Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Monitor heart rate

Should I monitor my heart rate to see if the settings are set correctly?

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Progress

Just back from my exercise stress test. Had a quick check with the PM tech to look at some settings then on to the treadmill. Noticed HR was up however carried and as it became a bit more demanding could feel the tightness etc starting, then guess what, HR went from 136 to 71. yep I was going into heart block, hence feeling just like I did before the PM. So a few more adjustments to stop that, Tech spoke to consultant about what had showed up and what was changed, max tracking rate and upper lim...

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Thanks

Ian, a bit scary you seem to know me so well. Yes I do find it hard to be assertive, have said to the tech how I have felt but I think I may play it down. (only kept off school if my leg was hanging off or i was covered in spots) have always tried to get on with it. Random BP and HR readings average 108/73/104 and I feel yuck. Even having a shower can have me feeling puffed and as though my BP is through my feet. At night it is as though my pulse is too strong a real pulse, pulse, and the next d...

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not yet

i received my medtronic dual lead pacemaker in 2006 for braddychardia. this past week i went for a checkup and will return next april to see where things are at. it says i have two and a half years of life left.sometimes it drains quickly near the end of the life. i will see. anyway feel confident that they know their job. jessie

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Time

Finally going for my exercise stress test on Monday to try and see what else is going on with my pacing/arrhythmia. Nearly 6 months post PM and still having huge problem exercising. (even walking from car park and up the stairs to work)Have read posts where some of you seem to be able to work with the technicians and or EP folk. Was this at your own request or via your existing Consultant. I don't see mine until the end of September and have been thinking of asking to be referred to a specialist...

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Still Out of Breath after 8 weeks

Hello all, what a wonderful resource this website has been as I begin this transition with you. Thanks to all who comment.

I am a man of 57 and was previously in excellent physical condition before declining for a few months due to a Level 3 AV block and subsequent 2 lead Medtronic PM install 8 weeks ago.

My question is that I struggle daily with shortness of breath after simple exertion. I am able to walk 3 miles feeling fine except the uphills, but I do not seem to be i...

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Merlin@home transmitter

Last week, my wife , after 10 years had her ST.Jude generator changed. No problems or complication. Today, She went to cardiologist and was nseen by a PA, and the St Jude tech that was in the OR. She was given a Merlin@home transmitter and was told to use this at night to moniter ther pacer. She never had to do this before. Does anyone have any experience or information about the device? Any help would be appreciated.

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pacemaker

I have a fib my rest heart rate use to be in the 60's now my Dr has it set at 80. I really didn't get talk to her after. Does anyone know why she would set it that high. Now when I'm just walking around it goes in the 100's

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Pacer set to 70 pulse now avg 55???

I had a pacer implanted in April of 2013 due to a pulse of 38-46 and am on no meds.
Felt awesome in hospital & would not have been able to endure the stress, mental & physical, of my husband's illness which resulted in his passing away one month later. All was really great, physically, UNTIL I went for final follow up-EP said was adjusting so battery would last longer & said would not affect anything. 2 weeks later, I felt drained-couldn't figure out why. Was getting SOB but plowed thr...

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enba

In about a month, I will have a single chamber pacemaker implanted. I am a 90 year old male in great physical shape.I go to the gym 2-3X a week and do 100 reps on four different machines. I have had bradycardia for the past 5 years without any symptoms. Because I fear complications associated with getting a pacemaker, I have consulted three cardiologists and an electrophysiologist and they all have convinced me that I should get a PM. I also have atrial fib. My question is, "What are the odds t...

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Blog post: Home monitoring, part 2

Since my first blog post on this topic has provoked such an interesting discussion here, I'm happy to announce that I just published the second part. This one deals with the possible reduction of costs and in-office interrogations. Enjoy!
bit.ly/1Mq1Une

Inga

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High Five

well five months in and my fifth PM visit. Had RR turned off and more adjustments to stop the PMT. Going back sometime for another exercise stress test as I can not really do anything very demanding. Was supposed to be going on a hiking holiday in September yet another holiday not being able to do what I love.
Went back to work after check up and was totally puffed walking upstairs to the lab, lose PMT gain SOB!!.
Asked about my high heart rate and was told that it was my own rhythm, a...

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Shortness of breath

I just joined, so I'm not sure how this club works. My primary concern is that I just had my first checkup after having this new pacemaker implanted in February. I know the nurse changed a few settings and now I seem to be getting short of breath really easy. I also have a tight feeling in my chest when inhaling. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'll be calling my cardiologist tomorrow....

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Shortness of breath

I just joined, so I'm not sure how this club works. My primary concern is that I just had my first checkup after having this new pacemaker implanted in February. I know the nurse changed a few settings and now I seem to be getting short of breath really easy. I also have a tight feeling in my chest when inhaling. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'll be calling my cardiologist tomorrow....

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pacemaker setting

What is the phone number to St. jude's if you have a question about the pacemaker? We are in Arizona.

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a.adams

Hello. My husband had a PM put in in 2013. He has bradycardia which means his own heart rate often goes lower than 60 beats per minute (which is why he needed a PM in the first place).

We have had frequent check ups and the cardiologist says the PM is working fine. It is set at 60 and is pacing him 80 % of the time. the problem is that my husband has very little energy and feels fatigued most of the time.

I keep thinking that if the doctor would adjust the settings (and se...

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Pacemaker Entering Safe Mode Settings

I had a St Jude dual chamber rate responsive pacemaker placed in 2007, and the doctor said that I had 8-10 months left on the battery the last time I had an interrogation. Less than a month later I started having strange cardiac symptoms so I went to the ER and when they interrogated the pacemaker they discovered it had gone into safe mode, and had automatically changed the settings to preserve energy. The pacer worked correctly after they removed it from safe mode and corrected the settings. Is...

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capture

Can any one explain what will show if the PM has capture turned on. After my last check up they rectified the awful palpitations the previous change in settings gave me and on a day to day basis feeling better. Tried doing a hill at the weekend and felt rotten ?? PM not letting my HR go high enough. Felt sick, headache, fluttering the usual. Will this capture mode show arrhythmias not caused by the PM. The appointments aren't conducive to long discussion's as there is usually a queue, and you fe...

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Time

Had another session at the PM clinic 2weeks ago, previous visit left me with awful short frequent palps along with my ongoing symptoms. This time felt so much better and for 4 days had nothing, no tightness,fluttering, aching etc. so happy could not get over how good it was to be symptom free. Doing a bit more exercise but nothing silly.However things have slowly crept back, just had a day shopping and felt just like I did before PM.had to sit down and over the last few day the fluttering in the...

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looking for options for running

I posted a like to my settings on my profile page, I've tried varrious ways to copy and paste them but not smart enough to make it happen, so here's my issue, I haven't been on for a long while as I gave up fighting the system and have left those settings untouched for about 8 mths now,
When I run my HR increases most times to 160-170 range for up to 8-12 maybe even 16 mins then will come down to 90-100 and stay there untill I fight through shortness of breath till I finish my 4 mile 9:30-9...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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