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family matters

another quick question...my cousin who is 3 years younger than me (she's 19, i'm 22) did a tilt table test yesterday and the dr. thinks she has a lighter version of my condition (vaso-depressor syncope) (during the tilt table test i passed out and flatlined for a few seconds, my cousin did the same thing except the dr. had to give her a drug to induce her passing out.) he put her on beta blockers, which i am also on, but told her that eventually she may need a pacemaker, which i just had put in...

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Help! Is there anyone out there like me?

I am so frustrated. I recieved a PM on Mar 23 at Mass General Hospital where my Doctors don't have anyone else like me. They can't seem to figure out how to set my PM. I have second degree heart block and a very high hear rate when I exercise. Before my PM my heartrate would drop from 160's or so to the 80's and stay there for a couple of minutes causing me to become dizzy and light headed. Then my rate would jump back to the 130's even though I was resting. Now that I have my PM it seems it...

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chest and throat pain

i got my pacemaker about 3 weeks ago and soon after the surgery i started getting pain in my chest and my throat when i would breathe in. it went away, but it has started again, mainly when i go from a sitting to laying position or laying to sitting. last night i ran up the stairs in my house to answer the phone and when i got to the top of the stairs my throat was hurting really bad for about a minute when i would breathe in. i went to the dr. about it about a week after i had my PM put in and...

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single Lead VS double lead

Hi,
I have my PM (single lead VDD) 6 weeks ago because of 3rd degree heart block . I had no problem running for 1hr before it.
Since I received it I am having problem with fast walking or stairs. I talked to PM clinic last week, she turned the switch mode (or something like that) off to see if that helps, but didnt. They told me that my upper part of heart is fine, and lower part needs to be paced.
When I was in the PM clinic, she told me if I had a dual leads PM she could do a b...

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Question re Leads

This may be a very stupid question, but I'll ask it anyway. I know someone in this very helpful group will have the answer. If I had a different brand of PM implanted, would the leads also have to be replaced? In other words, could the existing leads still be used? Betty

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Skipped beats

Hi everyone,

I just wondered if anyone could help me with a problem I've never seen on here before.

When I crouch down and bend over e.g. when looking under something, or cleaning the floor, my heart pauses. It feels like it's skipping a beat and doesn't do it any other time.

I've had my pacemaker (for heart block) since January and have had many settings problems but I'm worried that this is more of a placement issue as it only happens in those positions. My p...

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knowledge seeker

Anyone recommend a good book on AF that is really helpful?

any members in greater Boston who know about the bestg AF Dr's around here? Jim in Newton, MA

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PM and AF

Hi All,
I had a pm implant 2 weeks ago for because of low pulse problems.I also have AF but I thought the pm did not help with AF but at least one posting indicated that the pm was helping with AF.So I'm confused. Jim

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Follow-up

Hi all.
Just an update. I finally got to see my cardiac specialist for an follow-up and interogation. They turned my voltage from 5 volts to 2.5 (I was told going to a lower voltage does not help battery life) and set my lower rate at 60. It kind of different as my pulse has been so fast for years and I can now feel each beat.

The nurse told me to walk and lenght of the hallway twice and if I made it back I could leave the ward. I guess if you don't die in the hall you pass.

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Thank you

Hi,
I just got several very thoughtful and helpful responses to my postings.My question:
Is there someway to e-mail the individual person to thank them or ask a specific question based on their response. Jim

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Feeling tired all time

I got St. Jude Pacemaker in November of last year. I was very tired all the time. I thought after I got I would my pacemaker I would have more engery but I don't. I felt real good for a couple of weeks after getting it but after I went back to work, tireness came back. I would like to get up and walk in the mornings before work (I used to walk 2 miles before I went to work), but I don't have the energy. Sometimes I think something else is wrong.

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hmmm....

Well, I need to get with the times b/c my computer smarts are....well....not present. I have computer "not-smarts"

This "avatar" thingy...is that like a picture I can put from my computer to this site or something? If so, then I saw some people have it, but you need like a 10000 X magnifying glass to see what in the world the picture is, lol.
help?
thanks :)
~valerie

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had my check up

had my check up last monday and they tuned up the pm which seems to have given me more get up and go i dont know if its in my head but long may it last ! am having problems with my insurance company re driving which makes me cross,dont thy realise that i am better now, not worse never mind it will work out soon i hope.kathy

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Hello from Finland

Hello all pacers!
I just want to say hello to everybody and wish you all good spring.
Summer is coming soon and here in Finland everything
in the nature looks very beautiful.
As you everybody know,Finland is also called; the land of thousands lakes.
Esa Karhu
e.karhu@kolumbus.fi

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Implanted Defibrillators Are Getting Better

By Ed Edelson
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) –– Implanted defibrillators, which deliver occasional jolts to the heart to keep it beating regularly, are becoming much more reliable, experts report.

"What really sticks out is the continuous improvement and the fact that we see a very low level of electronic failure," said Dr. Robert J. Hauser, a senior cardiac consultant at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, who led a study of the devices made by three...

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Can I play golf after 6 weeks?

Hi Everyone,
This Thursday will be the last day of week 6 for me, that means I have my PM for 6 weeks now, well almost 6 weeks!
So my question is, can I start golfing? I am not taking any medication or other health issue, all I am worry about is repositioning the PM lead. Mine is VDD single.
Please advise.
Rob

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Stroke fears

Hi All,
I keep reading how we who have AF are more vulnerable (higher risk) to stroke from Blood clots.What I don't understand is how much of a higher risk are we and what factors figure into the risk. When my original fibulation did not show up on the EKG when I finally had my cardiology appt (my heart appears fine otherwise based on echocard) my Dr. took me of wafarin/coumitin and put me on 325 mg of asprin.(i'm also on 37.5 of atonol?). At first I was glad to get off the wafarin but now...

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Marathon success

Had my pace maker fitted in June 2006. Loads of problems for the first 6 months, couldn't run more than a few meters without my heart rate dropping down to below 90bpm.

My cardioligist is brilliant and after lots of trial and error got me running. I finished this years London Marathon in 3hrs 38 mins.

Still having problems with heart rate dropping though if I try to run fast or up hills. My cardiologist is seeking advice but cannot find a solution.

Although I am...

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new to all this

Hi Everyone,

1. Two weeks ago I had a pacemaker implant due to low blood pressure issues.(i'm 60) However I was still having atrial fibulation periodically, so I am on meds for that.I still seem to have episodes.My question..from what I have been reading is it true that certain things can trigger fibulation episodes such as caffine so hypothetically if I become aware of what is triggering me, I might be able to control theses episodes andd decrease them or even stop them?

2...

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music in church

Hi everyone!! It's brokenheart! I just wanted to know if any of you ever felt any problems with speakers...see i go to church a lot and there is a lot of loud music and i dont really sit close to the speakers but last week i felt very weak when i was in church and the music seemed awefully loud that day. Anyway, my heart was pounding hard but it was slower than normal and all of a sudden i started feeling dizzy like i was almost going to pass out. does any one know if loud music can affect your...

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You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.