straight up the driveway then checked my pulse. Everything OK. A quick left...no power(European) steering! Muscle it. Shot down the hill then onto the...

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I grieve.....

I grieve..........

For the people who fall through the cracks.
The people who don't get the proper care that they deserve for what ever reason. The young, the in-between, the old. Improper care falls on all ages.
For the people who just get tired of having to fight to feel well, and watch on the side lines at those who do feel well and take it for granted.
For the hardworking people who get lost in a medical system that's fallen like the ruins of Rome.
To those...

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Second Guessing...3 years later

Hello All,

I just found this site, and hope to learn a lot and be as active on here as possible. Let me give a quick background on me and my situation, and I'd appreciate any comments and suggestions from anyone.

About four years ago, my uncle went into full cardiac arrest. He had a pretty severe case of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Luckily he survived, but his cardiologist suggested that everyone on that side of the family have an echo done. To make a long story short,...

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Hi Gang, I'm in!

Sorry for the long post. I'll be briefer next time :)

I almost fell off my chair when the doctor in Beijing told me that my heart would pause unpredictably. The longest they managed to capture during a 24-hour Holter monitoring is 6.3 seconds. Imagine the disbelief. I have always conducted myself as an unsung Olympian.

She wanted me hospitalized right away for PM implant. After a combination of logical and illogical thinking, I decided to fly back to US and have it...

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Still recovering

I have only posted twice on this site but had not read anyone having the same "disturbances" as I've had until today from simplicity who wrote of her mom's discomforts. I too have been having some sudden sensations from my heart that last a few seconds. I do know that some is normal but how often is normal? I go in next week to see the Medtronic tech. and am hoping that she can tweak my pm so that I won't have these feelings. My friend who has had her pm for three or four years did tell me t...

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Living in Agony

I have a two wire Medtronic pacer/defb. Installed roughly 8 years ago.
I have Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy. Ventricular tacha.
and congestive heart failure. One of the atrial valves has a slight leak.
My EF is about 20-23.
60 yrs old.
BP low normal


I had a change out on the pacer about 3 years ago.
Also, I was given an ablation about 2 years ago.

Since I have had this pacer put in ...I have gone down hill in ability to work, play, stay act...

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Newbie

Hello,
Today is my first day on this site. I got my first pacemaker on 8/3/09. I found out that morning and they put it in that night. I had been having syncope for 35 years - but it was always associated with intestinal problems. Doctors only focused on the intestines. Fortunately I was in the hospital with a monitor for overnight observation (had been having sharp chest pain from acid reflux). Right before they were to remove the heart monitor I had a severe "spell". My strip showe...

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Left Arm Suffering

Well here I am 5 weeks after my 1st pm implanted and all is well....except my left arm/shoulder is feeling uncomfortable due to lack of proper use over this time! pm area now bruise-free and I can do lots more without trouble....anyone else out there had this and have you any advice?

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26 years with CHB, now paced

Hi Everyone,

I came across this site shortly after getting out of the hospital. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

I managed 26 years with congenital complete heart block, living a completely normal life. I started having dizzy spells a few weeks ago and got the pacemaker just over two weeks ago.

I'm finding that it is taking me a while to get back to feeling normal. My pacemaker is a dual chamber pacer, tracking my atrial rate and pacing my ventricals. Well, my a...

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Carolyn65

I am new to the club ~ was told 2 mo. ago by my heart Dr. to have a pacemaker installed ~ A-fib condition.. This was after the procedure of stopping the heart & shocking w/paddles on 2 different occasions, about 1 yr. apart. Even with these procedures, heart resumed A-fib. I had been on Flecanide for a year until the heart Dr. said to discontinue taking the meds & have the pacemaker placed. I take Warfarin (Coumadin) & blood pressure/cholesterol meds & these are in check. I have had A-fib...

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What did you do today?

Note: Today being whenever you read this. Both newbie Pacers and experienced.

8/20 will be 1/month for me. If you read my Post ASKING FOR ENCOURAGEMENT you'll understand where I have been. In short, scared to death...of even moving! I'm coming out of it thanks to some great help from DCPacer, Pacergirl & Bowlrbob.

Today I had a day off but I did some weed wacking with an electric weedwacker-no cord. I held it in my right hand and guided it with my left arm(forbidden arm)....

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Asking for encouragement!

Here I am at 55. Weightlifter, Bodybuilder, Golfer, All around Mr. Tough Guy! In 03 I got 2 new valves and was fine until July 18, 09. I then went out with a block-my mom shook me to consciousness. I continued work and then hit the ground then jumped back up like a jack in the box! I called the ambulance and spent 5 days in the hospital. 4 ops. Pacer, Dye in veins, camera tube in throat, and cardio aversion(I think) I can't get these scenes out of my head. Playing them over and over. Mostly the...

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Evening all...

Hi all, I havent checked in on this for a while but had a pm check yesterday and wanted to vent a little. Hope nobody minds. Im 26, Irish and have the pm 3 years and it has made a big difference.
What gets me is that I was never 'diagnosed' as such. I was told I have and electrical fault and that a pm was my best option. I was having 'episodes' for many years where palpitations and sweating would start then my heart rate would drop dramatically, I would get a tightness in my chest and esse...

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"Out of shape"? or not?

I have had my pm for about 6 months now and still do not feel "normal." I saw my cardiologist this week and he said I can do anything I did before the pm, but that is not happening. I still feel very "out of shape" and cannot do the things that I normally did prior to the pm with out getting out of breath. For example, yesterday I rode my bike for only four miles and was breathing hard.I used to be able to ride 10 miles with out that feeling. I also notice that every day things can also make...

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You know you're wired when...

Born to be Wired is your theme song.

Member Quotes

Your heart’s electrical system has a manmade helper. A helper that only knows to do what it is programmed to do and will perform that function day in and day out, without fail. Now, go enjoy your new grip on life.