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Discussion Questions

Hello, it’s me making work for myself again!  We are of course free to ask questions or to post on any subject whenever we wish but do any of you have any topics you would like to see discussed more frequently on the Pacemaker Club?  If so, what would your chosen topic be?   

One member told me: 

The general topic I have thought about raising is "Things I wish I had been told about my pacemaker . . . and high on that list would be Settin...

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Pacemaker self test

Consider this a public service announcement if you like.

I had my pacemaker checked today and got the opportunity to ask a lot of questions. One thing that came up when I mentioned the sensation of pacing (I have an intermittent AV block so only happens so often) was that the device is set to run a self test to find the lowest voltage that will trigger a heartbeat. It does this by starting at the highest setting of 5V and stepping down until there is no response.

Just as they disc...

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US club members

Just a pointer to Amazon Prime Day: Kardia Mobiles on sale

The 6L is $109. The original Kardia Mobile and Mobile Card are $79 each.  This is a pretty good sale.

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Kardia Mobile

Does anyone know WHY KARDIA say  devices should NOT to be used with Pacemakers etc. Is it because of possible electrical interferenc? I know Pacing spikes do NOT show up as they do on a proper 12 lead ECG, I can't imagine them causing harm to anyone with a PM/icd. 

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Low heart rate with pacemaker

I received a dual lead pacemaker at the end of February this year for intemittant complete heart block. I have had a few episodes of SVT and atrial tachycardia since then which have improved after eliminating caffeine. I take 25mg of metoprolol tartrate daily. Today my fitbit recorded a few short episodes of a 48 beat per minute heart rate.  My heart rate has not been below 60 since the pacemaker. I'm not sure what the settings are.   It was the fitbit that prompted me to g...

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Motorcycle air vests

 Wondering if anyone has a motorcycle on here and wears a protective inflatable air vest?

 I am thinking of getting one but not certain the electronics and the magnetic button closer/activator would affect my pacemaker.

  The electronics are housed at the bottom of the back in the vest. The Dainese smart jacket I am looking at has a magnetic button closer at the top of the frontal zip which would be close to my pacemaker box. It also has an LED status light pretty m...

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Fatigue

Hey had pacemaker installed April 20th and I'm still experiencing fatigue Is this normal?

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Can the amount of pacing change?

Hi, me again. I know... sigh. 

So I've been trucking along, doing my thing, trying not to fret about everything and failing occassionally... I think Gotrythym posted recently that the mental recovery is longer than the physical and boy is that true!

So 2 days ago, I had my 3 month checkup at 4 months :-) anyhoo... doc commented that I've had some 150bpm episodes, and I explained I returned to the gym, but a few of the episodes I wasn't at the gym and turned out it...

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Could not get an MRI

Due to back problems, my orthopedic doctor wanted me to get an MRI.  All the protocols were done, the pacemaker group approved the MRI.  When I went in to get the MRI, they did a chest xray first.  Everything seemed fine.  The pacemaker rep did some checks and was in the process of getting me setup to go in to get the MRI.  During a discussion with the rep I mentioned that when I got my last pacemaker St. Jude( 3 lead CRT)  (previously had a 2 lead Medroinic) tha...

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Ectopic Beats

I have dual chamber Pacemaker. From last 6 months I'm having Ectopic Beats which are extra or premature (PVC).

I'm worried even though I have pacemaker, ectopic Beats are generated 8-10 times in a day. They make me anxious and worried.

My doctor has already prescribed beta blocker but still there are few in a day.

Can pacemaker detect PVCs?

Did you had any such issue or you know anything that can help me cure?

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FG Update

Well some may recall I thought I had a PM infection. The leads, not the pocket, as the pocket area was fine. I felt terrible for a long time about 3 almost 4 weeks with non-stop fever from 99.5 to 100.5 (37.5 to 38), sluggish, general malaise, no energy, sleeping 9-10 hrs, and WBC count of 11,000 with elevated SED rate twice normal, and elevated C reactive protein 5X normal. I was really scared as I shared here on the website. I had 2 negative sets of blood cultures, and I felt better af...

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Flying with new Medtronic Cobalt

Hello everybody,

 

I haven't flown since getting my new ICD in October but heading out this weekend. So what about security screening. I have a new Medtronic Cobalt ICD. I have the Medtronic ID card. Should I show this and ask to bypass the machines at check in? Or is it basically safe anyway? I've been through a few stadium style detectors for sporting events/concerts already.

Thanks for any replies!!

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Mentally having a tough time after having a pacemaker installed

I had a pacemaker put in on April 3rd after having fainting spells and being rushed to the hospital with 3rd degree AV heart block.  The doctor told me had I not been in the hospital when I had my last spell I would have probably died.  I recovered nicely and am back to playing golf but have a lot of sports injuries that limit my physical activity.  I can however walk but that is about it as I have bad knees and a fused right ankle.  I'm having a tough time feeling ver...

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Tingling feeling in my left arm

Good morning-

Brand new to the group.  I am 57 and thought I was in great health, only to have three fainting episodes and now a pacemaker.  My question to the group is that I had my pacemaker surgery last Tuesday and am moving about following the Dr's orders and restrictions.  My  question to the group is that I have some tingling (sp) in my left arm and am wondering if this is part of the healing process?  My left arm is the side where my pacemaker wa...

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Metoprolol

I have a dual chamber Medtronic for about 18 months. I have complete heart block with my atrium pacing about 4% and ventricle pacing at 92%. I was complaining about palpitations (feeling skipped beats which still make me anxious), so my Doctor put me on 25mg Metoprolol. Still pacing too high so we halved that dose to 12.5 mg.

My question is, does the Metoprolol slow my heart rate causing the high pacing? I went a year after implantation with no meds at all. Recent pm check and blood wor...

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SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Dear Pacemaker Recipients, 

I'm an academic researcher trying to learn more about your experience receiving & living with a pacemaker. I develop tools to help improve cardiac treatments and believe the patient experience should contribute a larger voice during development. If you'd like to share a bit of your experince in this 3-minute, anonymous survey, it would go a long way in helping us improve the current standard of care. 

Many thanks,&nb...

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SVT/AT/AFIB Ablation

I'm 63 years old. I have a St. Jude/Medtronic Dual Chamber pacemaker since early 2019. Was told I had SSS. All went well until this past year. I started feeling rather unwell, short of breath, fatigue, and just blah. Blood pressure became uncontrolled and high. We tried several new meds to get it down, Lisinopril HCTZ & CARVEDILOL.  I told my cardiologist that something still wasn't right. He ordered echocardiogram, carotid scan, and nuclear stress test. Nothing was found. I...

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Pacemaker effectiveness for syncope

After dealing with vasovagal syncope (randomly passing out, on average about once a year) for 27+ years (with increasingly longer recovery time), my cardiologist recommended a pacemaker.

Has anyone else dealt with this issue?

And has the pacemaker helped to prevent a syncope episode?

I'm 56, in good shape, active and run a few times per week. My heart and rhythms seem fine, but when I run into a vasovagal syncopal episode, my BP and heart rate drop.  So, I'...

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YouTube

I found  this YouTube channel that might be of interest to those here.  Douglas Rachac (search for his name) isn't a professional but talks about a wide range of PM and ICD topics.

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NERVE CONDUCTION TEST

In 2019 I had Carpel Tunnel surgery on my right hand.  I now have same problem with my left hand.  My PM was installed this Jan (on the left side).

I have an appointment next Tues (June 20th) with the surgeon that did surgery in 2019.

Some of the tests I had to have before surgery was a NERVE CONDUCTION TEST which, by the way, raised me right off the table while it was being done.

I know that the surgeon will have to clear with my local Cardio guy to get an &q...

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You know you're wired when...

You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.

Member Quotes

I am very happy with mine. I am in the best shape of my life. I lift weights, compete, bike, golf and swim.