Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Update on Shingles vaccine

As some of you may know from my earlier post on November 8th, my GP practice asked me to attend for a Shingles vaccine recently.  I explained to the practice nurse that I thought I had already received the vaccine but she said there was no trace of this on my records.  She also said she couldn’t give me the vaccine if I had already received it, so she suggested I contact my old GP practice for further information.  I did and they confirmed I had had the Shingles vaccine i...

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MinimeJero5

Hi Jer , a while back you mentioned that you were having some  family problems.  Was wondering how you are coping?  Also hope it is not creating anymore health problems, for you.

new to pace

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Stroke - Magnesium - Questions

I have had an eventful week since having an ischemic Stroke. I had a sign of it (numbness in my right arm) a couple weeks prior. I went to the emergency room then, but it passed and althought they did a CT on my brain, they could not find anything (my wife would say that was no surprise). I mean nothing abnormal. Then most recently I was watching TV and felt a little dizzy and suddenly was unable to see the entire picture on the screen. I immediately felt a bit detached from the story, s...

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Swimming

Hi, I had a pacemaker fitted 8 weeks ago when can I go swimming? Thanx in advance

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Pacemaker and ice auger

Does anyone know if a battery opperated ice auger can effect a pacemaker?

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electric sanders

I had a pacemaker procedure September 12th.  I need to use an electric sander.  I was told by the nurse that it is okay to use if I keep it at arms length.  That pretty much makes it impossible to use.   Does anyone have experience of using a sander?  Thanks.

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Ticking

Hi everybody I am new to this club, just wondering if anyone else suffers with an intermittent ticking sensation on the opposite side of the pacemaker, I had a dual pacemaker fitted in March this year and have been getting this ticking ever since, I have mentioned this on my check up appointments they seem to make alterations but I don't seem to be getting anywhere, there was a mention of the blue lead being faulty and maybe it being switched off, any advice or ideas that you may hav...

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Boob enlarging!

This is a weird one.  I've been pacing for almost 15 and am on my second device. I've noticed over the past 12 months that the boob with the pm in is noticeably larger than the other one. I realise that the device takes up a little room but this size difference is definitely increasing. Mammogram clear so nothing nasty going on. Has anyone else experienced this? 

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Ventricular tachycardia

I went to the ER last night after being awakened  to sob, racing heart and strong thumps in my chest.  They told me I had a vTach event after interrogating my crt-d. I guess it provided resynchronization. No shocks, but the thumps I experienced were fairly uncomfortable. I'm thankful I had the device, but now I'm struggling to sleep. Basically, I'm super anxious about it happening again. Has anyone else experienced this? They didn't do much for me, I have an echo sch...

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Voltage settings

I've had a PM for about six weeks now. Sometimes I can feel the pacing in my chest and diaphragm. My diaphragm was twitching but that isn't happening any more after some adjustments.  My Ra threshold voltage is .5V and Rv threshold is 1V but the settings are 2.5V for the Ra lead and 2V for the Rv. Is that usual and can that high safety factor be the cause of my sensing the pacing? Reading the report I never pace from the ventricle but pace 87% from the atrium since I started taki...

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Can I safely have another Shingles vaccine?

I have been booked to have a Shingles and a Pneumonia vaccine next week, although I don’t think I can have the two together.  Anyway, according to my own diary notes, I received the Shingles vaccine 5 years ago on 25th October 2017, just under 70 years of age, and at that time I was told I would not need a booster in the future.  Healthwise, nothing has really changed.  I am not immunocompromised and I do not have any current health conditions, to my knowledge,...

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New pacemaker/New to forum

Hi everyone,

I got a pacemaker 6 days ago after being diagnosed with Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction affecting my cardiovascular system along with many other systems of my body.  My heart rate was pretty consistently in the low 30s and over the past few months I've had multiple passing out episodes and ICU admissions.

I have to say I have not felt this well in a very long time.  My energy level has increased dramatically and it may sound weird, but it's...

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Apple Watch

Hi are Apple Watch accurate with heart rate .As keep checking mine all the time. Thank you

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Replacement This Tuesday-- Help

My Medronic Adapta is running with limited functionality-- low battery.  Because of cervical spine issues I need a pacemaker that is MRI tolerant.  Who gets to decide what device gets implanted?  Shouldn't the docs at least consult with me and inform me of their reasoning?  This has not happened so far.  

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"I can't tell how long you've been this way..."

Hello everybody FG back!

Well, after talking a while and looking at my EKG, asking my wife and I multiple questions and criticizing me mildly for having gone so long without getting an EKG (I guess about 20 years or so before all this started), my 3rd opinion EP shakes his head and says, "I can't figure out how long you've been this way. When  did you first start having symptons?" I sai...

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heart ablavation getting closer date question

im very nervous for this procedure ..question how many hours does it take and the dr told me that he was going to go thru my groin area ? 2 sides or just 1 hole also how would they control the blood on my leg or groin area ?  why do some get heart attacks during or after im very concerned i hear i have to stay still for 6 hours after ,,

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New form of pacemaker

Paper published 26th October:
Battery-free pacemaker uses light to regulate heartbeat
Researchers have developed a battery-free pacemaker that uses optogenetics to regulate the heart. They are hopeful that it could improve the management of arrhythmia.

See:https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.abq7469

 

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Setting off alarms

It's been years since I've set off metal detectors anywhere. Cruising the Caribbean has never been a problem but we are currently cruising in the Mediterranean and I've set them off every port except where we first boarded in Southampton. I guess they are using older technology? I finally started telling them and getting a pat down rather than going through. Hello, 2005! I did not miss you. 

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Heart rate dropping on home b.p. monitor but clinic says that it would have alerted them if it did

Had my first pacemaker about 6 weeks ago. Ive been traking my b.p. diligently as I also have electrolyte issues. my omron is only about 1 year old. It was only used a few times. packed when I moved and came out of the box for a few uses and then now. I caught my b.p. rather low cant remember right now but my h.r. was 41 and Im set at 60. It went right back up to 6? next read. I caught this 2x more at 52 and 56 same right back up. Of course Drs nurses dont belive me and claim my monitor i...

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I have been going down memory lane

Hello everyone, I was chatting with another Pacemaker Club member recently about my travelling days in the early Seventies, yes 50 years ago.  (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Southern Africa).  I got out some old photo albums last night and scanned in a few pics which I have now uploaded to our Member Gallery (under Members Only, then Member Gallery) if you want to have a peep.

Don’t forget to upload any pics of yourselves from time to time.  We would all love to see...

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You know you're wired when...

You are always wired and full of energy.

Member Quotes

Your anxiety is normal. It takes some of us a little time to adjust to the new friend. As much as they love you, family and friends without a device just cannot understand the adjustment we go through. That is why this site is so valuable.